Tanabe Sugano Exercises

These questions deal in part with concepts presented in today's lecture and assigned readings.

1. Have a look at the Tanabe-Sugano diagram for the d⁵ case. What is the term symbol for the ground state of a free d⁵ ion (where Δ_o/B = 0)?
2. What is the term symbol for the ground state of a d⁵ ion satisfying the condition that Δ_o/B = 20?
3. What is the physical meaning of the discontinuity in the Tanabe-Sugano diagram for the d⁵ case at around Δ_o/B = 28?
4. How many spin-allowed transitions are expected for the d⁵ case for Δ_o/B < 28? How about when Δ_o/B > 28?
5. Looking at the Tanabe-Sugano diagram for the d⁸ case, explain what is the configuration (orbital occupation) that gives rise to the highest energy ³T_1g state.
6. You might expect transitions to the highest energy ³T_1g state for the d⁸ case to not have much intensity. Why is this? On the other hand, if there exists a state of the same symmetry that both arises from a more accessible configuration and is near in energy then the two states can mix; this is called configuration interaction. The real electronic states become linear combinations of the two states that are of the same symmetry and close in energy. Then, electronic transitions to both states can have good intensity.
7. What is the difference between a d-d transition and an MLCT transition?
8. Why are electronic transitions for tetrahedral complexes often more intense than are those for corresponding octahedral complexes?
9. What are two ways in which an Orgel diagram differs from a Tanabe-Sugano diagram?

The above exercises are intended to help you prepare for our final exam. They do not need to be handed in and will not be graded.

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