Color Of Complexes

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Color of transition metal complexes primarily arises from:

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1. **Crystal Field Theory**: In the presence of ligands, the five degenerate $d$-orbitals of a transition metal ion split into groups of different energies ($e.g., t_{2g}$ and $e_g$ in octahedral fields).
2. **Light Absorption**: When white light falls on the complex, an electron in a lower energy $d$-orbital absorbs a specific frequency of visible light to jump to a higher energy $d$-orbital.
3. **Transition Name**: This process is called a **$d\u2013d$ transition**.
4. **Observed Color**: The light that is not absorbed is transmitted/reflected. We see the **complementary color** of the absorbed light.
5. **Requirement**: At least one unpaired electron or an incomplete $d$-shell is usually necessary (which is why $Zn^{2+} [d^{10}]$ and $Sc^{3+} [d^0]$ complexes are typically colorless).

Color Of Complexes

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