In catalysis, transition metal complexes are often used as catalysts due to their ability to facilitate various chemical reactions. The effectiveness of these catalysts can be explained by CFT. When a metal ion forms a complex with ligands, the degenerate d-orbitals split into different energy levels, typically described as t2g and eg orbitals. The energy gap between these orbitals, known as the crystal field splitting energy (Δ), influences the electronic configuration of the metal center and its ability to interact with reactants.
