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ExamsJEE AdvancedChemistry

In EDTA⁴- (ethylenediamine tetraacetate), how many and which types of donor atoms are present?

  1. Only O atoms
  2. Only N atoms
  3. Two N atoms and four O atoms
  4. Three N atoms and three O atoms

Correct answer: Two N atoms and four O atoms

Solution

EDTA (H4Y) has the structure: (HOOCCH2)2N-CH2-CH2-N(CH2COOH)2. In its fully deprotonated form EDTA⁴-, the two nitrogen atoms from the ethylenediamine backbone each donate a lone pair, and the four carboxylate oxygens (one per -COO- group) each donate a lone pair. This makes EDTA a hexadentate ligand with 2 N and 4 O donor atoms.

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