The color of a transition metal complex results from
A) nuclear magnetic resonance.
B) transition of an electron between d orbitals.
C) bending vibrations.
D) stretching vibrations.
E) transition of an electron between an s orbital and a p orbital.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The color of a transition metal complex results from the transition of an electron between d orbitals. The energy difference between these orbitals corresponds to the energy of a photon in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum, causing the complex to absorb certain colors and appear the complementary color. This phenomenon is known as absorption spectra, and is responsible for the bright colors of many transition metal compounds.

The Color of a Transition Metal Complex Results from