Empirical measures of σ bonding involving metal 3d orbitals are derived from Perumareddi's (4) complete analysis of the quartet spectral bands of quadrate complexes in the families Cr(NH3)5Xn+ and Cr(OH2)5Xn+. These are shown to correlate with lability of X in the Cr(III) complexes and in Co(NH3)5Xn+ complexes in a sense indicating that relative reactivity is controlled by variation of ligand metal 3d σ interaction. The relationship between the two Cr(III) series implies that the non-labile ligands can labilize the leaving group in proportion to their σ donor capacities. This observation bears on some well-known difficulties in crystal field theories of reactivity. In evaluating the correlation of spectral parameters with reactivity, the role of solvation in reactivity of Cr(III) and Co(III) complexes is discussed with emphasis on the surprisingly small solvent effects that have been observed.