Ligand field theory (LFT) describes the bonding, orbital arrangement, and other characteristics of coordination complexes. It represents an application of molecular orbital theory to transition metal complexes. A transition metal ion has nine valence atomic orbitals, five (n)d, one (n+1)s, and three (n+1)p orbitals. These orbitals are of appropriate energy to form bonding interaction with ligands. The LFT analysis is highly dependent on the geometry of the complex, but most explanations begin by describing octahedral complexes, where six ligands coordinate to the metal.
Read more about Ligand Field Theory: High and Low Spin and The Spectrochemical Series, History
Famous quotes containing the words field and/or theory:
“Something told the wild geese
It was time to go.
Though the fields lay golden
Something whispered—”Snow.””
—Rachel Lyman Field (1894–1942)
“Osteopath—One who argues that all human ills are caused by the pressure of hard bone upon soft tissue. The proof of his theory is to be found in the heads of those who believe it.”
—H.L. (Henry Lewis)