TRANSITION METAL

COMPLEXES: Copper
 THE AQUEOUS CHEMISTRY OF IONS
Theory aqueous metal ions attract water molecules
many have six water molecules surrounding them
these are known as hexaaqua ions
they are octahedral in shape
water acts as a Lewis Base – a lone pair donor
water forms a co-ordinate bond to the metal ion
metal ions accept the lone pair - Lewis Acids
 REACTION TYPES

The examples aim to show typical properties of transition metals and their compounds.

One typical properties of transition elements is their ability to form complex ions.
Complex ions consist of a central metal ion surrounded by co-ordinated ions or
molecules known as ligands. This can lead to changes in ...

• colour • co-ordination number

• shape • stability to oxidation or reduction

Reaction
types ACID-BASE A-B

LIGAND SUBSTITUTION LS

PRECIPITATION Ppt

REDOX RED OX REDOX

 REACTIONS OF COPPER(II)
Aqueous solutions of copper(II) contain the blue, octahedral hexaaquacopper(II) ion
Most substitution reactions are similar to cobalt(II).

OH¯ [Cu(H2O)6]2+(aq) + 2OH¯(aq) ——> [Cu(OH)2(H2O)4](s) + 2H2O(l) A-B

blue, octahedral pale blue ppt.
insoluble in XS NaOH
 REACTIONS OF COPPER(II)
Aqueous solutions of copper(II) contain the blue, octahedral hexaaquacopper(II) ion
Most substitution reactions are similar to cobalt(II).

OH¯ [Cu(H2O)6]2+(aq) + 2OH¯(aq) ——> [Cu(OH)2(H2O)4](s) + 2H2O(l) A-B

blue, octahedral pale blue ppt.
insoluble in XS NaOH

A-B
NH3 [Cu(H2O)6]2+(aq) + 2NH3(aq) ——> [Cu(OH)2(H2O)4](s) + 2NH4+(aq)
blue ppt. soluble in excess NH3

then [Cu(OH)2(H2O)4](s) + 4NH3(aq) ——> [Cu(NH3)4(H2O)2]2+(aq) + 2H2O(l) + 2OH¯(aq)

LS
royal blue
NOTE THE FORMULA
 REACTIONS OF COPPER(II)
Aqueous solutions of copper(II) contain the blue, octahedral hexaaquacopper(II) ion
Most substitution reactions are similar to cobalt(II).

OH¯ [Cu(H2O)6]2+(aq) + 2OH¯(aq) ——> [Cu(OH)2(H2O)4](s) + 2H2O(l) A-B

blue, octahedral pale blue ppt.
insoluble in XS NaOH

A-B
NH3 [Cu(H2O)6]2+(aq) + 2NH3(aq) ——> [Cu(OH)2(H2O)4](s) + 2NH4+(aq)
blue ppt. soluble in excess NH3

then [Cu(OH)2(H2O)4](s) + 4NH3(aq) ——> [Cu(NH3)4(H2O)2]2+(aq) + 2H2O(l) + 2OH¯(aq)

LS
royal blue
NOTE THE FORMULA

Ppt
CO 3
2-
[Cu(H2O)6] (aq)
2+
+ CO 2-
3 (aq) ——> CuCO3(s) + 6H2O(l)
blue ppt.
 REACTIONS OF COPPER(II)
Cl¯ [Cu(H2O)6]2+(aq) + 4Cl¯(aq) ——> [CuCl4]2-(aq) + 6H2O(l) LS
yellow, tetrahedral

• Cl¯ ligands are larger than H2O and are charged

• the complex is more stable if the shape changes to tetrahedral
• adding excess water reverses the reaction

I¯ 2Cu2+(aq) + 4I¯(aq) ——> 2CuI(s) + I2(aq) REDOX

off - white ppt.

• a redox reaction
• used in the volumetric analysis of copper using sodium thiosulphate
 REACTIONS OF COPPER(I)
The aqueous chemistry of copper(I) is unstable compared to copper(0) and copper (II).

Cu+(aq) + e¯ ——> Cu(s) E° = + 0.52 V

Cu2+(aq) + e¯ ——> Cu+(aq) E° = + 0.15 V
subtracting 2Cu+(aq) ——> Cu(s) + Cu2+(aq) E° = + 0.37 V

This is an example of DISPROPORTIONATION where one species is simultaneously

oxidised and reduced to more stable forms. This explains why the aqueous chemistry of
copper(I) is very limited.

Copper(I) can be stabilised by formation of complexes.