Question

Which of the following is not a neutral ligand?

• A. \( \text{H}_2\text{O} \)
• B. \( \text{NH}_3 \)
• C. \( \text{ONO} \)
• D. \( \text{CO} \)

Hint:

The Neutral ligands such as water (H₂O), ammonia (NH₃), and carbon monoxide (CO) do not carry any charge. In contrast, charged ligands like the nitrito group (\( \text{ONO}^- \)) are classified as anionic ligands.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

In coordination chemistry, ligands are classified based on their charge as either neutral or charged. A neutral ligand has no overall charge, while a charged ligand carries either a positive or negative charge.
Step 1: Analyze Each Option. - \( \text{H}_2\text{O} \) (Water): Water is a neutral ligand. It does not carry any charge, making it a neutral ligand. - \( \text{NH}_3 \) (Ammonia): Ammonia is another example of a neutral ligand. It has no net charge. - \( \text{CO} \) (Carbon monoxide): Carbon monoxide is also a neutral ligand. It is commonly used as a ligand in transition metal complexes and does not have a charge. - \( \text{ONO} \) (Nitrito group): The nitrito group \( \text{ONO}^- \) is negatively charged, making it an anionic ligand, not a neutral one.
Step 2: Identify the Non-neutral Ligand. The ligand \( \text{ONO}^- \) is a charged ligand (it carries a negative charge) and is thus not neutral. Therefore, it is the correct answer for the ligand that is not neutral.
Conclusion: The ligand \( \text{ONO}^- \) is not a neutral ligand, so the correct answer is \( \mathbf{(C)} \).