In: Chemistry
[Cr(H2O)6]2+ is violet. Another CrL6 complex is yellow-green. (Ignore the charge on the complex, Cr remains +2). Which of the following ligands can't be L?
ammine
carbonyl
cyano
hydroxo
nitro
The colour of complexes is due to the d-d transition and charge transfer spectra. The ability of ligand to cause splitting of energy levels decides the colour (complementory colour) exhibited by the complex.
Stronger the splitting more is the absorption of light radiation and more are the chances of exhibiting colour.
Strong ligands cause sufficintly strong splitting and hence gives colour to the complexes.
Ammine(-NH3), Cyano(-CN), Nitro(-NO2) and Hydroxo(-OH) ligands are strong ligands [They are either -vely charged or having easyt to donate kind of lone pair of electrons] and cause well splitting of energy level in the central metal atom hence they being as ligands in complex makes the complex coloured
Cr (NH3) 6 - Ammine complexes of yellow -green in colour. .So most possibly L is Ammine (NH3) ligand.
But Carbonyl (CO) is a neutral and weak ligand and not able to cause efficient splitting of energy levels in central metal atom/ion. Hence carbonyl complexes are colourless.)