I keep getting “Crystal field splitting” questions wrong in Coordination Compounds. What's the trap?
thinking the colour comes from the metal alone, regardless of ligands.
The usual trap: thinking the colour comes from the metal alone, regardless of ligands. How to avoid it: different ligands split the d-orbitals differently → different colours. Go back to the definition — ligands split the metal's d-orbitals into two energy levels; electrons jumping between them absorb visible light, giving colour.
Key point
Crystal field splitting
Common mistake
thinking the colour comes from the metal alone, regardless of ligands.
Memory tip
different ligands split the d-orbitals differently → different colours.
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