Ligands approaching in an octahedral pattern cause some orbitals to be raised in energy.How many orbitals are on the higher energy level?
A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4
E)5

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When ligands approach in an octahedral pattern, the d-orbitals split into two sets of different energy levels. The lower energy set contains three orbitals, while the higher energy set contains two orbitals. Therefore, there are two orbitals on the higher energy level. This is known as the octahedral splitting pattern.

Ligands Approaching in an Octahedral Pattern Cause Some Orbitals to Be