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Could you please explain to me in simple English what a chelate ligand is?

The coordination of a ligand to the same central atom/ion through two or more sigma electron pair donor group is called chelation.

The ligands which get attached to the centre metal ion through two or more donor atoms are called polydentate ligands. A polydentate ligand which gets attached to the central metal ion through two or more donor atoms forming one or more rings around it is called a chelating agent or chelating ligand. The complex ion/compound having a ring structure around its central ion is called a chelate. A chelate formed due to the reaction of ethylenediamine with Cu²⁺ is,

Some chelate ligands are, oxalato (C₂O₄^2-).