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Restoring Balance Lab

This lab experiment investigated the reversible formation of cobalt complex ions in solution and how changing concentrations and temperatures affects the equilibrium. When cobalt chloride is dissolved in alcohol, it forms either a pink Co(H2O)62+ complex or a blue CoCl42- complex. Adding water, hydrochloric acid, calcium chloride, acetone, or silver nitrate shifts the equilibrium by Le Chatelier's principle by changing concentrations of ions. Heating favors the endothermic formation of the blue complex, while cooling favors the pink complex.

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612 views

Restoring Balance Lab

This lab experiment investigated the reversible formation of cobalt complex ions in solution and how changing concentrations and temperatures affects the equilibrium. When cobalt chloride is dissolved in alcohol, it forms either a pink Co(H2O)62+ complex or a blue CoCl42- complex. Adding water, hydrochloric acid, calcium chloride, acetone, or silver nitrate shifts the equilibrium by Le Chatelier's principle by changing concentrations of ions. Heating favors the endothermic formation of the blue complex, while cooling favors the pink complex.

Uploaded by

Sohan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Restoring Balance Lab

Introduction:
Chemical equilibrium is a true balancing act. What happens when the balance is
disturbed? The purpose of this lab is to observe the effects of concentration and temperature on
equilibrium and to visualize how balance can be restored based on LeChteliers Principle.
We will investigate the effect of reaction conditions on the reversible formation of cobalt
complex ions. When cobalt chloride hexahydrate (CoCl26H2O) is dissolved in ethyl alcohol,
three different solute species are present: Co2+ cations, Cl- anions, and water molecules. These
can react to form two different complex ions, Co(H2O)62+, where the cobalt ion is surrounded by
six water molecules, and CoCl42-, in which the metal ion is surrounded by four chloride ions.

Safety Precautions: Concentrated hydrochloric acid is highly toxic by ingestion or inhalation


and is severely corrosive to skin and eyes; can cause severe body tissue burns. Ethyl alcohol
and acetone are flammable solvents. Cobalt(II) chloride solution is moderately toxic by
ingestion. Silver nitrate solution is corrosive and will stain skin and clothing. Avoid contact of
all chemicals with eyes and skin. Wear chemical splash goggles and chemical-resistant gloves.
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before leaving the class.

Part A: Effect of Concentration


1. Using a pipet, add approximately 2 mL of the cobalt chloride solution to each well (1-6).
Note: The exact volume is not important, but try to keep the volume of solution
approximately equal in each well.
2. Well #1 is the control. Record the color and appearance of the control solution in the data
table.
3. To well #2, add 4 drops of distilled water, one drop at a time. Record the color of the
solution after each drop.
4. Add 4 drops of distilled water to each of the next three wells (3-5). Note: The color of
the solutions should be the same in test tubes #2-5 at this point.
5. Get 3 drops of concentrated hydrochloric acid from your instructor for well #3. USE
EXTREME CAUTION!
6. Agitate the well plate GENTLY. Record the color of well #3 in the data table.
7. To well #4, add 2 small pellets of solid calcium chloride and gently agitate the well plate
to dissolve the solid. Record the color and appearance of the solution in the data table.
8. To well #5, add about 25 drops of acetone (until a permanent color change is observed).
Gently agitate the well plate to mix the contents and record the color the solution in the
data table.
9. To well #6, add 5 drops of 0.1 M silver nitrate and gently agitate the well plate to mix the
contents. Record the color and appearance of the mixture in the data table.
10. Dispose of the contents in the well plate in a waste bucket provided by your instructor.
DO NOT DUMP CONTENTS DOWN THE SINK!

Part B: Effect of Temperature


1. Your instructor will provide an example of the effect of temperature on equilibrium at the
front of the classroom.
2. Well #2 will be heated to ~70C.
3. Well #3 will be placed in an ice-water bath to ~5C.
4. Record the initial color from your well #2 and record the final temperature from heating.
5. Record the initial color from your well #3 and record the final temperature from cooling.
Restoring Balance Lab Answer Sheet Name:
Date: Period:
Data Table #1: Effect of Concentration
Well # Reagents Color/Appearance
1 CoCl2 in alcohol (control)

2 CoCl2 in alcohol + water


1 drop

2 drops

3 drops

4 drops

3 CoCl2 in alcohol + water + HCl

4 CoCl2 in alcohol + water + CaCl2

5 CoCl2 in alcohol + water + acetone

6 CoCl2 in alcohol + silver nitrate

Data Table #2: Effect of Temperature


Reagents Color/Appearance
CoCl2 in alcohol + water
Initial Color (well #2)
(Check Data Table #1)
Final Color after heating (demo)

CoCl2 in alcohol + water + HCl


Initial Color (well #3)
(Check Data Table #1)
Final Color after cooling (demo)

Analysis Questions:
1. The following equation is the net ionic equation for the reversible reaction in this
experiment. The colors of the complex ions are shown underneath their formulas.
Co(H2O)62+ + 4 Cl- <==> CoCl42- + 6 H2O
Pink Blue
Based on the initial color the cobalt chloride solution (well #1), what complex ions are
present in this solution? Explain.
2. Which complex ion was favored by the addition of water to the original solution (well
#2)? Use Le Chteliers Principle to explain the observed color change.

3. Which complex ion was favored by the addition of hydrochloric acid well #3?

4. Which complex ion was favored by the addition of calcium chloride well #4?

5. What ion is common to both of the reagents added to wells #3 and 4?

6. Use Le Chteliers Principle to explain the observed color change in wells #3 and 4.

7. Acetone is a polar solvent that attracts water molecules. Use this fact and Le Chteliers
Principle to explain the color change that was observed when acetone was added to the
solution in well #5.

8. a. Silver chloride is a white solid that is insoluble in water. Write a net ionic
equation for the reaction of silver ions and chloride ions to form silver chloride.

b. Based on this reaction, did the concentration of chloride ions in well #6 increase
or decrease when silver ions (in the form of silver nitrate) were added?

c. Use these facts and Le Chteliers Principle to explain the changes observed in
well #6 when silver nitrate was added. Be specific.

9. Removing or decreasing the concentration of a species which appears on the right side of
an equation will shift the equilibrium to the ______________ side of the equation.
10. Removing or decreasing the concentration of a species which appears son the left side of
an equation will shift the equilibrium to the ______________ side of the equation.
11. Which complex ion in the equation given from question #1 was favored when the
solution was heated?

12. Which complex ion was favored when the solution was cooled?

13. Based on your answers from questions #11 and 12, rewrite the equation from question
#1 and include the term heat directly into the equation.

14. Use Le Chteliers Principle to explain the color changes that resulted from heating and
cooling the solutions.

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