Monodentate

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A monodentate ligand is a ligand which forms only one bond with the central atom, usually a metal ion. A monodentate ligand is also sometimes called a "unidentate ligand" from the root words meaning "one tooth". A monodentate ligand, like other types of ligands, can be a neutral molecule or an ion with a lone pair.

Some examples of common monodentate ligands that are neutral molecules are H₂O (aqua), NH₃ (ammine), CH₃NH₂ (methylamine), CO (carbonyl), and NO (nitrosyl).

Some examples of common monodentate ligands that are anions are F^- (fluoro), CN^- (cyano), Cl^- (chloro), Br^- (bromo), I^- (iodo), NO₂^- (nitro), and OH^- (hydroxo).

The hexacyanoferrate(II) ion, [Fe(CN)₆]^4-, contains 6 monodentate cyanide (CN^-) ligands attached to the central iron atom.