Question

Identify the ligands present in cisplatin.

• A. $\text{Cl}^-$ and $\text{CN}^-$
• B. $\text{NH}_3$ and $\text{Cl}^-$
• C. $\text{NH}_3$ and $\text{H}_2\text{O}$
• D. $\text{Cl}^-$ and $\text{H}_2\text{O}$

Hint:

Cisplatin = cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II). The name itself tells you the ligands: ammine ($\text{NH}_3$) and dichloro ($\text{Cl}^-$).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Cisplatin is a very important coordination compound, widely recognized for its application as an anti-cancer chemotherapy drug. To identify its ligands, we must know its IUPAC name or chemical formula.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Approach: Recall the chemical formula of cisplatin and identify the species coordinately bonded to the central metal atom.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The formal chemical name for cisplatin is cis-diamminedichloridoplatinum(II). Its molecular formula is $[\text{Pt}(\text{NH}_3)_2\text{Cl}_2]$. In this square planar coordination complex, the central metal ion is Platinum ($\text{Pt}^{2+}$). The chemical species that donate electron pairs to form coordinate bonds with the central metal ion are called ligands. From the chemical formula, we can clearly see two distinct types of ligands attached to the platinum center: 1. Ammine ligands ($\text{NH}_3$) 2. Chlorido ligands ($\text{Cl}^-$) The "cis" designation indicates that the identical ligands are positioned adjacent to each other in the square planar geometry.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The ligands present are $\text{NH}_3$ and $\text{Cl}^-$.