What role do ligands play in coordination compounds?
Ligands are molecules or ions that can donate pairs of electrons to a central metal ion, forming coordinate bonds. They can significantly influence the properties of coordination compounds, including their stability, reactivity, and color. Ligands can be classified as monodentate (binding through one atom), bidentate (binding through two), or polydentate (binding through multiple atoms). This binding capability affects how the metal ion coordinates with the ligands, leading to a variety of structural and functional outcomes in the compound.