Chapter 21, Problem 80RQ

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The complex ${\left[\text{Co}{A}_6\right]}^{3+}$ is red and ${\left[\text{Co}{B}_6\right]}^{3+}$ is green, and the ligand that produces larger crystal field splitting, ∆, between these two ligands, $A$ and $B$ is to be determined and the reason is to be explained.

Concept Information:

Crystal field theory explains the bonding of complex ions.

Ligands are the molecules or ions that are bonded with a coordinate covalent bond to a metal ion.

Crystal field splitting or $\Delta$ is the energy difference between the two sets of $d$ orbitals, that is, between the higher energy levels of $d_{x^2-y^2}$ and $d_{z^2}$ orbitals and the lower energy levels of $d_{xy}$, $d_{xz}$, and $d_{yz}$ orbitals in an octahedral complex.

The energy carried by the single photon is called photon energy. The amount of energy is directly proptional to the photon’r electromagnetic frequency and inversely propotional to the wavelength. The equation of photon energy is:

$\text{E = hv or hc/λ}$.

If a substance absorbs a particular color when bathed in white light, the percieved color of the reflected or transmitted light is the complementary color.