Jahn-Teller Effect

The Jahn-Teller Effect occurs in certain molecules or ions where electrons are unevenly distributed across degenerate (equal-energy) orbitals. This uneven distribution causes the molecule to distort its shape to lower its overall energy, breaking the original symmetry. In practical terms, the molecule changes from a symmetric to a slightly distorted structure, which can influence its properties like color and reactivity. This effect is fundamental in understanding the behavior of transition metal complexes and helps explain why certain compounds have distorted geometries despite seemingly symmetrical arrangements.