Crystal field theory is the theory which interpretes the properties of coordination entities on the basis that the interaction of the ligands and the central atom is a strictly ionic or ion-dipole interaction resulting from electrostatic attractions between the central atom and the ligands. The ligands are regarded as point negative (or partially negative) charges surrounding a central atom; covalent bonding is completely neglected. The splitting or separation of energy levels of the five degenerate d orbitals in a transition metal, when the metal is surrounded by ligands arranged in a particular geometry with respect to the metal center, is called the crystal field splitting.
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