According to cystal field theory, interaction between central metal atom/ion and ligand is electrostatic in nature. In free metal ions, the five d-orbitals are degenerate. However, in a ligand field e.g., tetrahedral, octahedral, square planar, square pyramidal, trigonal bipyramidal, the degeneracy of 5d-orbitals is lost.
If lobes of d-orbitals of central metal atom/ion are along the axes through which ligands are approaching, the energy of corresponding d-orbital is raised more than the d-orbitals having lobes between teh axes. e.g., octahedral complexes, square planar complexes, square pyramidal compexes.
Which of the following orbitals has the highest energy in square pyramidal ligand field ?

Options

A. `d_(xy)`
B. `d_(z^(2))`
C. `d_(x^(2)-y^(2))`
D. `d_(yz), d(zx)`

Answer

C

Explanation

`Delta_(t)=(4)/(9)Delta_(0),Delta_(sp)=1.3Delta_(0)impliesDelta_(sp) gt Delta_(0) gt Delta_(t)`