FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
(AS1205C)
CHM361
EXPERIMENT 6
Title : Physical and Chemical Properties of Coordination Compounds
Name : Dayang Nor Shafiqah Binti Awang Shukeran
Student ID : 2017296442
Laboratory partner :
Name Student ID
1. Amira Nasirah Binti Jemat 2017403616
2. Nur Syasya Farzana Binti Mohd Taib 2017441662
Lecturer’s name : Mdm. Rabuyah Binti Ni
Date of experiment : 24 October 2019
Date of submission :
TITLE
Physical and Chemical Properties of Coordination Compounds
OBJECTIVE
1. To study the physical and chemical properties of coordination compounds.
INTRODUCTION
Transition metals readily react with halogens to form binary compounds of various colors, for
example: green-black ferric chloride (FeCl3), deep blue cobalt chloride (CoCl2), and golden
yellow nickle bromide (NiBr2). These compounds dissolve in water to give brightly colored
solutions but of changed colors: yellow solutions (containing Fe3+ ions), red solutions (Co2+
ions), and green solutions (Ni2+ ions). By evaporating these solutions, crystals of these new
compounds can be obtained: yellow FeCl3.6H2O, red CoCl2.6H2O, and green NiBr.6H2O.
Addition of ammonia to a green nickel solution changes its color to violetand the
compound NiBr2.6NH3 can be crystallized. In all cases these beautiful color changes occur
because a new chemical species has formed, and there have been changes in the bonding of
the nonmetallic substance to the metal ion. Probably the best-known example of vivid color
change is the dissolving of anhydrous white cupric sulfate (CuSO4) in water to give a blue
solution, containing [Cu(H2O4]2+. Addition of ammonia yields the deep blue [Cu(NH3)4]2+,
which forms crytals that have the formula [Cu(NH3)4]SO4.H2O.
In this laboratory, we will explore some of the coordination chemistry of copper and
cobalt.
The Chemistry of Copper
The two most important oxidation states of copper are the +1 (cuprous) and +2 (cupric).
The +2 ion is more stable and by far the most common. Commonly encountered copper salts
include copper sulfate pentahydrate and copper chloride dihydrate, which have the formulas
CuSO4.5H2O and CuCl2.5H2O. The former is pale blue in color, and the latter is blue-green in
color.
The Chemistry of Cobalt
The two most stable oxidation states of cobalt are th +2 (cobaltous) and +3 (cobaltic).
The cobaltous ion is labile and may have either a tetrahedral or octahedral geometry.
Common salts include cobalt chloride hexahydrate and cobalt nitrate hexahydrate, which
have the formulas [Co(H2O)6]Cl2 and [Co(H2O)6](NO3)2. In solution, cobalt (II) forms the
octahedral [Co(H2O)]2+ ion, which is pale pink in color. Addition of concentrated HCl results
in the formation of the complex ion [CoCl4], which has a tetrahedral geometry. Addition of
SCN ion results in the formation of [Co(SCN)4]2-, which is also tetrahedral.
APPARATUS
1. Goggles
2. Fume hood
3. Test tubes
4. Test tube rack
5. Dropper
6. Measuring cylinder
CHEMICALS
1. Solid CuSO4.5H2O and CuCl2.2H2O
2. 0.10 M copper sulfate
3. 15 M NH3
4. 12 M HCl
5. 6 M NaOH
6. Saturated NaNO2 solution
7. 0.10 M K4[Fe(CN)6]
8. Solid [Co(H2O)6]Cl2 and [Co(H2O)6](NO3)2
9. Ethanol
10. 0.10 M CoCl2
11. Saturated KSCN solution
PROCEDURE
Copper (II) Complexes
1. The bottles containing CuSO4.5H2O and CuCl2.2H2O was located. The observations
regarding the appearance of these two compounds were recorded and the differences
in color of these compounds were accounted.
2. 0.50 mL (approximately 10 drops) of 0.10 M copper sulfate was added to each of six
small test tubes. The color of the solution was noted.
3. To one test tube, a few drops of 15 M NH3 was added.
4. To the next test tube, a few drops of ethylenediamine was added.
5. To the third test tube, 12 M HCl was added dropwise until the color changes to
yellow.
6. To the fourth, 6 M NaOH was added. An initial precipitate of Cu(OH)2 may form,
which redissolves in excess OH- to form [Cu(OH)4]2-.
7. To the fifth test tube, 5-10 drops of saturated NaNO2 solution was added.
8. To the sixth, a few drops of 0.10 M K4[Fe(CN)6] solution was added.
9. In each case, the observations was recorded and the formula for the complex ion
formed was written.
Cobalt (II) Complexes
1. Two containers of solid [Co(H2O)6]Cl2 and [Co(H2O)6](NO3)2 was located. The
observations regarding the color of the crystals were recorded. The differences in
color of these compounds were accounted.
2. Two small test tubes were obtained. To the first test tube, approximately 0.50 mL of
ethanol and to the second, approximately 0.50 mL of water were added.
3. A small crystal of [Co(H2O)6]Cl2 was added into each test tube. The color of the
resulting solutions were recorded and the differences in color were accounted.
4. 0.50 mL (approximately 10 drops) of 0.10 M CoCl2 solution was added to each of two
small test tubes. To one test tube, 12 M HCl was added dropwise until the color
change appears complete. To the next test tube, 10-15 drops of saturated KSCN
solution was added. The observation was recorded and the formulas for the complex
ions formed were identified.
DATA
Copper (II)
The color of CuSO4.5H2O is bright blue crystal.
The color of CuCl2.2H2O is dark green crystal/blue-green crystal.
Table 6.1: Observation for Copper (II) Complexes
Test
Reagent Added Complex Ion Formed Observation
tube
CuSO4.5H2O + 4NH3 → [Cu(NH3)4]SO4 + 5H2O Bright blue color solution
1 15 M NH3
(complex ion) turns dark blue
CuSO4.5H2O + 2NH2CH2CH2NH2 → [Cu(NH2CH2CH2NH2)2]SO4 + 5H2O Bright blue color solution
2 NH2CH2CH2NH2
(complex ion) turns dark purple
CuSO4.5H2O + 4HCl → CuCl42- + 4H+ + SO42- + 5H2O Bright blue color solution
3 12 M HCl
(complex ion) turns yellow
Bright blue color solution
CuSO4.5H2O + 2NaOH → Na2SO4 + Cu(OH)2(s) + 5H2O
4 6 M NaOH turns pale blue with
(precipitate)
precipitate
CuSO4.5H2O + 2 NaNO2 → Cu(NO2)2 + Na2SO4 + 5H2O Bright blue color solution
5 NaNO2
(complex ion) turns dark green
Bright blue color solution
2CuSO4.5H2O + K4[Fe(CN)6] → Cu2[Fe(CN)6] + 2K2SO4 + 10H2O
6 0.10 M K4[Fe(CN)6] turns dark brown with
(precipitate)
precipitate
Cobalt (II)
The color of solid [Co(H2O)6]Cl2 is purple.
The color of solid [Co(H2O)6](NO3)2 is red brownish.
What is the color of [Co(H2O)6]Cl2 in:
Ethanol – Dark blue.
Water – Light red.
Test Tube Reagent Added Complex Ion Formed Observation
CoCl2 + 2HCl → CoCl4 + H2
1 12 M HCl Light red solution of [Co(H2O)6]Cl2 turns blue
(complex ion)
CoCl2 + KSCN → K2[Co(SCN)4] + 2KCl
2 KSCN Light red solution of [Co(H2O)6]Cl2 turns purple
(complex ion)
Copper (II)
1
2 3 4 5 6
Cobalt (II)
water HCl KSCN
ethanol
QUESTIONS
1. List the chemical formula, chemical properties, and any special hazards associated with
the following reagents.
a) Ammonia
Formula : NH3
Properties : Colourless gas with a characteristic pungent smell.
Hazard : It is a compressed gas and a confined space explosion and toxicity hazard.
Ammonia gas is a corrosive gas and may be fatal if inhaled. Ammonia gas may cause
lung injury, and the liquefied gas can cause frostbite and corrosive injury to eyes and
skin. Ammonia gas is a severe respiratory tract irritant.
b) Ethylenediamine
Formula : NH2CH2CH2NH2
Properties : Appears as a clear colorless liquid with an ammonia-like odor.
Hazard : It is a corrosive chemical and contact can severely irritate and burn the skin
and eyes with possible eye damage. Breathing ethylenediamine can irritate the nose
and throat. Breathing it also can irritate the lungs causing coughing and shortness of
breath.
c) Potassium thiocyanate
Formula : KSCN
Properties : Colorless deliquescent crystalline solid.
Hazard : Potassium thiocyanate is a skin and eye irritant and is toxic when ingested.
Eye contact will cause redness and pain. Skin contact will cause localised irritation.
Ingestion will cause headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and faintness.
d) Potassium ferrocyanide
Formula : K4[Fe(CN)6]
Properties : Potassium salt of the coordination complex [Fe(CN)6]4− which forms
lemon-yellow monoclinic crystals.
Hazard : May be harmful if inhaled and may cause irritation to skin, eyes and
respiratory tract.
2. Name each of the following complex ions:
a) [CuCl4]2- - tetrachlorocuprate (II)
b) [Ni(NH2CH2CH2NH2)3]2+ - tris(ethylenediamine)nickel (II)
2+
c) [Cu(NH3)4] - tetraamminecopper (II)
d) [Co(SCN)4]2- - tetrathiocyanatocobaltate (II)
e) [Fe(CN)6]4- - hexacyanoferrate (II)
3. Which ligand produces a stronger ligand field, Cl- or SCN-? Explain your answer.
Any electron-rich species having a negative charge or lone pair and has the tendency to
donate electrons is known as a ligand. They are broadly divided into two categories,
strong-field ligand, and weak field ligand. Cl- produces a stronger ligand compared to
SCN-. This is somehow vary depending on how they spin. However, NCS- is a stong
ligand, the ligand field exerted by NCS- ligands on the metal d orbitals is large, and hence
it is classified as strong field ligand.
SCN- < Cl- < NCS-
This means that the frequency of the transition increases, and so the ligand field splitting
parameter increases across the series. When a ligand causes there to be a large ligand field
splitting parameter, it is said to generate a strong field, and when there is a small ligand
field splitting parameter, it is said to be a weak field ligand. For example, NCS– is a
strong field ligand and Cl- and SCN- is a weak field ligand.
Ligands that produce a small Δ are called weak-field ligands and lie at the left end of the
series. Ligands that produce a large Δ are called strong-field ligands and lie at the right
end of the series.
Cl− is a sigma donor ligand whereas SCN− is a sigma donor as well as π acceptor ligand.
Due to π accepting tendency, it forms a stronger bond with the metal cation. Strong
bonding will lead to high splitting of the d orbitals. Therefore, it results in the pairing of
electrons in the orbitals. These ligands do not help in the pairing of unpaired electrons.
Sometimes there are exceptional case when some weak field ligands acts as strong field
ligand.
DISCUSSION
In this experiment, we were determined to study the physical and chemical properties of
coordination compound. For copper (II) complexes, the color of CuSO4.5H2O is bright blue
crystal, which it has the tendency to absorb moisture. For anhydrous CuSO4.5H2O, it remains
white. This can be explained on the basis of crystal field theory. In hydrated CuSO4, the
water molecules surrounding the central metal (Cu) function as ligands which bring d-d
transition and hence emits blue colour in visible region due which hydrated CuSO4 appears
blue and as anhydrous CuSO4 do not have any water of crystallisation hence remains white in
colour. Besides that, the color of CuCl2.2H2O is dark green crystal/blue-green crystal, which
is slowly absorbs moisture to form this color from light brown (anhydrous).
For each test tubes, they were added with 0.10 M copper sulfate and have the color of
bright blue solution. To the first test tube, tetraamminecopper (II) sulfate, [Cu(NH3)4]SO4
complex ion was formed when 15 M NH3 was added, resulting in dark blue colour solution.
To the second test tube, bisethylenediaminecopper (II) sulfate, [Cu(NH2CH2CH2NH2)2]SO4
complex ion was formed when added with NH2CH2CH2NH2, giving dark purple solution. To
the third test tube, tetrachlorocuprate (II), CuCl42- was formed when added with 12 M HCl
giving yellow solution. To the fourth, there is a precipitation reaction occured, where copper
(II) hydroxide, Cu(OH)2 was formed when added with 6 M NaOH, resulting in pale blue
solution with precipitate. To the fifth, copper (II) nitrite, Cu(NO2)2 was formed when added
with a few drops of NaNO2 solution, giving dark green color solution. To the sixth, copper
ferrocyanide, Cu2[Fe(CN)6] was formed when added with 0.10 M K4[Fe(CN)6], resulting in
dark brown color solution with precipitate.
For cobalt (II) complexes, the color of solid [Co(H2O)6]Cl2 is purple. In fact, it is in
blue color if it is anhydrous. In this situation, it turned purple/pink-red in color because it has
started to absorb moisture. Next, the color of solid [Co(H2O)6](NO3)2 is red-brownish. The
color of [Co(H2O)6]Cl2 in ethanol is dark blue, while it turned pink when in water. Because
of the ease of the hydration/dehydration reaction, and the resulting color change, cobalt
chloride is used as an indicator for water in desiccants.
For the next part, CoCl2 solution was added to each of two small test tubes, which is
light red in color. To the first test tube, 12 M HCl was added and CoCl4 solution was formed,
resulting in blue color. This color change formed upon addition of HCl to aqueous solution of
hydrated cobalt. To the next test tube, potassium tetrathiocyanatocobaltate (II),
K2[Co(SCN)4] was formed when potassium thiocyanate, KSCN was added to the solution,
resulting in purple color solution.
While handling this experiment, we could not get the exact color of the certain solid
because they have been exposed to moisture, which they are deliquescent crystalline solid.
For prevention, they have to be placed in a proper container to avoid any hygroscopic matter
that can resulting in changing of the color of the anhydrous/solid phase of the compounds.
CONCLUSION
Based on the experiment, the physical properties and chemical properties of copper and
cobalt were determined. Physical properties are properties of the substance itself. Physical
properties do not mention how the element or compound reacts with another substance. For
chemical properties, a chemical change means the substance changes into another substance.
In other words, its chemical formula changes. If a substance decomposes, that is a chemical
change. If a substance reacts with another substance, that is also a chemical change.
REFERENCES
Andrew. (2019). General. Retrieved October 27, 2019 from
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p.
CHM361 notes.
Halpern, J. and Kauffman, G. B. (2018). Ligands and chelates. Retrieved October 27, 2019
from https://www.britannica.com/science/coordination-compound/Ligands-and-chelates.
Libretexts. (2019). Spectrochemical Series. Retrieved October 27, 2019 from
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Inorganic_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_(Inorg
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