Ethylenediamine is a bidentate ligand. The oxalate group, used in this experiment was also a didentate ligand. The structure of ethylenediamine is NH2CH2CH2NH2. The oxalate group formed a coordinated compound using the negative charges on the oxygen. Explain how the ethylenediamine compound will bond.

Ethylene diamine will bond to the Central metal via a lone pairs of electrons on nitrogen

Explanation:

Complexes are formed by coordinate bond formation. Before a coordinate bond is formed, one of the species must have a lone lair of electrons available for donation into empty orbitals on the central metal.

Ethylene diammine contains nitrogen which has a lone pair of electrons. The two lone pairs on the two nitrogen atoms can bond with the central metal. This makes ethylene diammine a bidentate ligand (two bonding atoms).