The following procedure demonstrates the reversible formation of complex ions between cobalt (II) ions

and water molecules or chloride ions:

Co(H2O)62+ (aq) + 4 Cl- (aq) « CoCl42- (aq) + 6 H2O (l)

Pink Blue

Procedure

1. Prepare a hot water and ice water bath. Place a 400 mL beaker half full of water on a hot plate
and heat to 80-85°C. Mix ice and water in a second 400 mL beaker to prepare an ice water bath.
2. Obtain a medium sized test tube and add approximately 2 mL (1 squirt) of 0.1 M CoCl2 solution.
Note the color of the solution in the test tube.
3. To the first test tube, add a few drops of concentrated (12 M) HCl until the color of the solution
changes. Note the color of the solution.
4. To the same test tube, add distilled water until the color of the solution changes. Note the color of
the solution.
5. Place the test tube into the hot water bath until the color changes. Note the color of the solution.
6. Place the test tube into the cold water bath until the color changes. Note the color of the solution.

Results

Step Solution Stress (ex: increase in T, Le Chatelier’s Result Direction of

Color increase in [Cl-] etc.) (ex: increase in [CoCl42-]) Shift
In Equilibrium
2
pink control na na

3 increase in CoCl42-
blue increase in Cl- concentration shift right
concentration
4 increaase in reactants shift left
pink dilution

5 increase in products
blue increase in temp shift right

6
pink decrease in temp increase in reactants shift left

Questions and Analysis

1. Using your results from steps 5 and 6, determine which of the following reactions is correct:

heat + Co(H2O)62+ (aq) + 4 Cl- (aq) « CoCl42- (aq) + 6 H2O (l) this one is correct

Co(H2O)62+ (aq) + 4 Cl- (aq) « CoCl42- (aq) + 6 H2O (l) + heat

based on steps 5 and 6; we see the reaction shift to the products
Explain how you know using Le Chatelier’s principle. side when heat is added to the system. This indicates that heat is
on the reactant side and the reaction is shifting to balance the
addition of a reactant.
2. In step 3, if NaCl (aq) was added instead of HCl, what color would the solution turn and why?
I think it would still turn blue...Na is colorless in an aqueous solution so that shouldn't affect the color. The Cl will react as
normal.
3. In Part 4, why did adding water shift the equilibrium even though the concentration of water in an
aqueous solution is constant?
Although the concentration of water is constant, the addition of water further dilutes the solution and causes the concentration
of all other reaction elements to decrease. The result of this is that an imbalance is created in the reaction system. The side of
the equilibrium reaction that has elements with more moles will reduce by a greater factor after the dilution and thus needs the
reaction to shift towards its side.