Answer
The crystal field splitting for an octahedral complex is always greater than that for a tetrahedral complex. There are two reasons for this:
(1) There are only four ligands in tetrahedral complex whereas in the octahedral complex, there are six ligands. Thus. the crystal field splitting of octahedral complex is greater than that of the tetrahedral complex.
(2) In the tetrahedral complex, none of the d-orbitals is in face to face interaction with the ligands. This also reduces the crystal field splitting of the tetrahedral complex.
The value of the tetrahedral crystal field splitting is roughly 4/9 of the octahedral crystal field splitting.
Work Step by Step
The crystal field splitting for an octahedral complex is always greater than that for a tetrahedral complex. There are two reasons for this:
(1) There are only four ligands in tetrahedral complex whereas in the octahedral complex, there are six ligands. Thus. the crystal field splitting of octahedral complex is greater than that of the tetrahedral complex.
(2) In the tetrahedral complex, none of the d-orbitals is in face to face interaction with the ligands. This also reduces the crystal field splitting of the tetrahedral complex.
The value of the tetrahedral crystal field splitting is roughly 4/9 of the octahedral crystal field splitting.
