Question 43

Which of the following cannot be explained by crystal field theory?

Name: Which of the following cannot be explained by crystal field theory?
Uploaded: 2026-07-10T14:46:48.418603+05:30
Duration: 2 min 29 s
Description: Which of the following cannot be explained by crystal field theory?

Solution

Limitations of Crystal Field Theory:

The Problem with Ligands: CFT treats ligands as simple point charges and ignores any covalent character in the metal-ligand bond.

Spectrochemical Series Paradox: According to the point-charge model, anionic ligands (like $$I^{-}$$) or ($$OH^{-}$$) should create a larger splitting than neutral molecules (like $$H_{2}O$$) or ($$CO$$). However, the experimental spectrochemical series shows the opposite.

Covalency: CFT cannot explain why certain neutral ligands (like $$CO$$) are "strong field" because it doesn't account for the overlapping of orbitals or $$\ \pi\ $$-bonding, which requires Ligand Field Theory (LFT).

What CFT can explain:

Magnetic properties (B): By looking at high-spin vs. low-spin electron configurations.
Colour (C): Through $$d-d$$ electronic transitions.
Stability (D): Via Crystal Field Stabilization Energy (CFSE).

The correct answer is A: The order of spectrochemical series.

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