Objective

synthesize the pentaaminechlorocobalt(III) chloride complex.

Introduction
Complex compounds comprise of a large group of chemical
compounds and is derived from chemical elements, primarily from metals and in
particular transition metals. Coordination complexes exists in different forms, such
as SO
4
2-
, MnO
4
-
, [FeCN
6
]
2-
, etc.
Many metallic salts exists in the hydrated form, for instance, CoCl
2
.6H
2
O
and consists of the complex ion such as [Co(H
2
O)
6
]
2+
here, six water molecules act
as the ligand bonding directly to the central metal ion, Co
2+
, by coordinate bond
through the donor atom from the ligand, that is, the oxygen atom from the H
2
O
ligand.
The objective of this experiment is to synthesize the
chloropentaaminecobalt(III) chloride complex. The scheme of the reactions for the
preparation is given below:
2 CoCl
2
.6H
2
O + 2 NH
4
Cl + 8 NH
3
+ H
2
O
2
---> 2 [Co(NH
3
)
5
(H
2
O)]Cl
3
+ 12 H
2
O
[Co(NH
3
)
5
(H
2
O)]Cl
3
----> [Co(NH
3
)
5
Cl]Cl
2
+ H
2
O
Apparatus
Beaker
Glass rod
Buchner funnel
Vacuum pump
Materials
Aqueous concentrate ammonia solution
Ammonium chloride
Cobalt (II) chloride 6-hydrate
Hydrogen peroxide solution
Concentrated hydrochloric acid
Procedures
1) In 7.5 ml aqueous concentrated ammonia solution, 1.25 g ammonium
chloride was added.
2) With stirring, 2.5 g cobalt (II) chloride 6-hydrate was added in small portion.
The next portion was not added until the added portion had dissolved. A
yellow precipitate was formed easily.
3) To the slurry above, with stirring, hydrogen peroxide solution (2.0 ml, 30%
v/v) was added slowly. A strong reaction occurred.
4) After the reaction had stopped, 7.5 ml concentrated hydrochloric acid was
added slowly to the red aquapentaamine solution.
5) The product was heated on a hot water bath for 20 minutes.
6) The product was then filtered off by vacuum suction and washed with cold
water.
Results and Calculations
Mass of cobalt (II) chloride 6-hydrate used = 2.4878 g
Mass of ammonium chloride = 1.2504 g
Mass of watch glass = 30.7527 g
Mass of watch glass + product = 31.8420 g
Mass of product = 1.0893 g

No. of mole of cobalt (II) chloride 6-hydrate used =



= 0.0105 mol
No. of mole of ammonium chloride =



= 0.0234 mol
2 CoCl
2
.6H
2
O + 2 NH
4
Cl + 8 NH
3
+ H
2
O
2
---> 2 [Co(NH
3
)
5
(H
2
O)]Cl
3
+ 12 H
2
O
[Co(NH
3
)
5
(H
2
O)]Cl
3
----> [Co(NH
3
)
5
Cl]Cl
2
+ H
2
O
Cobalt (II) chloride 6-hydrate is the limiting agent in this experiment as
ammonium chloride was added in excess.
2 moles CoCl
2
.6H
2
O produce 2 moles [Co(NH
3
)
5
(H
2
O)]Cl
3
.
0.0105 mole CoCl
2
.6H
2
O produce 0.0105 mole [Co(NH
3
)
5
(H
2
O)]Cl
3
.
1 mole [Co(NH
3
)
5
(H
2
O)]Cl
3
produces 1 mole [Co(NH
3
)
5
Cl]Cl
2
.
no. of mole of [Co(NH
3
)
5
Cl]Cl
2
produced =

= 0.00525 mol

Molar mass, [Co(NH
3
)
5
Cl]Cl
2
= 250.44 g/mol
Theoretical mass [Co(NH
3
)
5
Cl]Cl
2
= 250.44 g/mol x 0.00525 mol
= 1.3148 g
Percentage yield [Co(NH
3
)
5
Cl]Cl
2
=


x 100%
=


x 100%
= 82.85 %