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Chapter 20: Problem 23

Briefly describe the crystal field theory. Define the following terms: crystal field splitting, high-spin complex, low-spin complex, spectrochemical series.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Crystal Field Theory is a model describing the breaking of degeneracies of electron energy levels in transition metal complexes due to the presence of a ligand. Crystal field splitting is the process in which degenerate d-orbitals split into different energy levels due to the influence of ligands. A high-spin complex prioritizes electron promotion over pairing, while a low-spin complex prioritizes pairing over promotion. The spectrochemical series is an empirical list ranking ligands based on their field strength and ability to split d-orbital energy levels.

Step by step solution

01

Crystal Field Theory Description

Crystal field theory (CFT) is a model that describes the breaking of degeneracies of electron energy levels in transition metal complexes. This occurs due to the presence of a ligand. Under the influence of the electric field from the ligand, the 5-fold degenerate energy levels of the central metal ion split into different energy levels.
02

Define Crystal Field Splitting

Crystal field splitting, also known as ligand field splitting, is a process by which the degenerate d-orbitals (usually five in number) of the same energy level in an isolated gaseous atom, split into different energy levels when in the field of ligands. Depending upon the geometry of the complex, the d-orbitals can split into a set of two and three or a set of one and four.
03

Define High-spin and Low-spin Complex

A high-spin complex is one where electrons are unpaired as much as possible because the energy required to pair up electrons is greater than the energy needed to promote an electron to a higher energy d-orbital. On the other hand, a low-spin complex is one where electrons are paired up as much as possible. This usually happens when the energy needed to promote an electron to a higher energy d-orbital is greater than the energy required to pair up electrons.
04

Define The Spectrochemical Series

The spectrochemical series is an empirical ordering of ligands according to their abilities to split the energy of the d-orbitals in their complexes. In other words, it is a list that ranks ligands in order of increasing field strength. The stronger the field that a ligand can produce, the larger the splitting of the d-orbitals.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

What is the origin of color in a compound?

\(\left[\mathrm{Pt}\left(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\right)_{2} \mathrm{Cl}_{2}\right]\) is found to exist in two geometric isomers designated I and II, which react with oxalic acid as follows: $$\begin{aligned}\mathrm{I}+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4} & \longrightarrow\left[\mathrm{Pt}\left(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\right)_{2} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}\right] \\\\\mathrm{II}+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4} & \longrightarrow\left[\mathrm{Pt}\left(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\right)_{2}\left(\mathrm{HC}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}\right)_{2}\right]\end{aligned}$$ Comment on the structures of I and II.

What are the systematic names for these ions and compounds: (a) \(\left[\mathrm{cis}-\mathrm{Co}(\mathrm{en})_{2} \mathrm{Cl}_{2}\right]^{+},\) (b) \(\left[\mathrm{Pt}\left(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\right)_{5} \mathrm{Cl}\right] \mathrm{Cl}_{3}\) (c) \(\left[\mathrm{Co}\left(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\right)_{6}\right] \mathrm{Cl}_{3}\) (d) \(\left[\mathrm{Co}\left(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\right)_{5} \mathrm{Cl}\right] \mathrm{Cl}_{2},\) (e) trans-\(\mathrm{Pt}\left(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\right)_{2} \mathrm{Cl}_{2} ?\)

Aqueous copper(II) sulfate solution is blue in color. When aqueous potassium fluoride is added, a green precipitate is formed. When aqueous potassium chloride is added instead, a bright-green solution is formed. Explain what is happening in these two cases.

Draw qualitative diagrams for the crystal-field splittings in (a) a linear complex ion \(\mathrm{ML}_{2},\) (b) a trigonalplanar complex ion \(\mathrm{ML}_{3},\) and \((\mathrm{c})\) a trigonalbipyramidal complex ion ML \(_{5}\).
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