As with many theories, the crystal field and ligand field theories discussed in this chapter were developed because existing bonding theories couldn't explain the observed properties of some transitio...As with many theories, the crystal field and ligand field theories discussed in this chapter were developed because existing bonding theories couldn't explain the observed properties of some transition metal complexes. As an example let us consider the following two transition metal complexes, [Fe(NH 3 ) 6 ] 2+ and [Co(NH 3 ) 6 ] 3+ . The Fe 2 + and the Co 3 + centers both have a valence electron configuration of 3d 6 and have the same ligands coordinated.
As an example let us consider the following two transition metal complexes, [Fe(NH 3 ) 6 ] 2+ and [Co(NH 3 ) 6 ] 3+ . The Fe 2 + and the Co 3 + centers both have a valence electron configuration of 3d...As an example let us consider the following two transition metal complexes, [Fe(NH 3 ) 6 ] 2+ and [Co(NH 3 ) 6 ] 3+ . The Fe 2 + and the Co 3 + centers both have a valence electron configuration of 3d 6 and have the same ligands coordinated. The iron complex absorbs very little visible light and therefore appears a very pale yellow color and the cobalt complex strongly absorbs visible light and has a dark red-orange color.
