IA # 5

DATE: DECEMBER 14, 2016

TITLE: Transition Metals
AIM: to investigate ligand exchange reactions involving Cu2+ ions.
APPARATUS:
Anhydrous copper (ii) sulphate, concentrated hydrochloric acid, concentrated ammonia
solution, distilled water, test tubes, droppers, spatula.
METHOD:
Using a spatula, a small amount of anhydrous copper (ii) sulphate was placed into a test
tube. About 10 drops of distilled water was added to the anhydrous copper (ii) sulphate
and observations were made and recorded. To the test tube, concentrated ammonia
solution was added drop by drop while shaking the test tube until there was no further
change. The observations were all recorded. The steps were repeated but instead of
adding concentrated ammonia drop by drop, concentrated hydrochloric acid was added
drop by drop while shaking until no further changes were observed.
OBSERVATIONS:
TABLE SHOWING OBSERVATIONS AND DEDUCTIONS MADE WHEN HYDRATED
COPPER SULPHATE WAS REACTED WITH BOTH CONCENTRATED AMMONIA AND
CONCENTRATED HYDROCHLORIC ACID
REACTANTS OBSERVATION

Anhydrous copper sulphate and water The white solid dissolved in the water to form a pale
blue solution.

Hydrated copper sulphate and concentrated The pale blue solution developed a pale blue precipitate
ammonia when the aqueous ammonia was dropped in the
solution drop by drop. The precipitate dissolved in
excess ammonia to give a deep blue solution.

The pale blue solution changed to green then yellow

Hydrated copper sulphate and concentrated upon the addition of hydrochloric acid.
hydrochloric acid

Brittany Pitt
L6H1
DISCUSSION:

A ligand is defined as an electron-rich, neutral group or charged ion which is coordinated around
a transitional metal ion to form a transitional metal complex ion. These transitional metal
complexes are formed by the donation of lone pairs of electrons from the ligands to the vacant
d orbitals of the transitional metal ions by means of dative covalent bonds; i.e. the ligand
donates all the electron involved in the bonding. Ligand exchange is a reaction in which one
ligand in a complex ion is replaced by another ligand. This replacement is due to the ability of
some ligands to form stronger bonds with metal ions than other ligands. As a result, a ligand
that can form a stronger bond will displace a ligand that will form a weaker bond.

In the experiment conducted, when the copper sulphate was hydrated, the complex ion
hexaaquacopper (ii) [Cu(H2O)6] 2+(aq) was formed. When ammonia was added, a pale blue
precipitate was formed which is soluble in excess ammonia to form a deep blue solution. In this
case the ammonia acts as a base and a ligand. It acts as a base with small amounts, accepting
the hydrogen ions from the water ligands attached to the copper forming a pale blue precipitate
of copper (ii) hydroxide.

[Cu(H2O)6 2+(aq) + 2NH3(aq) [Cu(H2O)4(OH)2 ] 2+ (aq) + 2 NH4 (aq)

In excess however, ammonia acts as a ligand, replacing water to form

tetraamminediaquacopper (ii) ions [Cu(NH3)4(H2O)2 ] 2+ (aq).

[Cu(H2O)6 2+(aq) + 4NH3(aq) [Cu(NH3)4(H2O)2 ] 2+ (aq) + 4H20(l)

In the case of concentrated hydrochloric acid, when it is added to the blue copper sulphat
solution, the solution transitions from blue to green to yellow. This is because the chloride ions
gradually replace the water ligands to form the complex copper chloride ion [CuCl4]2- (aq).

[ Cu(H2O)62+ (aq) + 4Cl-(aq) [CuCl4]2- (aq) + 6H2O(l)

Some metal ions can form more stable complex ions with some ligands than with others. This is
characterized by the stability constant KSTAB. The stability constant measures the stability of the
complex formed with respect to the aqua species. The higher the value of the stability constant,
the more stable the complex formed. Both [Cu(NH3)4(H2O)2 ] 2+ and [CuCl4]2- have higher stability
constants than [Cu(H2O)6] 2+ and therefore will form a more stable complex than the aqua
species. As a result, these ligands will displace the weaker water ligand.

Brittany Pitt
L6H1
 DIAGRAM OF THE HEXAAQUACOPPER (II) COMPLEX

DIAGRAM OF THE TETRAAMMINEDIAQUACOPPER (II) IONS

Brittany Pitt
L6H1
 DIAGARM OF THE COPPER (II) CHLORIDE COMPLEX

CONCLUSION:

A ligand with a higher kSTAB value will displace a ligand with a lower kSTAB value in order
to create a more stable complex.

Brittany Pitt
L6H1