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

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When ligands approach in a tetrahedral pattern, the d orbitals split into two energy levels. The lower level consists of two orbitals with lower energy and the higher level consists of three orbitals with higher energy. Therefore, there are 2 orbitals in the lower energy level.

Ligands Approaching in a Tetrahedral Pattern Cause Some Orbitals to Be