Austin Community College Chemistry

Saul Sanchez Experiment 8

Title: Properties of Systems in Chemical Equilibrium - Le Chatelier's Principle

Goal: Le Chatelier’s principle will be tested by several different means in this survey lab. In the first
experiment, the student will dissolve some methyl violet (HMV) in water. The following equilibrium will
be established:
HMV(aq) <____> H+(aq) + MV-(aq)

HMV is yellow in color and MV- is violet. The equilibrium will lie predominantly on the right or
left. This will be apparent by the color of the solution. The student will then add acid or base, whichever
is necessary to shift the equilibrium in the other direction.
In a second experiment, the student will study the effects of concentration and temperature on the
equilibrium established by an insoluble compound, lead (II) chloride.
PbCl2 (s) <____> Pb 2+(aq) + 2 Cl-(aq)

In the third experiment, the student will study the effects of chloride ion concentration and
temperature on the equilibrium established by the following complex ions of cobalt (II).
Co(H2O)62+(aq) + 4 Cl-(aq) <____> CoCl42-(aq) + 6 H2O(l)

The different complex ions are easily distinguished because Co(H2O)62+o is pink in color and
2-
CoCl is blue.
4
In the final experiment, the students will be testing the principles of simultaneous equilibria. An
equilibrium of insoluble zinc hydroxide will be established.
Zn(OH)2 (s) <____> Zn2+(aq) + 2 OH-(aq) Ksp = 5 x 10-17

The equilibrium lies far to the left, as evidenced by K sp. When acid is added to the equilibrium
mixture, the solid dissolves. This is because the acid reacts with the hydroxide, OH -, in the above
equilibrium to produce water, in an equilibrium that favors the products:
H+(aq) + OH-(aq) <____> H2O(l) Kw = 1 x 1014

In addition, it will be observed that addition of hydroxide and ammonia will also cause the
precipitate to dissolve. In both cases, the ligands are reacting with the Zn 2+ in the original equilibrium to
form complex ions.
Zn2+(aq) + 4 OH-(aq) <____> Zn(OH)42-(aq) K = 3 x 1015
Zn2+(aq) + 4 NH3 (aq) <____> Zn(NH3)42+(aq) K = 1 x 109

Procedure:
Part A:
1) Add 5 mL of distilled water to a regular (18 x 150 mm) test tube. Add a few drops of methyl
violet indicator. Report the color of the solution on the Data page.
2) Add a reagent to the solution that should force the equilibrium system to go to the other color
drop by drop, until the color change in complete. If your reagent works, write its formula on the
Data page. Work with 6 M reagents if they are available.
3) Add a reagent to the solution that should revert the system from step 2 to its original color drop
by drop until the color is the same as the original one. If your reagent works, write its formula on
the Data page. Answer all the questions from part A before going to part B.
Part B:
 Austin Community College Chemistry

1) Set up a hot-water bath, using a 400-mL baker half full of water. Start heating the water with a
burner while proceeding with Step 2
2) To a regular test tube add 5.0 mL, 0.30 M HCl to a 10-mL, graduated cylinder. [Cl -] equals to
0.30 M. Add 1 mL, of the HCl solution to the Pb(NO3)2 solution. Stir, and wait about 15 seconds.
Record result.
3) To the Pb(NO3)2 solution add the HCl in 1-mL, increments until a noticeable amount of white
solid PbCl2 is present after stirring. Record the total volume of HCl added at that point.
4) Put the test tube with the precipitate of PbCl2 into the hot-water bath. Stir for a few moments.
Record your observations. Cool the test tube under the cold-water tap.
5) Rinse out your graduated cylinder and then add about 5.0 mL of distilled water to the cylinder.
Add water in 1-mL increments to the mixture in the test tube, stirring well after each addition.
Record the volume of the water added when precipitate just dissolves. Answer all part B before
proceeding.
Part C:
1) Put a few small crystals (~0.1g) of CoCl2 · 6 H2O in a regular test tube. Add 2 mL of 12 M HCl
(CAUTION: NO CONTACT WITH ITS FUMES)
2) Add 2-mL portions of distilled water, stirring after each dilution, until no further color change
occurs. Record the new color.
3) Place the test tube into the hot-water bath and note any change in color. Cool the tube under the
water tap and report your observations. Complete part C before continuing.
Part D:
1) To each of three small test tubes add about 2 mL 0.1 M Zn(NO 3)2 In this solution [Zn2+] equals
0.1 M. To each test tube, add one drop 6 M NaOH and stir. Report your observations.
2) To the first tube, add 6 M HCl drop by drop, with stirring. To the second add 6 M NaOH, again
drop by drop. To the third, add 6 M NH3. Note what happens in each case.
3) Repeat steps 1 and 2, this time using a solution of 0.1 M Mg(NO3)2 Record your observations.
Answer the question in Part D.