Chapter 22.4, Problem 1PPA

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The number of unpaired electrons spins in the given coordination compound is to be determined.

Concept introduction:

A ligand that causes high splitting among the energy levels of the d orbital produces strong magnetic fields and low spin complexes is a strong-field ligand. Weak-field ligands, on the other hand, cause low splitting among the energy levels of the d orbital and result in high spin complexes.

A weak-field ligand makes the valence electrons enter separate d orbitals $\left({\text{d}}_{\text{xy}}{\text{,d}}_{\text{yz}}{\text{, d}}_{\text{zx}}{\text{ and d}}_{{\text{x}}^{\text{2}}{\text{-y}}^{\text{2}}}{\text{,d}}_{{\text{z}}^{\text{2}}}\right)$, but strong-field ligands make them enter lowerenergy d orbitals $\left({\text{d}}_{\text{xy}}{\text{,d}}_{\text{yz}}{\text{and d}}_{\text{zx}}\right)$.