The optical absorption study of Mn2+ doped Cadmium formate dihydrate single crystals is carried out at room temperature. The optical absorption study is a tool to investigate the site symmetry and different distortions present in the system. The electronic repulsion and crystal field parameters having good fit to the observed optical absorption spectra are evaluated. The band positions are fitted with the Racah parameters (B and C), the cubic crystal field splitting parameter (Dq) and the Trees correction (). The values obtained for the parameters are B = 875 cm-1 , C = 2933 cm-1 , Dq = 550 cm-1 and = 76 cm-1 , respectively. On the basis of data obtained the surrounding crystalline field and the nature of metal-ligand bonding are discussed.
