Presentation shortly discuss and summerise the merits and demerits of crystal field theory for undergraduates https://youtu.be/1jR8W7bohho

1. Merits and Demerits of Crystal
Field Theory
Dr. Mithil S. Fal Desai
Assistant Professor in Chemistry
SHREE MALLIKARJUN
&
Shri Chetan Manju Desai College
Canacona Goa
1. Concise Inorganic Chemistry, J. D. Lee, Chapman & Hall India, 4rth Edition, Year 1991
2. Inorganic Chemistry: Principle of structure and reactivity, J. E. Huheey, E. A. Keiter. R. L.
Keiter, O. K. Medhi, Pearson Education India, 4rth Edition, Year 2006

2. Merits of Crystal Field Theory
2
• Explains the split degeneracy of d-orbitals in a
complex.
• Theory does explain the colour and spectra of
complexes.
• Accounts for magnetic property of the
complexes.
• Explains the stability of particular oxidation state
in aqueous solutions.

3. Demerits of Crystal Field Theory
• Interaction of metal ligand is considered purely electrostatic.
• Only electrons from d orbital of the metal ion are considered
(other orbitals such as s and p are not taken into consideration)
and no significance to the orbits of the ligands.
• Complexes in which metal oxidation state is zero and ligand is
neutral does not explain the electrostatic attraction between
the metal and the ligands. Eg. [Cr(C6H6)2]
• Does not explain the relative strength of ligands in
spectrochemical series. (Why H2O is strong field ligand than OH-)
• Does not consider any π bonding (double bond and triple bond)
in complexes.