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Why would a complex containing a transition metal ion be pale in colour
Accepted Answer
A complex containing a transition metal ion can be pale in color due to several reasons:
Low concentration of the complex: A dilute solution of the complex will appear paler.
Weak field ligands: Ligands that do not interact strongly with the metal ion result in small energy differences between d-orbitals, leading to absorption of low-energy light (which is often in the infrared region) and a resulting pale color.
d10 electron configuration: Metal ions with a completely filled d-orbital (d10) do not exhibit d-d transitions and thus appear colorless or very pale.
High spin complex: In high spin complexes, the energy difference between the d-orbitals is small, resulting in absorption of low-energy light and a pale color.
Symmetry of the complex: Certain symmetries can lead to forbidden transitions, resulting in reduced absorption and a paler color.
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