The Range of Colours That Can be Obtained From One Metal

The Chemistry of Art > 5. Complexes > The Range of Colours That Can be Obtained From One Metal >

Process information from secondary sources to give an example of the range of colours that can be obtained from one metal such as Cr in different ion complexes

  • The different colours of the complexes are due to the fact that energies of the d orbitals are effected by
    • The metal ion
    • Surrounding ligand groups
  • These energy separations of the d orbital result in
    • Differences to which frequencies of photons absorbed
    • Hence differences to colour
  • Complexes that have no d electrons or 10 d electrons cannot absorb visible light and hence are colourless
    • Zn2+ and Sc3+