The absorption spectrum of [Ti(H2O)6]3+ in solution comprises of a max...
The spectrum you observe is the transition from the ground state 2T2g to the excited state 2Eg of the octahedral aquo ion. It is allowed with respect to the spin rule (DeltaS = 0). The shoulder on the low-energy side is due to Jahn-Teller distortion of the excited 2Eg state. Jahn-Teller (JT) distortions occur when a non-linear molecule is in a degenerate electronic state. The molecule then distorts, its symmetry is lowered and the energy minimized. For Ti(III), d1, the JT distortion of the ground state is small, but the JT of the excited state is sizeable; the 2Eg state splits into 2A1g and 2B1g levels. The splitting is on the order of 2000 cm-1. The band at around 500 nm (20,300 cm-1) corresponds to the transition to 2A1g, the should at around 550 nm to the transition to 2B1g.
The absorption spectrum of [Ti(H2O)6]3+ in solution comprises of a max...
Explanation:
Jahn-Teller distortion is the reason for the shoulder in the absorption spectrum of [Ti(H2O)6]3+ in solution.
Jahn-Teller Distortion:
• Jahn-Teller distortion is a phenomenon in molecules or ions that have degenerate electronic states.
• In such molecules, the electronic states have equal energy and are degenerate.
• The degeneracy of the electronic states leads to instability and distortion of the molecule or ion to a non-degenerate state.
Absorption Spectrum of [Ti(H2O)6]3+:
• The absorption spectrum of [Ti(H2O)6]3+ in solution has a maximum with a shoulder.
• The maximum corresponds to the d-d transition, which is a metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT).
• The shoulder corresponds to the Jahn-Teller distortion of the [Ti(H2O)6]3+ ion.
• The Jahn-Teller distortion causes the degeneracy of the d-orbitals to be lifted, and the electronic states become non-degenerate.
• The shoulder corresponds to the transition from a non-degenerate state to a higher energy non-degenerate state.
Conclusion:
The absorption spectrum of [Ti(H2O)6]3+ in solution has a shoulder due to the Jahn-Teller distortion of the ion, which causes the degeneracy of the electronic states to be lifted, and the electronic states become non-degenerate.