[Hanz_a93]

Closed.

[Kyri]

The colours are not logical so you have to just straight out learn them. When I was doing A levels I didn't bother trying too hard to remember them all. Asking about colours was usually not more than a couple of marks in the exam and it wasn't worth the extra effort to pick up just a couple of marks. It is best to learn them if you can though.

[121emma]

I have found from doing past papers that not knowing the colours of these can result in a lot of marks being lost. There are no specific tricks, just find what works for you to learn them all. This video on Youtube has helped me, it's only the 2+ ions though
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoYOR...ature=youtu.be

[arvin_infinity]

(Original post by Hanz_a93)
For different ligands there are different colours and there are so many its hard to remember all of them! Is there a trick/shortcut way to remember/figure out the colours? thanks

This is for a2 level btw (salters chem)

Apparently no easy way around it! it might help if you have them all in one page

[Hanz_a93]

(Original post by arvin_infinity)
Apparently no easy way around it! it might help if you have them all in one page

Thanks...but im a pro at it now :P

Its been a looong time since Jan.. xD

[arvin_infinity]

(Original post by Hanz_a93)
Thanks...but im a pro at it now :P

Its been a looong time since Jan.. xD

lol
Well I only noticed this is a old thread! someone is gonna get "TSR warning here"
so how did you manage that anyway

[Hanz_a93]

(Original post by arvin_infinity)
lol
Well I only noticed this is a old thread! someone is gonna get "TSR warning here"
so how did you manage that anyway

Just did dozens of past papers and it sunk in eventually lol ..

[illusionz]

The only thing I can recommend is that the larger the delta for a complex, the more energy a photon needs to promote an electron, more energy = higher frequency = lower wavelength = more towards the violet end of the spectrum.

[EierVonSatan]

(Original post by illusionz)
The only thing I can recommend is that the larger the delta for a complex, the more energy a photon needs to promote an electron, more energy = higher frequency = lower wavelength = more towards the violet end of the spectrum.

I wouldn't recommend they learn about CFT just to get a feeling on colours of complexes

I think I just drew out all the coloured complexes I needed to know onto one page and wrote the complexes in the associated coloured pen

[illusionz]

(Original post by EierVonSatan)
I wouldn't recommend they learn about CFT just to get a feeling on colours of complexes

I think I just drew out all the coloured complexes I needed to know onto one page and wrote the complexes in the associated coloured pen

I've definetely seen A level discussions about splitting of d orbitals and delta values etc, so presumed they knew a little bit about it. I admit I was surprised when I did as I definetely didn't do it.

[EierVonSatan]

(Original post by illusionz)
I've definetely seen A level discussions about splitting of d orbitals and delta values etc, so presumed they knew a little bit about it. I admit I was surprised when I did as I definetely didn't do it.

I *think* it's one of the optional topics on one exam board. I'm unsure though, they change a lot from one year to the next

I wish they'd pay me to set the exams and specs. Then again...nobody would pass

[illusionz]

(Original post by EierVonSatan)
I *think* it's one of the optional topics on one exam board. I'm unsure though, they change a lot from one year to the next

I wish they'd pay me to set the exams and specs. Then again...nobody would pass

Ah ok fair enough. I always find it tricky to remember what exactly I did at A level and what was at uni... And it wasn't even long ago!

As for setting the specs, I've always thought that it would make a lot more sense for them to go into more detail about some aspects of chemistry and just scrap the pointless 'Learn X does Y for no apparent reason' stuff. A simple understanding of MO theory and HOMO/LUMO makes organic mechanisms suddenly make a lot more sense rather than just being a load of arrows.

[illusionz]

(Original post by EierVonSatan)
I *think* it's one of the optional topics on one exam board. I'm unsure though, they change a lot from one year to the next

I wish they'd pay me to set the exams and specs. Then again...nobody would pass

Oh yeah, and chemical tests are just a monumental waste of time!

[EierVonSatan]

(Original post by illusionz)
Ah ok fair enough. I always find it tricky to remember what exactly I did at A level and what was at uni... And it wasn't even long ago!

As for setting the specs, I've always thought that it would make a lot more sense for them to go into more detail about some aspects of chemistry and just scrap the pointless 'Learn X does Y for no apparent reason' stuff. A simple understanding of MO theory and HOMO/LUMO makes organic mechanisms suddenly make a lot more sense rather than just being a load of arrows.

I think there are many undergrads that would tell you orbitals just make mechanisms complicated Just some better understanding of mechanisms and less ''learn this mechanism'' type teaching would go a long way for the more able.

(Original post by illusionz)
Oh yeah, and chemical tests are just a monumental waste of time!

Completely agree.

[illusionz]

(Original post by EierVonSatan)
I think there are many undergrads that would tell you orbitals just make mechanisms complicated Just some better understanding of mechanisms and less ''learn this mechanism'' type teaching would go a long way for the more able.

I guess they're more complicated in terms of there being more to be aware of, but in my opinion it turns it from a memorising exercise into an understanding one, where you can work things out which you haven't seen before by understanding what is going on, rather than just memorising it.

I'm sure my opinion is clouded a bit because I've always enjoyed chemistry and been able to do it, there are almost certainly examples in physics/maths where I'd be on the side of the people who just want to remember the basics rather than getting more involved!

[enigma1122]

just write them out again and again. potassium purple, sodium- street lamps- yellow, magnesium-magnificent-magnificent white light you shouldnt look at etc etc. barium Bottle Green.