In an octahedral field, these orbitals split into three with t-sub-2g symmetry and two with e-sub-g symmetry. For 10 points each:
[10e] Name these orbitals that metals contribute to the molecular orbitals of a coordination complex.
ANSWER: d orbitals
[10h] The Jahn–Teller (“yahn teller”) effect spontaneously breaks a complex’s symmetry at these points on the energy surface, where degeneracy between two states permits vibronic coupling. The geometric phase was introduced to describe motion around these points, which are absent in the pseudo-Jahn–Teller effect.
ANSWER: conical intersections [or diabolical points; prompt on potential energy surface intersections or PES intersections]
[10m] This metal is often subject to Jahn–Teller distortions because its octahedral complexes have three doubly degenerate e-sub-g electrons. This metal has filled 3d orbitals, but one electron in its 4s orbital.
ANSWER: copper [or Cu; accept Cu(II)]
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