Question

Write the color of following metal ions in aqueous solution:

Hint:

The color of metal ions in solution is often due to electronic transitions in the d-orbitals. The presence of unpaired electrons in the d-orbitals is key to these colorations.

Answer 1

(A) Zn\(^{2+}\): Zinc ions in aqueous solution are colorless because they do not have any d-electrons to cause absorption in the visible spectrum. (B) Cu\(^{2+}\): Copper((B) ions in aqueous solution are blue due to the d-d transitions of the \(d^9\) configuration in Cu\(^{2+}\). (C) Cu\(^{+}\): Copper((A) ions are colorless in aqueous solution because they have a fully filled \(d^{10}\) configuration, which does not allow any electronic transitions in the visible range. Correct Answer: (A) Colorless
(B) Blue
(C) Colorless