Complex ions with different ligands have different colors because the ligands ________
A)are different colors.
B)affect the energy levels of the lone-pair electrons on the metal.
C)have different energies for their bonding electrons.
D)affect the energy levels of the metal d orbitals.
E)have different energies for their lone-pair electrons.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Complex ions with different ligands have different colors because the ligands affect the energy levels of the metal d orbitals. Different ligands cause different splitting of the d orbitals, leading to different absorption patterns of light, and therefore different colors.

Complex Ions with Different Ligands Have Different Colors Because the Ligands