Question

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the molecular orbital model and the crystal field model. Under which circumstances is it more useful to use the MO model? The crystal field model?

Short answer

MO Theory can be used to predict the bonding pattern of the main group element. The crystal field splitting energy can be used to predict the bonding pattern of transition metal.

Step-by-step solution

Advantages of MO theory:

1. MO theory predicts the electronic spectra and magnetism accurately.
2. MO theory predicts the bond order very accurately.
3. Disadvantages of MO theory:
   1. It fails to explain the bonding pattern of the coordination complex.

Advantages of Crystal field Theory:

1. It predicts the bonding pattern of the coordination complex.
2. It accurately predicts the electronic spectra of transition metals.

Disadvantages of Crystal field Theory:

1. It fails to consider the covalent character of the bond.
2. It fails to predict the bonding pattern of the main group element.