Geo-Scientist Prelims 2025 Chemistry Q22: Which one of the following statements regarding ligand field theory…

Which one of the following statements regarding ligand field theory is correct ?

1. (a) It considers which atomic orbitals on the metal are used for bonding and predicts the shape and stability of the complex. However, it fails to explain electronic spectra and variation of magnetic properties with temperature.
2. (b) It considers that bonding in coordination compounds is purely electrostatic in nature arising due to ion-ion or ion-dipole attractions which remarkably explains the electronic spectra and magnetism in transition metal complexes.
3. (c) It provides some allowance for the possibility of some covalent interactions between the orbitals on the metal and ligand in form of σ overlap of orbitals, π overlap of orbitals or dπ – pπ bonding (back bonding) due to π overlap of full d orbitals on the metal and with empty p orbitals on the ligands.
4. (d) It provides full allowance of both covalent and ionic contributions and much of the qualitative descriptions require symmetry and group theory approaches.