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Colors of gemstones

The most common cause of color in the gemstones is its presence of a very small amount of a transition metal ion. These transition metal ions normally have an incomplete set of 3d electrons. Changes in the energy of these electrons correspond to the energy of its visible light. When white light passes through the colored gemstone and is reflected by it, some of the energy of the visible light is also absorbed, causing 3d electrons in the transition metal ion to undergo its energy change. The light that is transmitted and reflected appears colored because those colors are corresponding to 3d-electron energy transitions have also been absorbed. The table lists several common gemstones, which has chemical compositions, colors, and the origins of these colors.
A ruby is a crystal form of alumina, aluminum oxide, containing a trace of chromium (III) ions replacing some of these aluminum ions. In ruby, each Al3+ ion and Cr3+ ion is surrounded by five oxide ions in an octahedral arrangement. This arrangement splits the five 3d orbitals of Cr3+ into two sets, the orbitals and the dx2-y2 and dz2 orbitals. These two sets normally have different energies. The energy difference between these sets corresponds to its energy of visible light. When white light strikes the ruby, the gem absorbs the light of energy corresponding to the transition of an electron from the lower-energy set of 3d orbital’s to the higher-energy set.

Gem
Formula
Color
Origin of color
Ruby Al2O3 Red Cr3+ replacing Al3+ in its octahedral sites
Emerald Be3Al2(SiO3)6 Green Cr3+ replacing Al3+ in its octahedral site
Alexandrite Al2BeO4 Red/Green Cr3+ replacing Al3+ in its octahedral site
Garnet Mg3Al2(SiO4)3 Red Fe2+ replacing Mg2+ in its 8-coordinate site
Peridot Mg2SiO4 Yellow-green Fe2+ replacing Mg2+ in its 7-coordinate site
Tourmaline Na3Li3Al6(BO3)3(SiO3)6F4 Pink Mn2+ replacing Li+ and Al3+ in its octahedral site
Turquoise Al6(PO4)4(OH)8 • 4H2O Blue-green Cu2+ coordinated to 4 OH¯ and 2 H2O
Sapphire Al2O3 Blue Intervalence transition between Fe2+ and Ti4+ replacing Al3+ its adjacent octahedral sites
Aquamarine Be3Al2(SiO3)6 Blue Intervalence transition between Fe2+ and Fe3+ replacing Al3+ in adjacent octahedral sites
Diamond C Colorless Color centers from nitrogen atoms trapped in crystal

 

 

 
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jewelry precious semi stone - precious stones - emerald gem stones - list of all semi precious stones - gem stones - amethyst gem stone - gem stone silver ring - crystal liquid - gem stone glossary - history of gems - types of gem - gem healing jewelry stone - Glittering Stones Properties - Glittering Stones Sitemap - Glittering Stones links - Glittering Stones News - Search Engine Optimization