d-orbital occupation and electronic configurations

To be able to use Crystal Field Theory (CFT) successfully, it is essential that you can determine the electronic configuration of the central metal ion in any complex.
This requires being able to recognise all the entities making up the complex and knowing whether the ligands are neutral or anionic, so that you can determine the oxidation state of the metal ion.
In many cases the oxidation state for first row transition metal ions will be either (II) or (III), but in any case you may find it easier to start with the M(II) from which you can easily add or subtract electrons to get the final electronic configuration.

A simple procedure exists for the M(II) case.

First write out all the first row transition metals with their symbols and atomic numbers:

To see the number of electrons in the 3d orbitals then cross off the first 2, hence:

So, the electronic configuration of Ni(II) is d8 and the electronic configuration of Mn(II) is d5.

What is the electronic configuration of Fe(III)?
Well, using the above scheme, Fe(II) would be d6, by subtracting a further electron to make the ion more positive, the configuration of Fe(III) will be d5.

This simple procedure works fine for first row transition metal ions, but sorry it is no good for 2nd or 3rd row elements!

Note: For all final Chemistry examinations, a Periodic Table is provided in the inside back cover of the examination booklets. A Periodic Table may NOT necessarily be provided for course tests.

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Created and maintained by Robert John Lancashire,
The Department of Chemistry, University of the West Indies,
Mona Campus, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
Created June 1997. Last modified 16th March-99.

URL: http://wwwchem.uwimona.edu.jm:1104/courses/IC10Kec.html