Orientation of d-orbitals
An important aspect of simple Crystal Field Theory is the orientation of
the d-orbital lobes with respect to the position of the surrounding
ligands.
Note that the lobes point towards either the
centres of the faces (where the ligands would sit for an
octahedral complex) or the edges (where the
ligands sit in tetrahedral complexes).
dz2-Orbital dx2-y2-Orbital
dxy-Orbital
To get a clearer view of the orientation of these wireframe
representations of the orbitals, try rotating them by dragging
with the mouse.
If we consider that these representations are of electron density, then
try to minimise the interactions between the incoming negatively charged
ligands such as F- with the electrons located in the d orbitals of the
central metal ion. Which orbitals should be the most stable for an
octahedral complex? Are these the same orbitals for the tetrahedral
complex?
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Mar-97, rjl