Explain: the compounds of copper (II) are colored but those of zinc are colorless?

1 Answer
Aug 13, 2017

You have a d9 electronic configuration in the case of Cu(+II)..

Explanation:

...and you gots a d10 electronic configuration in the case of Zn(+II).. Cu(+II) has a d9 electronic configuration, and the colours exhibited by transition metal complexes are in part due to dd transitions (i.e. the energy difference in orbital configuration corresponds to the visible region). These electronic transitions are not available to the Zn(+II) complex, whose d-orbitals are completely filled.