Monodentate Ligands

ligand	charge	abbreviation	formula	structure
iodide	–1	I	I–
bromide	–1	Br	Br–
chloride	–1	Cl	Cl–
fluoride	–1	F	F–
water	neutral	OH2	H2O
carbon monoxide	neutral	CO	CO
cyanide	–1	CN–	CN–
ammonia	neutral	NH3	NH3

Bidentate Ligands

ligand	charge	abbreviation	formula	structure
ethylenediamine	neutral	en	H2NCH2CH2NH2
2,2'-bipyridine	neutral	bipy	(C5H4N)2
phenanthroline	neutral	phen	C12H8N2
oxalate	–2	ox	C2O42–

Tridentate Ligands

ligand	charge	abbreviation	formula	structure
diethylenetriamine	neutral	dien	H2NCH2CH2NHCH2CH2NH2

Tetradentate Ligands

ligand	charge	abbreviation	formula	structure
tris(2-aminoethyl)amine	neutral	tren	N(CH2CH2NH2)3
triethylenetetramine	neutral	trien	H2N(CH2CH2NH)2CH2CH2NH2
porphin	neutral	porphin	C20H14N4

Hexadentate Ligands

ligand	charge	abbreviation	formula	structure
ethylenediaminetetraacetate	neutral	edta	(OOCCH2)2NHCH2CH2N(CH2COO)2