as a result of these metal-ligand interactions. the five d orbitals in an octahedral complex are split between two energy levels : a higher level with two orbitals. (dx2-y2 and dz2) having the same energy and a lower level with three equal-energy orbitals (dxy, dyz and dxz) as shown in figure 23.18. The energy difference between these two sets of d orbitals is called the crystal field splitting. The magnitude of depends on the metal and the nature of the ligands : it has a direct effect on the cuior and magnetic properties of complex ions.