Question detail
How does the ligand environment affect the colour of transition-metal complexes?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Transition metals (A-level only)
Question
- A. It changes the mass of the complex.
- B. It alters the energy levels of the d orbitals.
- C. It increases the temperature of the solution.
- D. It does not influence the colour.
Answer
It alters the energy levels of the d orbitals.
Explanation
The cause is that different ligands create varying degrees of splitting in the d orbitals of transition-metal ions. This alteration in energy levels affects which wavelengths of light are absorbed. The effect is that different ligands can lead to different observed colours of the complex. The consequence is that the specific colour of a transition-metal complex can be used to identify the ligands present.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Color in Transition Metals
Students often think that all transition-metal ions are colored due to their d-electrons being fully filled.
Understand that transition-metal ions are colored because they have partially filled d-orbitals, allowing for d-d electron transitions when they absorb specific wavelengths of light, resulting in the observed color.
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