The Experiments 

I.​ Cobalt System

​

CoCl​4​-2​ {blue} + 6 H​2​O ⇋ Co(H​2​O)​6​+2​ {red} + 4 Cl​-​ + heat

Action Observation Shift Explanation

The solution turned  left   By adding more heat (acts as a product because the 
Heat dark blue from  reaction is exothermic) the equilibrium is shifted to 
purple   the left, which caused more reactants (CoCl​4​-2​ and 
H​2​O)​ ​to be formed. Since CoCl​4​-2​ ​ ​ion is blue, the 
solutions turns dark blue.   

The solution turns  right   Cooling the system causes in removal of heat, and 
Cool pink/red   thus removal of a product. The forward reaction is 
favored which produces more heat, Co(H​2​O)​6​+2​, and
​   
-​ +2 ​
Cl​ ions. Since Co(H​2​O)​6​ is red, the solution turns 
pin/red. 

Solution turns  right   Addition of H2O increases the concentration of H2O, 

Add H​2​O pink/red   which is found on the reactant side therefore the 
   equilibrium shifts to the right and produces more 
product (Co(H2O)6 +2 and Cl- ). Co(H2O)6 +2 ion 
is red which causes the solution to turn pink/red.  

Solution turns dark  left   KCl dissociates into K+ and Cl- ions, therefore the 
Add KCl blue    concentration of Cl- ions (found on the product side) 
increases, causing the equilibrium to shift to the left 
and producing more reactant (H2O and CoCl4 -2). 
Since CoCl4 -2 is dark blue, the solution turns dark 
blue.  

Solution turns left AgNO3 dissociates into Ag+ and NO3 - . Ag+ reacts
Add pink/red, some with Cl to form precipitate. This decreases the
AgNO​3 white precipitate concentration of Cl- ions (product) therefore there is
forming an decrease in products and the system shifts to the
right and produces more products (Co(H2O)6 +2 and
Cl- ). Since Cl- and Ag+ ions react they form some
insoluble precipitate.
II.​ Ammonium System
​

heat + NH​4​+​ + OH​-​ ⇌ NH​3​ + H​2​O

Action Observation Shift Explanation

Light pink solution right NH4Cl dissociates into NH4 +

Add NH​4​Cl becomes clear and Cl- , therefore the
concentration of NH4 +
increases. NH4 + is found on
the reactant side, which means
the system shifts to the right and
produces more products (NH3
and H2O), which make the
solution clear.

Light pink solution left HCl dissociates into H+ and Cl-

Add HCl becomes clear , therefore the addition of HCl
increases the concentration of
H+ ions. H+ and OH combine
to form H2O, and the
concentration of OH drops, and
the solution becomes clear.

Pink solution becomes right NaOH dissociates into Na+ and

Add NaOH dark pink/red. OH- , therefore the addition of
NaOH increases the
concentration of OH ions
(reactant), which shifts the
system to the right and results in
more product formation (​NH​3
and H​2​O)
III.​ Iron Thiocyanate System
​

Fe​+3​ {pale yellow} + SCN​-​ ​⇌ ​FeSCN​+2​ {red} + heat

Action Observation Shift Chemical Explanation

   Solution is light yellow/pale  right   Heat functions as a product, because 

Heat  yellow  the reaction is exothermic and leads 
to the reverse reaction being favored. 
Adding heat shifts the equilibrium to 
the left and produces more reactants 
​
SCN- and Fe​+3 (yellow) which turns 
the solution pale yellow.  

   Yellow solution turns dark  right   KSCN dissociates into K+ and SCN-, 
Add KSCN  orange/reddish   therefore the concentration of SCN 
ions is increased. SCN is a reactant, 
which implies that the system shifts to 
the right and produces more products 
(FeSCN+2)(red) causing the solution 
to turn dark orange/red.   

   right  Fe(NO3)3 dissociates into Fe+3 and 

Add  System turns dark  NO3 - , therefore the addition of 
Fe(NO​3​)​3  orange/reddish    Fe(NO3)3 increases the concentration 
of Fe+3 ions (reactant) and the system 
shifts to the right and produces more 
products (FeSCN+2), and since the 
ion is red the solutions changes its 
color to dark orange/red.  

System turns light  left  Na2HPO4 dissociates into Na+2 and 

Add  yellow/pale yellow    HPO4 -2 . HPO4 -2 ion forms a 
Na​2​HPO​4  complex with the Fe+3 ion, thereby 
decreasing the concentration of Fe+3, 
which is on the reactant side. The 
system shifts towards the left, 
creating more reactants (Fe+3 and 
SCN- ). Because Fe+3 ions are pale 
yellow, the whole solution becomes 
that color.  
IV.​ Chromate System
​

2 CrO​4​-2​ {yellow} + 2 H​+​ ​⇌​ Cr​2​O​7​-2​ {red} + H​2​O

Action Observation Shift Explanation

   Orange solution turns  right   HCl dissociates into H+ and Cl- 

Add HCl  vivid red   ions, which increases the 
concentration of H+ ions(found 
on the reactant side). Since 
there is an increase in reactants 
the system shifts towards the 
right, and produces more 
products (Cr​2​O​7​-2​ and H​2​O). 
Cr​2​O​7​-2​ {red} turns the solution 
into a bright red color. 

   Orange solution turns  left  NaOH dissociates into Na+ and 

Add NaOH  vibrant yellow   OH- ions, which causes OH- 
ions to react with the H+ ions 
and form H2O. Since H2O 
increases and it is a product, the 
system shifts left and produces 
more reactants (2 CrO​4​-2​ and 2 
H​+​). CrO​4​-2​ is yellow which 
turns the solution into a bright 
yellow color.  
V.​ ​ ​Nitrogen Dioxide System

2 NO​2​ {brown} ​⇌​N​2​O​4​ {colorless} + heat

Actio Observation Shift Explanation

n

   From light brown  left   Heat acts as a product because the reaction is 
Heat  solution to dark brown   exothermic. Adding more heat shift the 
equilibrium to the left, and favors the reverse 
(endothermic) reaction. Heat is used to form 
reactants (NO​2​) which is brown so the solution 
turns brown as well.   

   Brown solution turns  right   As the forward reaction is exothermic, the 

Cool  light yellow   removal of heat acts as a removal of a product. 
As such, the forward reaction is favoured to 
release heat into the system; therefore the 
equilibrium is pushed to the right to create more 
products (N2O4) and turn the solution yellow. 

VI.​ Copper Sulfate System

​

CuSO​4​-5​H​2​O + heat ​⇌ ​CuSO​4​ + 5H​2​O

Actio Observation Shift Explanation

n

   White, powdery  right   Heat acts as a reactant because the reaction is 
Heat  precipitate forms   endothermic and requires heat to proceed. 
Excess heat shifts the equilibrium to the right 
and produces more products (H2O and 
CuSO​4​). As the solution is heated water 
evaporates, leaving CuSO​4​ as precipitate).   

   Solution recovers its  left   H2O is found on the product side of the 
Add  blue color (still in the  reactions, which means that the products will 
H​2​O  form of precipitate)   increase. The system will shift towards the left 
and produce more reactants (CuSO​4​-5​H​2​O). 
Adding water restores the original blue color of 
the solution.