Chemistry Transition Elements MDCAT 2017
PMDC Verified Question 56 of 68
Violet color of \( [Ti(H_{2}O)_{6}]^{3+} \) ion is due to the
A
Central metal ion
B
Complex ion
C
Water molecule
D
Outer anion
Tap any option to test your recall and reveal the step-by-step Propolis autopsy.

Propolis Cognitive Error Autopsy

Official Correct Choice:
Option A: Central metal ion
Concept:

The color of transition metal complexes originates from the splitting of the \(d\)-orbitals of the central metal atom when exposed to the electric field of incoming ligands.

Solution:

  • In \([Ti(H_2O)_6]^{3+}\), the central metal ion is \(Ti^{3+}\), which has one electron in its \(3d\) orbital (\(3d^1\)).


  • The presence of water ligands causes these \(d\)-orbitals to split into two different energy levels.


  • The violet color results when visible light excites this single electron from the lower energy \(d\)-orbital to the higher energy \(d\)-orbital (a \(d-d\) transition).


  • Therefore, the physical mechanism generating the color is inherently a property of the central metal ion's electron configuration.


Why other options are incorrect:

  • Water molecules (ligands) induce the splitting but do not themselves absorb the visible light to produce color in this context.

Quality & Fidelity Assurance: Every question on BeambePrep is rigorously curated against the official PMDC syllabus with zero filler, zero out-of-syllabus content, and zero typos. When an authentic past paper originally contained a historical mistake or ambiguity from the examining board (such as UHS or NUMS), BeambePrep faithfully reflects the original paper while detailing the nuance and scientific consensus in the autopsy above.

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