A series of ruthenium(II) complexes, [Ru(tcterpy)(NCS)(3)(4-) (OH), [Ru(Htcterpy)(NCS)(3)](3-) (1H), [Ru(H(2)tcterpy)(NCS)(3)](2-)(2H), and [Ru(H(3)tcterpy)(NCS)(3)](-) (3H) (tcterpy = 4,4',4"-tricarboxy-2,2':6',2"-terpyridine), are investigated theoretically to explore their electronic structures and spectroscopic properties. The geometry structures of the complexes in the ground and excited states are optimized by the density functional theory and single-excitation configuration interaction methods, respectively. The absorption and emission spectra of the complexes in gas phase and solutions (ethanol and water) are predicted at the TDDFT(B3LYP) level. The calculations indicate that the protonation effect slightly affects the geometry structures of the complexes in the ground and excited states but leads to significant change in the electronic structures. In cases of both absorptions and emissions, the energy levels of HOMOs and LUMOs for 0H-3H decrease dramatically as a result of the introduction of the COOH groups. The protonation much stabilizes the unoccupied orbitals with respect to the occupied orbitals. Thus, both the absorptions and emissions are red-shifted from OH to 3H. The phosphorescence of 0H-3H are attributed to tcterpyridine -> d(Ru)/NCS ((MLCT)-M-3/(LLCT)-L-3) transitions. The solvent media can influence the molecular orbital distribution of the complexes; as a consequence, the spectra calculated in the presence of the solvent are in good agreement with the experimental results. The MLCT/LLCT absorptions of OH in ethanol and water are red-shifted relative to that in the gas phase. However, the MLCT/LLCT absorptions of the protonated complexes (1H-3H) are blue-shifted in ethanol and water with respect to the gas phase. Similarly, the solvent effect causes a blue-shift of the phosphorescent emission for 0H-3H.