Editing Ligand field theory (section)

{{Short description|Molecular orbital theory applied to transition metal complexes}}
'''Ligand field theory''' ('''LFT''') describes the bonding, orbital arrangement, and other characteristics of [[coordination complexes]].<ref>
Ballhausen, Carl Johan,"Introduction to Ligand Field Theory",McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1962</ref><ref>
{{cite book |last=Griffith |first=J.S. |date=2009 |title=The Theory of Transition-Metal Ions |publisher=Cambridge University Press |edition=re-issue |isbn= 978-0521115995}}</ref><ref>
Schläfer, H. L.; Gliemann, G. "Basic Principles of Ligand Field Theory"  Wiley Interscience: New York; 1969
</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Bhatt |first=Vasishta |title=Chapter 1 - Basic Coordination Chemistry |date=2016-01-01 |work=Essentials of Coordination Chemistry |pages=1–35 |editor-last=Bhatt |editor-first=Vasishta |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012803895600001X |access-date=2024-06-18 |publisher=Academic Press |doi=10.1016/b978-0-12-803895-6.00001-x |isbn=978-0-12-803895-6|url-access=subscription }}</ref> It represents an application of [[molecular orbital theory]] to [[transition metal]] complexes. A transition metal ion has nine valence [[atomic orbital]]s - consisting of five ''n''d, one (''n''+1)s, and three (''n''+1)p orbitals.  These orbitals have the appropriate energy to form bonding interactions with [[ligand]]s.  The LFT analysis is highly dependent on the geometry of the complex, but most explanations begin by describing [[Octahedral molecular geometry|octahedral]] complexes, where six ligands coordinate with the metal. Other complexes can be described with reference to [[crystal field theory]].<ref>G. L. Miessler and D. A. Tarr "Inorganic Chemistry" 3rd Ed, Pearson/Prentice Hall, {{ISBN|0-13-035471-6}}.</ref> [[Inverted ligand field theory]] (ILFT) elaborates on LFT by breaking assumptions made about relative metal and ligand orbital energies.