Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Three octahedral complexes are , and . Water is a weak field ligand. The atomic numbers of vanadium, chromium and manganese are 23, 24 and 25. Find the number of 3d electrons and of unpaired electrons in each ion, and the spin-only moment of each complex.
In valence bond theory the ligands give lone pairs into empty hybrid orbitals. A strong field ligand pairs the d electrons and can free two 3d orbitals for . A weak field ligand leaves the electrons unpaired, so the ion uses . The spin-only moment is , with the number of unpaired electrons.
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Given. Three ions: , and in octahedral complexes.
Plan. Find the 3d count, then the unpaired electrons, then .
Step 1. 3d electrons. has electrons, so . has electrons, so . has electrons, so .
Step 2. Unpaired electrons. The and ions have 2 and 3 unpaired electrons. Water is weak, so the ion keeps all 5 unpaired.
Step 3. Moments. . . .
Answer: for vanadium, for chromium and for manganese.
Check. The moment rises with the number of unpaired electrons, as it should.
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