Abstract: Crystal field theory stands as a cornerstone in coordination chemistry and poses a pivotal challenge in undergraduate inorganic chemistry education. Leveraging recent advancements in the synthesis of nickel macrocyclic coordination compounds, we introduce a highly adaptable and multifaceted comprehensive experiment. Students engage in synthesizing a series of nickel complexes, observing their colors, and analyzing their infrared absorption spectra, UV-visible absorption spectra, and effective magnetic moments. By integrating classroom instruction with literature review, students deduce the ligand composition and central ion crystal field configuration of the complexes. Spanning 8 class hours, this experiment amalgamates theoretical knowledge and experimental skills across inorganic, analytical, and physical chemistry domains. It exhibits conspicuous experimental phenomena, excellent reproducibility, low cost, and high safety standards. Moreover, it extensively cultivates students’ analytical prowess in tackling real-world problems within a problem-oriented learning framework, thereby enhancing their fundamental chemical literacy.

Key words: Comprehensive experimental teaching, Crystal field theory, Coordination chemistry, Macrocyclic ligand, Nickel complex