Determine the equilibrium constant for the cobalt chloride equilib-
rium (14 marks)
The equilibrium constant for a system containing a coloured species may be determined using colourimetry.
This can be performed for the equilibrium system shown below:
− 2−
Co(H2 O)2+ ⇀
6 (aq) + 4Cl (aq) ↽ CoCl4 (aq) + 6H2 O(l)
In this part of the task, you are provided with colourimetry measurements made by a student. You must
process the student’s results to determine the equilibrium constant.
The steps you will follow to process the data are as follows:
1. Make a calibration graph (or calibration curve) using colourimetry measurements from CoCl2+
4 solu-
tions of known concentration.
2. Use the graph to find the concentration of CoCl2−
4 in an equilibrium system.
3. Calculate the concentration of all substances in the system at equilibrium.
4. Write an equilibrium expression and determine the equilibrium constant.
To perform this investigation, a student first prepared a series of standard solutions of CoCl2+
4 . The
student measured the absorbance of each solution using a colorimeter at 500 nm to detect the blue colour.
The table below shows the data obtained.
Tube number Concentration of CoCl2−
4 (mol L−1 ) Absorbance
1 0.0010 0.0055
2 0.0020 0.0110
3 0.0030 0.0165
4 0.0040 0.0220
5 0.0050 0.0275
2. Graph this data to produce a standard calibration graph (or curve). (3 marks)
·10−2
3
Calibration Curve
2.5
Absorbance
1.5
0.5
0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Concentration (mol/L) ·10−3
The student then prepared five equilibrium mixtures. All of these were prepared by combining 20.0 mL
of 0.005 mol/L cobalt nitrate and 20.0 mL of 0.020 mol/L hydrochloric acid in a beaker. Each mixture was
allowed to stand for several minutes at room temperature. This solution now contained an equilibrium as
represented by the equation above.
The student measured the absorbance of each of these samples and recorded the following data:
3. Calculate the average absorbance for the student’s data. (1 mark)
0.0065 + 0.0067 + 0.0068 + 0.0063 + 0.0065
Average Absorbance = = 0.00656
5
1
Sample number Absorbance at 500 nm
1 0.0065
2 0.0067
3 0.0068
4 0.0063
5 0.0065
4. Use the calibration graph you prepared earlier to determine the average concentration
of CoCl2−
4 in the equilibrium samples analysed. Clearly show your working on the graph. (2
marks)
From the graph, for an absorbance of 0.00656, the concentration of CoCl2−
4 at equilibrium is approxi-
mately:
[CoCl2−
4 ]eq ≈ 0.00119 mol/L
5. Determine the concentration of Co(H2 O)2+ 6 ions and Cl− ions in the solution when the
cobalt nitrate and hydrochloric acid were initially mixed together. (2 marks)
For Co(H2 O)2+
6 :
0.005 mol/L × 20.0 mL
Concentration = = 0.0025 mol/L
40.0 mL
For Cl− :
0.020 mol/L × 20.0 mL
Concentration = = 0.0100 mol/L
40.0 mL
6. Use your answers from questions 5 and 4 above to determine the concentrations of all
relevant species in the system when it reached equilibrium. (3 marks)
Here’s the RICE table for the equilibrium:
Co(H2 O)2+
6 4Cl− CoCl2−
4 6H2 O
Initial 0.0025 0.0100 0 Excess
Change −x −4x +x +6x
Equilibrium 0.0025 − x 0.0100 − 4x x Excess + 6x
From the calibration curve, we know:
x = 0.00119 mol/L
−
Thus, at equilibrium: - [Co(H2 O)2+
6 ] = 0.0025−0.00119 = 0.00131 mol/L - [Cl ] = 0.0100−4×0.00119 =
0.0100 − 0.00476 = 0.00524 mol/L
7. Write an equilibrium expression for this system. (2 marks)
[CoCl2−
4 ]
Keq = − 4
[Co(H2 O)2+
6 ][Cl ]
8. Use your answers from questions 6 and 7 above to calculate the value for the equilibrium
constant (Keq ) for this system. (1 mark)
0.00119
Keq = ≈ 1.22 × 104
(0.00131)(0.00524)4
