The magnetic behaviour of many transition metal compounds is explained by the presence of
- A. paired electrons only
- B. unpaired electrons in the d orbitals
- C. an even number of protons
- D. delocalised pi bonds
Explanation
Unpaired electrons give the ion a magnetic moment, so the substance is drawn into a magnetic field and is described as paramagnetic, and the more unpaired electrons the stronger the effect. Ions with all electrons paired, such as Zn2+, are diamagnetic and are weakly repelled instead. Measuring the magnetic moment is therefore a way of counting unpaired electrons and deducing the structure of a complex.
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