tridentate

adjective

tri·​den·​tate
(ˈ)trī-¦den-ˌtāt
1
: having three teeth, processes, or points
a tridentate leaf
2
chemistry : attached to the central atom in a coordination complex by three bonds
used of ligands and chelating groups
Each cage is built from two different tridentate ligands held together with three platinum or palladium ions.Chemical & Engineering News, 5 July 1999
compare bidentate, monodentate, polydentate

Word History

Etymology

New Latin tridentatus, from tri- + -dentatus -dentate

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Cite this Entry

“Tridentate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tridentate. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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