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Question 69 of 106

Q.Why is Sc3+Sc^{3+} colourless while Ti3+Ti^{3+} coloured? (Atomic number Sc = 21, Ti = 22)

Maharashtra MsbshseMaharashtra HSC (MSBSHSE) Board 2016Subjective· 2mImportance★★★★★
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Colour in transition-ion complexes arises from d-d electronic transitions, which require partially filled d orbitals.

Scandium (Z = 21) has electronic configuration [Ar]3d14s2[Ar]3d^1 4s^2. On forming Sc3+Sc^{3+}, it loses all 3 electrons (2 from 4s, 1 from 3d), giving [Ar]3d0[Ar]3d^0 — an empty d subshell. Since there are no d electrons to be promoted between split d orbitals in a ligand field, no d-d transition (and hence no absorption of visible light for this reason) is possible, so Sc3+Sc^{3+} is colourless.

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