Pairing
What is Pairing?
Electron pairing refers to the occupation of an atomic or molecular orbital by two electrons with opposite spins (↑↓), as required by the Pauli exclusion principle. Pairing energy is the energy cost of forcing two electrons to share the same orbital due to their electrostatic repulsion, which must be overcome when strong-field ligands cause low-spin configurations in transition metal complexes. The competition between pairing energy and orbital splitting energy (Δ) determines whether a complex adopts a high-spin or low-spin configuration.
Key Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Electron pairing refers to the occupation of an atomic or molecular orbital by two electrons with opposite spins (↑↓), as required by the Pauli exclusion principle. Pairing energy is the energy cost of forcing two electrons to share the same orbital due to their electrostatic repulsion, which must be overcome when strong-field ligands cause low-spin configurations in transition metal complexes. The competition between pairing energy and orbital splitting energy (Δ) determines whether a complex adopts a high-spin or low-spin configuration.