Which one of the following ionic species will impart colour to an aqueous solution?
Ti4+
Cu+
Zn2+
Cr3+
Correct answer: Cr3+
Solution
Cr3+ imparts color to an aqueous solution because it has unpaired d-electrons, which allow d-d transitions. The other ions (Ti4+, Cu+, Zn2+) either lack d-electrons or have a completely filled d-orbital, making them colorless.