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I Learn the Colours of All the Complex Ion Solutions and Precipitates I
This handy table summarises all the compo unds that are formed in the reactions on these pages.
You need to know the formulas of all the complex ions (so you can write ionic equations), and their colours. I
If you're doing OCR A, you only need the first two columns and first four rows of the table. AQA only
Metal-aqua ion With OH -(aq)or NH 3(aq) With excess OW(aq) With excess NH 3(aq) With Na 2C03(aq)
[Co(H 2O)6t Co(H 2O)4(OH)2 [Co(NH 3)6t CoC0 3
pink solution no change
blue-green precipitate straw coloured solution pink precipitate
[Cu(H 2O)6t CU(H,o)4(OH)2 [Cu(NH 3)4(H,o)2t CuC03
blue solution no change deep blue solution
blue precipitate green-blue precipitate
[Fe(H 2O)6t Fe(H,o)4(OH)2 FeC03
green solution no change no change
green precipitate green precipitate
[Fe(H 2O)6t Fe(H,o)3(OH)3 no change Fe(H 2O)3(OH)3
yellow solution no change
brown precipitate brown precipitate
[AI (H2O)6t AI(H 2O)3(OH)3 [AI(H 2O)2(O H)4r AI(H 2O)3(OH)3
colourless solution no change
white precipitate colourless solution white precipitate
[Cr(H 2O)6t Cr(H,o)3(OH)3 [Cr(OH)J3- [Cr(NH 3)6t Cr(H 2O)3(OH)3
violet solution green precipitate green solution purple solution green precipitate

[Mn(H,o)6t Mn(H,o)4(OH)2 no change no change

~ very pale pink solution brown precipitate
c:: If you're doing

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[Ni(H 2O)6t
green solution
Ni(H 2O)4(OH)2
green precipitate
no change
[N i(NH 3)6t
blue solution
fdexcel, you can
ignore the cobalt
row at the top.
[Zn(H 2O)6t Zn(H,o)3(OH)3 [Zn(OH)4t [Zn(NH')4t
~ colourless solution white precipitate colourless solution colourless solution

I
I Practice Questions I
01 Explain why AICI 3 can act as a Lewis ac id.
02 Show by equations how AI(OH)3 can act as both a Br0nsted-Lowry acid and a Br0nsted-Lowry base.
03 What colour solution is formed when you add excess ammonia to a solution containing [Co(H 2 0)6F+ ions?

Exam Questions
I Explain why separate solutions ofiron(II) sulfate and iron(III) sulfate with equal concentrations
have different pH values. [4 marks]
2 Describe what you would see when ammonia solution is added slowly to a solution containing
copper(JI) sulfate until it is in excess. Write equations for each reaction that occurs. [8 marks]
3 Aqueous ammonia was added to an aqueous solution of chromium(III) sulfate.
a) Identify the chromium complex ion present in:
i) the aqueous chromium(III) sulfate. [I mark]
ii) the green precipitate initially formed when aqueous ammonia is added. [I mark]
iii) the purple solution when an excess of aqueous ammonia is added. [I mark]
b) Write an equation for the reaction in which the purple solution is formed from the green precipitate. [I mark]
4 a) Describe what you would observe when aqueous sodium carbonate is added to:
i) aqueous iron(JII) chloride. [1 mark]
ii) freshly-prepared aqueous iron (II) sulfate. [1 mark]
b) Write an equation for the reaction of the iron(II)-aqua ion with the carbonate ion. [I mark]
c) If iron(II) sulfate solution is left to stand overnight in an open beaker before the aqueous sodium carbonate
is added, then a different reaction is observed.
i) Describe the new observation. [I mark]
ii) Explain this change. [1 mark]

Test tube reactions - {lro{ler chemistr'£. at last...

50 many pretty colours. The only downside is that you have to remember them. But examiners do love to ask q uestions about
colours of solutions and precipitates. 50 lea rn them all, or come exam day you'll end up feeling blue. Or possibly blue-green ...
SECTION 77 - INORCANIC R EACTIONS