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AIM:
To synthesise and study the cobaltammine complexes
To study the UV characterization of the cobaltammine complexes
Abstract:
This experiment serves as an introduction to the area of synthetic chemistry and more
specifically, to inorganic synthesis. New chemical bonds will be formed large molecule
is synthesized from smaller ones. Coordination compound will be synthesised. The
bonds in coordination compounds are two-electron bonds (like covalent bonds), but
both electrons come from the ligand (a Lewis base with an unpaired electron pair). The
metal ion serves as a Lewis acid (an electron-deficient species which can use its empty
orbitals for the bond). Two possible coordination complexes will be synthesized in this
experiment. One molecule is named carbonatotetraamminecobalt(III)nitrate. Its formula
is written [Co(NH3)4Co3]NO3. The other molecule is named
pentaamminechlorocobalt(III) chloride. Its formula is written [Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2. The
ammonia and chloride ligands of these complexes use lone pairs of electrons to form
bonds with the cobalt cation. The coordination number for the cobalt in both products is
six and these cations are octahedral, as predicted by VSEPR theory.
INTRODUCTION:
The elucidation of the details of the structure of these complexes is of current interest,
although Werner correctly predicted the geometry of many of them more than fifty years
ago. A well-known complex ion is the tetraammine copper(II) ion in which four ammonia
molecules are arranged (coordinated) about a central cupric ion at the corners of a
square. The nature of the bonds between the central atom and the coordinating groups
(termed ligands) varies with the nature of the species involved. In some complexes the
bonding may be described as largely covalent in character, whereas in others electron
sharing is relatively unimportant and the interaction between the central atom and the
ligands is essentially electrostatic in nature(Walton, 1948).
Coordination compounds of Co(III) and Cr(III) have been of particular interest because
their complexes undergo ligand exchange very slowly compared with complexes of many
other transition metal ions. For example, Ni(NH3)62+ reacts virtually instantaneously with
H2O to form Ni(OH2)62+. Under the same conditions, the analogous reactions of
Co(NH3)63+ and Cr(NH3)63+ occur very slowly. This difference in behaviour of complexes
of different metal ions has been qualitatively accounted for by ligand field theory and
molecular orbital theory(Dixon et al, 1983).
The slow reactivity of Co(III) complexes has made them suitable for extensive
investigations. The structures of the octahedral Co(III) complexes which will be prepared
in this experiment are given below.
The Co(NO3)2 that is available commercially has the formula Co(NO3)26H2O and very
probably is a coordination compound having the ionic formulation [Co(OH2)6](NO3)]2.
Since Co(II) complexes, like those of Ni(II), react very rapidly by ligand exchange, the first
step in the reaction might be expected to be:
This Co(II) complex could then be oxidised by the transfer of an electron to H 2O2 to give
the relatively unreactive Co(III) ion, [Co(NH3)4CO3]+.
The two complexes are characterised by infrared and U/V-visible spectroscopy and by
electrical conductivity measurements(Richens et al, 2003).
MATERIALS:
Beaker
Spatula
Magnetic stirrer
Fume hood
Filtration flask
Suction apparatus
Pinch clamp
Thermometer
Evaporating dish
Oven
Spectrophotometer
Vacuum filtrations
Volumetric flasks
Analytical balance
Pipet
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:
Synthesis of Carbonatotetraamminecobalt(III)nitrate
Synthesis of Pentaamminechlorocobalt(III)chloride
PRESENTATION OF RESULTS:
A)
Name of the product: Carbonatotetraamminecobalt(III)nitrate
Mass of the product: 4.14g
Color of the product: Purple
B)
Wavelenth Absorbance
(nm) ABS
350 1.381
400 2.110
450 1.612
500 1.451
550 1.180
600 0.940
650 0.746
700 0.100
750 0.087
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS:
The experiment was taken done in one day and it was done in a fume hood.
The experiment was successful and the aim of the experiment (to synthesize some
cobaltammine complexes and to study their absorption spectra) was achieved and the
two cobaltaammine complexes synthesized are carbonatotetraamminecobalt(III)nitrate
and Pentaamminechlorocobalt(III)chloride and they were found to have 4.14 g and 0.82
g mass.
References: