Name of Student: Christian Anthony L.

Donoso Date Performed: October 25, 2018

Section: CHEMISTRY 18.1 57-L Date Submitted: November 6, 2018

Group Number: 2

Exercise 9

METAL-COMPLEX EQUILIBRIA

I. Introduction

A coordination complex is a substance in which a metal atom or ion accepts

electrons from (and thus associates with) a group of neutral molecules or anions called
ligands. A complex can be anion, a cation ion, or a neutral molecule (Mao, 2010). The
metal cobalt is used in the experiment and is paired to different kinds of ligands thus
forming a metal complex or coordination complex.

Ligands are atom, ion or molecule that donates or shares one or more of its
electrons through a covalent bond with a central atom or ion. It is a complexing group in
coordination chemistry that stabilizes the central atom and determines its reactivity
(Helemenstine Ph.D, 2018). There are three types of ligands. Monodentate ligands are
ligands that have only one atom that bonds with the central atom. Polydentate ligands have
two or more atoms of the ligand bonded to the central atom. Then, Ambidentate ligands
are monodentate ligands that can form a bond in two possible places.

Crystal field theory (CFT) describes the breaking of orbital degeneracy in

transition metal complexes due to the presence of ligands. CFT qualitatively describes the
strength of the metal-ligand bonds. This theory is used to explain how the color change
happens in transition metal complexes.

The objective of the study is to prepare different cobalt (III) complexes using
various ligands and observe the color changes that happen between each ligand.

The Kf expression of each cobalt (III) complex was found using the formula:

[𝑀𝐿]
𝐾𝑓 = [𝑀][𝐿]

Where

Kf = formation constant or stability constant

 ML = concentration of complex

M = concentration of metal

L = concentration of ligand

II. Materials
A. Reagents
 0.05 M cobalt chloride solution
 6 M ammonia
 6% hydrogen peroxide solution
 0.05 M sodium nitrite solution
 1.5 ml glacial acetic acid
 1.0 ml saturated sodium bicarbonate
 1.0 ml concentrated 6 M nitric acid
B. Apparatus and Equipment
 Test tube
 Test tube rack
 Dropper
 Fume hood
III. Procedure

In three clean, dry test tubes, place 1.0 mL of 0.05 M cobalt chloride solution. The color
of this solution is due to the pink Co(H2O)2+ complex with water as ligand. Label them as A,
B, and C. Add a few drops of 6 M ammonia to test tube A and mix well. Then, add 1.0 mL of
6% hydrogen peroxide solution. If color change is observed, this is due to the complexation of
Cobalt (III) with ammonia. To test tube B, add a few drops of 0.05 M sodium nitrite solution,
followed by 1.5 mL of glacial acetic acid. Then add 1.0 mL saturated sodium bicarbonate
solution to test tube C, followed by 1.0 mL of 6% hydrogen peroxide solution. Transfer 1.0 mL
of the solution in test tube C to a clean test tube labelled D, then slowly add 1.0 mL of
concentrated 6 M nitric acid to produce [Co(H2O)63+. Observe for color changes, precipitate
formation and evolution of gas. For waste management, dispose all mixtures in the waste bottle
designated for Cobalt containing wastes.

IV. Data and Observations

 The changes in color of the cobalt (III) complex by adding different ligands were recorded
in table 1.1

Table 1.1 Color change observations of cobalt (III) complex

Test Tube Initial Color Ligand Added Experimental Theoretical

Observation Observation
A Pink Ammonia Green Red Orange
B Pink Nitrite Pink Yellow
C Pink Carbonate Green Green
D Green Nitric Acid Yellow Blue

Table 1.1 shows the color change observations of cobalt (III) complex after the addition of
various ligand. In test tube A which had ammonia added as the ligand, color change was
observed from the initial color pink to green. The results were different from the theoretical
where it should have changed from pink to red orange. In test tube B which had nitrite added
as the ligand, there was no color change observed which should have changed from pink to
yellow based on the theoretical data. In test tube C which had carbonate as the ligand, color
change was observed from pink to green. The results were the same as the theoretical data.
Then finally in test tube D which had the ligand nitric acid, color change was observed from
the initial color green to yellow. The results were different from the theoretical data which
should have changed from green to blue.

Since there were test tubes that had conflicting results with the theoretical results, the
theoretical data was used to arrange the ligands in increasing field strength

Table 1.2 Wavelength of the colors absorbed and their arrangement based on ligand
strength

Test Tube Color Observed Color Absorbed Wavelength Rank ( 1 –

Absorbed (nm) strongest; 4 –
weakest)
A Red Orange Green 500 – 560 2
B Yellow Violet 400 – 435 1
C Green Red 605 – 750 4
D Blue Orange 595 - 605 3
 Table 1.2 shows the wavelength of the colors absorbed and their ranks according to the
ligand strength. In test tube A it shows that it has a wavelength of 500-560 nm and is ranked
second strongest. In test tube B, it shows that the wavelength of the color absorbed is 400 –
435 nm and is ranked the strongest ligand out of the four. In test tube C, it shows that the
wavelength of the color absorbed is 605 – 750 nm, which is ranked the weakest ligand. Then
in test tube D, it shows that the wavelength of the color absorbed is 595 – 605 and is ranked
third out of the four ligands.

Lower wavelengths indicate that it has a high energy based on the electromagnetic
spectrum which in turn indicates that the higher the energy the stronger the ligand. Which is
why, test tube B with the lowest wavelength of the color absorbed is the strongest ligand
because it has more energy than the other three.

Table 1.3 Net ionic equation of each cobalt (III) complex

Test Ligand Net Ionic Equation Kf Expression

Tube
A Ammonia [Co(H2O)62+]→[Co(NH3)6]2+ [𝐶𝑜(𝑁𝐻3 )6 ]3+
2[Co(NH3)6]2+ + H2O2 → 2[Co(NH3)6]3+ + 𝐾𝑓 =
(NH3) [𝐶𝑜 3+ ][𝑁𝐻3 ]6
2OH-
B Nitrite (NO2- Co + 2NO2- ⇌ Co(NO2)2
2+

and Co(NO2)2 + 2HNO2 ⇌ Co(NO2)3 + H2O + NO [𝐶𝑜(𝑁𝑂2 )6 ]3−

Co(NO2)3 + 3NO2- ⇌ [Co(NO2)6]3- 𝐾𝑓 =
CH3COOH) [𝐶𝑜(𝑁𝑂2 )3 ][𝑁𝑂2 − ]

C Carbonate (CO- [Co(H2O)6]2+ + 6HCO3- → [Co(CO3)3]3- + [𝐶𝑜(𝐶𝑂3 )3 ]

2- 3H2O + 3CO2 𝐾𝑓 =
3 ) [𝐶𝑜 3+ ][𝐶𝑂3 2− ]

D Nitric Acid [Co(CO3)3]3- + 6H3O+ → [Co (H2O)3]3+ + 3H2O +

(HNO3) 3CO2
[𝐶𝑜(𝐻𝑁𝑂3 )3 ]
𝐾𝑓 =
[𝐶𝑜 3+ ][𝐻𝑁𝑂3 ]
V. Discussion

The color change was observed when each ligand was added to cobalt forming various
cobalt (III) complexes. Though not all tubes exhibited the desired results since the results taken
from the experiment differed from the theoretical data when compared. This may have been
caused by various errors that became a factor to the results of the experiment. One error may
have been that the reagents used in the experiments have already been degraded seeing as they
were clearly not new so their quality is quite low. Impurities in the apparatus used is also a
factor since it may hinder the bonding of the cobalt metal to the ligands.

My suggestion for the next experiment would be to use new reagents that are unopened so
the results would be accurate. Cleaning the apparatus is also important to remove various
impurities that may affect the final results. Also trying out different kinds of metals like copper
and ligands to explore more results which can really help you learn about complexes.

VI. Conclusion

In this experiment, various cobalt (III) complexes were made by adding different ligands
and observing the color change as well as ranking the ligands in terms of its strength. Results
showed that test tube B, which had Nitrite as the ligand, is the strongest out of the four because
the color absorbed has a relatively low wavelength which in turn indicates higher energy.

The experiment showed that different complexes exhibit different colors when added
different ligands. This shows how crystal field theory works and also can be an indicator of the
strength of the ligand as it is how it is ranked in the spectrochemical series. The energy
exhibited by the ligand can also be determined through the wavelength of the color absorbed
of the complex that can be an indicator of the strength of the ligand.

VII. Literature Cited

Helmenstine, A.M., Ph.D. (2018, June 22). Chemistry Definition of Ligand. Retrieved from
https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-ligand-604556

Mao, K. (2010). Naming Coordination Compounds. Retrieved from

http://www.chemistry.wustl.edu~edudev/LabTutorials/CourseTutorials/Tutorials/Naming/151_T1
a_naming.htm
Chemistry Libre Texts (2017, June 9). Crystal Field Theory. Retrieved from
https://chem.libretexts.org/Textbook_Maps/Inorganic_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_(Inorg
anic_Chemistry)/Crystal_Field_Theory/Crystal_Field_Theory

APPENDIX A

Figure 1 shows the experimental result of each cobalt (III) complexes with different ligands