question_answer

Which of the following complex ions is not expected to absorb visible light?

A) \[{{\text{ }\!\![\!\!\text{ Ni(CN}{{\text{)}}_{\text{4}}}\text{ }\!\!]\!\!\text{ }}^{\text{2-}}}\]      

B)        \[{{\text{ }\!\![\!\!\text{ Cr(N}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{{\text{)}}_{6}}\text{ }\!\!]\!\!\text{ }}^{\text{3+}}}\]

C) \[{{\text{ }\!\![\!\!\text{ Fe(}{{\text{H}}_{2}}\text{O}{{\text{)}}_{6}}\text{ }\!\!]\!\!\text{ }}^{\text{2+}}}\]               

D)        \[{{\text{ }\!\![\!\!\text{ Ni(}{{\text{H}}_{2}}\text{O}{{\text{)}}_{6}}\text{ }\!\!]\!\!\text{ }}^{\text{2+}}}\]

Correct Answer: A

Solution :

Key Idea For the absorption of visible light, presence of unpaired d-electrons is the necessity. In \[{{[Ni{{(CN)}_{4}}]}^{2-}},Ni\] is present as \[N{{i}^{2+}}.\] \[N{{i}^{2+}}=[Ar]\,3{{d}^{8}}4{{s}^{0}}\] \[\therefore {{[Ni{{(CN)}_{4}}]}^{2-}}\] (Pairing occurs because \[\text{C}{{\text{N}}^{-}}\]is a strong field ligand). Since, in \[{{[Ni{{(CN)}_{4}}]}^{2-}},\]no unpaired electron is present in d-orbitals, it does not absorb visible light. In\[{{[Cr{{(N{{H}_{3}})}_{6}}]}^{3+}}\]is present as \[C{{r}^{3+}}\] \[C{{r}^{3+}}=[Ar]3{{d}^{3}}4{{s}^{0}}\](Three unpaired electrons) In \[{{[Fe{{({{H}_{2}}O)}_{6}}]}^{2+}},\]Fe is present as \[F{{e}^{2+}}.\] \[F{{e}^{2+}}=[Ar]3{{d}^{6}}4{{s}^{0}}\] (Four unpaired electrons) In \[{{[Ni{{({{H}_{2}}O)}_{6}}]}^{2+}},Ni\]is present as \[N{{i}^{2+}}.\] \[N{{i}^{2+}}=[Ar]3{{d}^{8}}4{{s}^{o}}\](Two unpaired electrons) The complexes given in option (b), (c), (d) have unpaired electrons, thus absorb visible light.