We have discussed that transition metal complexes exhibit a wide variety of colors and have varying magnetic properties. In order to explain the similarities and differences in these properties we need to look into the bonding theories of transition metal complexes.
23.6 Bonding Theories of Transition Metal Complexes
23.6 Crystal Field Theory
In order to understand the bonding theories of transition metal complexes you need to visualize how the ligands interact with the 5 different d orbitals. You cannot visualize how the d orbitals interact with the ligands if you do not know the shapes of the d orbitals like the back of your hand.
23.6 Shapes of d Orbitals
By observing the colors of various transition metal complexes, we can start to see how the nature of the ligand bound to the transition metal center plays a big role in determining the resulting color of a transition metal complex.
23.6 Orbital Overlap and Orbital Energies in Crystal Field Theory
23.6 Crystal Field Theory
23.6 The Spectrochemical Series
23.6 High Spin/Low Spin Co Complexes
23.6 Octahedral Field Splitting vs. Tetrahedral Field Splitting
23.6 Octahedral Field Splitting vs. Square Planar Field Splitting