Which of the following describes the properties of colored compounds in transition metals?

Colored compounds in transition metals exhibit shades depending on the ligands attached due to the presence of partially filled d-orbitals. When light interacts with these compounds, specific wavelengths of light are absorbed based on the energy differences between the d-orbitals, a phenomenon known as "d-d transitions." The type of ligands surrounding the transition metal ion influences the splitting of these d-orbitals, leading to the absorption of certain colors of light and reflecting others. This results in the observable color of the compound, which varies with different ligands.

For instance, a transition metal might appear blue with one type of ligand but might change to green or yellow when a different ligand is coordinated. This property of coordination complexes is essential in the field of chemistry, particularly in understanding colorimetric analysis and the design of dyes used in various applications.