Octahedral Splitting
The division of the five d orbitals into a lower t₂g set of three and an upper e_g set of two under an octahedral ligand field.
Formula / equation
t₂g (−0.4Δ₀), e_g (+0.6Δ₀)
Unit
cm⁻¹
In depth
The e_g orbitals point directly at the six ligands and are destabilised, while the t₂g orbitals point between them and are stabilised. The splitting is weighted so the overall energy of the set is unchanged, a requirement known as preserving the barycentre.
Examples in the real world
The three t₂g electrons of Cr³⁺ giving an especially stable, kinetically inert configuration.