Bidentate is a term used in chemistry to describe a molecule or ligand that has two binding sites. This means that the molecule or ligand can form two chemical bonds with another molecule or ion. Bidentate is an important concept in coordination chemistry, where it is often used to describe the binding of metal ions to ligands.
Definitions
Bidentate is an adjective that describes a molecule or ligand with two binding sites. The term is derived from the Latin word “bi-” meaning two and “dentate” meaning toothed or having teeth.
Origin
The term bidentate was first used in the early 20th century by chemists studying coordination compounds. The concept of bidentate ligands was first introduced by the chemist Alfred Werner, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1913 for his work on the stereochemistry of coordination compounds.
Meaning in different dictionaries
The meaning of bidentate is consistent across different dictionaries. The Oxford English Dictionary defines bidentate as “having two teeth or prongs.” In chemistry, the term bidentate refers to a molecule or ligand that has two binding sites.
Associations
Bidentate is associated with coordination chemistry, which is the study of the interactions between metal ions and ligands. Bidentate ligands are important in coordination chemistry because they can form stable complexes with metal ions.
Synonyms
Synonyms of bidentate include dihaptic, denticulate, and two-toothed.
Antonyms
Antonyms of bidentate include monodentate, which describes a ligand with only one binding site, and polydentate, which describes a ligand with more than two binding sites.
The same root words
The root word of bidentate is “dentate,” which means toothed or having teeth. Other words derived from this root include tridentate (having three binding sites), tetradentate (having four binding sites), and hexadentate (having six binding sites).
Example Sentences
- The bidentate ligand formed a stable complex with the metal ion.
- The coordination compound contained a bidentate ligand and a monodentate ligand.
- The dentist used a bidentate instrument to remove the patient’s tooth.
- The tridentate ligand was more effective at binding to the metal ion than the bidentate ligand.