CHEM 301 – INORGANIC CHEMISTRY

EXPERIMENT 3 – COLOR OF COORDINATION COMPOUNDS

COBALT(II) CHLORIDE PREPARATION

There are two theories for the explanation of bonding in metal complexes; first is the valence
bond (VB) theory and the second is crystal field theory; according to the crystal field theory,
ligand electrons creates an electric field around the metal centre. Each ligand is a negative
point charge an there is an electrostatic attraction/repulsion between the metal ion and ligands.
Since the dz2and dx2-y2 atomic orbitals point directly at the ligands while d xy, dxz and dyz atomic
orbitals point between them, the d z2and dx2-y2 atomic orbitals are destabilized to a greater
extent than the dxy, dxz and dyz atomic orbitals, Figure 1.

Figure1. d-atomic orbitals

Thus, with respect to their energy in the spherical energy field, the d z2and dx2-y2 atomic orbitals
are destabilized while the dxy, dxz and dyz atomic orbitals stabilized. The energy separation
between these atomic orbitals is Δ oct and the magnitude of Δoct is determined by the strength of
the crystal field i.e. identity and oxidation state of the metal ion and the nature of the ligands.
Colors of d block compounds are characteristic, and it is originating from electronic d-d
transitions and it is consistent with the Δoct value, Figure 2.
 Figure 2. Splitting of d-atomic orbitals

Experimental procedure:

 Dissolve 5 g of cobalt(II) sulfate in 50 mL water and heat the solution to slightly

below the boiling point (80~90℃).
 Slowly add 20 mL of 1 M sodium carbonate solution in into the cobalt sulfate
solution. A violet precipitate of basic cobalt carbonate will form.

3CoSO4 + 3Na2CO3 + 3H2O CoCO3.2Co(OH)2.H2O + 3Na2SO4 + CO2

 Boil the solution for 2-3 minutes. Allow it to cool and sediment for 10 minutes.
 Filter the precipitate and wash with 10 mL water.
 Add approximately 20 mL of 10% hydrochloric acid to the precipitate in several small
portions. Stop the addition when a small amount of precipitate remains. Minor
effervescence will occur during the additions.

CoCO3.2Co(OH)2.H2O + 6HCl + 11H2O 3CoCl2.6H2O + CO2

 Filter the resulting red solution and evaporate to dryness slowly on a hot plate. Blue
crystals of cobalt(II) chloride dihydrate will form.
 Yield is expected to be 68% in theory.

Properties: Cobalt(II) chloride hexahydrate is a pink to red hygroscopic powder. Very

soluble in water. Useful for coloring silica gel, and as a precursor for various cobalt
complexes, some of them are explosive. The anhydrous compound may be used in moisture
sensitive ignition mixtures.