Transition metal ions often absorb visible light in promoting electrons from a ground state to an excited state. Why doesn't aluminum(III) ion have this property?
A)It does, and this fact accounts for the color of some gemstones.
B)Aluminum(III) has a noble gas configuration—that of argon.
C)Aluminum(III) has a noble gas configuration—that of neon.
D)Aluminum(III) has a filled d subshell.
E)The crystal field splitting of the d orbitals in aluminum(III) is very large.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Aluminum(III) ion has a noble gas configuration of neon, meaning it has no d electrons to undergo transitions that would absorb visible light.

Transition Metal Ions Often Absorb Visible Light in Promoting Electrons