According to crystal field theory, what is the spatial splitting pattern and orbital energy distribution for the five degenerate d-orbitals of a transition metal ion placed in an octahedral ligand field?

💡 Solution & Explanation

In an octahedral coordination environment, approaching negative ligand point charges raise the energy of d-orbitals pointing directly along the axes more than those lying between the axes, causing the d-subshell to split into a lower triad of t2g orbitals and a higher doublet of eg orbitals. Tetrahedral fields exhibit the exact reverse splitting order with eg lower and t2g higher. Crystal field splitting energy is denoted by delta-o for octahedral geometries. Degeneracy is lifted whenever directional electrostatic fields interact with d-electron lobes.