NEETChemistryCoordination Compounds
In d4 coordination entities, what determines whether the fourth electron enters an eg orbital or a t2g orbital?
Options
- AThe ligand's field strength
- BThe metal ion's charge
- CThe number of ligands
- DThe metal's position in the periodic table
Correct answer
A. The ligand's field strength
Step-by-step solution
Whether the fourth electron in a d4 coordination entity enters an eg orbital or a t 2 g orbital depends on the relative magnitude of the crystal field splitting (Do) and the pairing energy (P), which is influenced by the ligand's field strength.