Question

Transition metals generally form coloured compounds.

Hint:

The color in transition metal complexes is due to electronic transitions between d-orbitals, which occur when the metal is in a ligand field.

Answer 1

Transition metals form colored compounds due to the electronic transitions between their d-orbitals. The color is a result of these transitions when electrons move from one d-orbital to another under the influence of visible light.
- In transition metals, the d-orbitals are split into two energy levels under the influence of a ligand field. When light is absorbed, electrons are excited from lower to higher energy d-orbitals, and the energy corresponding to the absorbed light corresponds to the color observed in the complex. This is why many transition metal compounds, like those of copper, chromium, and cobalt, show distinct colors.