A ligand is
A) a Lewis base.
B) necessary in a complex to balance the charge on the metal ion.
C) used to force octahedral geometry on a metal ion.
D) a Lewis acid.
E) used to precipitate metal ions from aqueous solution.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A ligand is a Lewis base, meaning it donates a pair of electrons to a metal ion to form a coordination complex.

Answer: B 
 Ligands are necessary in a complex to balance the charge on the metal ion. The metal ion has a positive charge and the ligands have negative charges, allowing the complex to be neutral overall.

Answer: C 
 Certain ligands can force octahedral geometry on a metal ion by coordinating with it in specific ways. This can lead to the formation of highly stable and structured complexes.

Answer: D 
 A ligand is not a Lewis acid, as it donates a pair of electrons to a metal ion rather than accepting them.

Answer: E 
 Ligands are not generally used to precipitate metal ions from aqueous solution, although other chemicals such as precipitants or chelators may be used for this purpose.

A Ligand Is