DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

UNIVERSITI PENDIDIKAN SULTAN IDRIS

SKT1013
INTRODUCTION TO INORGANIC CHEMISTRY

LAB REPORT EXPERIMENT 1

COMPLEX ION OF NICKEL (II) CHLORIDE

STUDENT NAME :
NAME MATRIC NUMBER GROUP
NUR NAJWA NABILA BINTI RADZUAN E20172019170 B
MOHD ALIF IMRAN BIN MOHD RAHIMI E20172019193 B

LECTURER’S NAME :
PROFESOR MADYA DR. NORHAYATI BINTI HASHIM

SUBMISSION DATE :
6 SEPTEMBER 2019
OBJECTIVES
1. To describe a colour change in a complex ion due to ligand substitution.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
In this experiment, we used some chemicals as below :
 Nickel (II) chloride hydrate, 𝑁𝑖𝐶𝑙2 . 6𝐻2 𝑂 (0.1M)
 Concentrated ammonia solution, 𝑁𝐻3
 Ethylenediamine (en), 𝐶2 𝐻4 (𝑁𝐻2 )2
 Potassium cyanide, 𝐾𝐶𝑁(1.0M)
 Ethyldiaminetetraacetate (EDTA), 𝐶10 𝐻16 𝑁2 𝑂8

Figure 1: 3ml of Nickel (II) chloride hydrate, 𝑁𝑖𝐶𝑙2 . 6𝐻2 𝑂 (0.1M) are filled in 5 labelled
test tubes.

For the first steps, we took a test tube rack and put 5 test tubes on it. All the test tubes
being labelled with numbers (1 to 5). The all five (5) test tubes was filled with 3 mL of
Nickel (II) chloride hydrate, 𝑁𝑖𝐶𝑙2 . 6𝐻2 𝑂 (0.1M). The colour of the solution is colourless or
pale green.
Tube Number 1 we did not put any others chemicals, which is the tube remain
controlled. In tube Number 2 we had put 3mL of concentrated ammonia solution (𝑁𝐻3 ). The
colour immediately changed to light blue. For tube Number 3, we had put 3mL of
Ethylenediamine (en) (𝐶2 𝐻4 (𝑁𝐻2 )2 ) and the colour of chemical immediately changed to
light purple. Meanwhile, in test tube Number 4, we mixed 3mL of Nickel (II) chloride
hydrate, 𝑁𝑖𝐶𝑙2 . 6𝐻2 𝑂 (0.1M) with Ethyldiaminetetraacetate (EDTA), (𝐶10 𝐻16 𝑁2 𝑂8) and the
colour changed to light navy blue. Lastly, in test tube Number 5, we put Potassium cyanide,
𝐾𝐶𝑁(1.0M). the colour of this mixture were changed to yellowish.
This experiment were fully handled in fume hood especially for Potassium cyanide,
𝐾𝐶𝑁(1.0M). KCN are very poisonous and smell quite stinky. When experimental were done,
we immediately throw the chemical mixture into waste container in fume hood since the
mixture were poisonous.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Figure 2: Result (colour changing) snapshot without flash light.

Figure 3: Result (colour changing) snapshot with flash light.

Test Tube Observation

1 𝑁𝑖𝐶𝑙2 . 6𝐻2 𝑂 (0.1M) (controlled) Pale green (colourless)
2 𝑁𝑖𝐶𝑙2 . 6𝐻2 𝑂 (0.1M) + concentrated 𝑁𝐻3 Light Blue
3 𝑁𝑖𝐶𝑙2 . 6𝐻2 𝑂 (0.1M) + 𝐶2 𝐻4 (𝑁𝐻2 )2 (en) Purple
4 𝑁𝑖𝐶𝑙2 . 6𝐻2 𝑂 (0.1M) + 𝐶10 𝐻16 𝑁2 𝑂8 Clear Bright Blue
5 𝑁𝑖𝐶𝑙2 . 6𝐻2 𝑂 (0.1M) + KCN Light Yellowish

“The usual definition of a transition metal is one which forms one or more stable
ions which have incompletely filled d orbitals. Zinc with the electronic structure [Ar]
3d104s2 does not count as a transition metal whichever definition you use. In the metal, it
has a full 3d level. When it forms an ion, the 4s electrons are lost - again leaving a
completely full 3d level. At the other end of the row, scandium ( [Ar] 3d14s2 ) does not
really counts as a transition metal either. Although there is a partially filled d level in the
metal, when it forms its ion, it loses all three outer electrons. Technically, the Sc3+ ion does
not count as a transition metal ion because its 3d level is empty.”[1]
Based on the objective, we need to describe colour change in a complexion due to
ligand substitution. The colour of complex ion can be influenced by some factors as central
metal, oxidation state of metal and type of ligand. The ion will normally only change
coordination if you change the ligand. The changing the ligand will change the colour as
well.
Based on the colour obtained, 𝑁𝑖𝐶𝑙2 . 6𝐻2 𝑂 (0.1M) more to pale green but yet a
colourless. Reactions starting from 𝑁𝑖𝐶𝑙2 . 6𝐻2 𝑂 can be used to form a variety of nickel
coordination complexes because the 𝐻2 𝑂 ligands are rapidly displaced by ammonia, en,
𝐶𝑁 − and EDTA. Meanwhile, oxidation state of nickel is +2. It consists of infinite chains of
NiCl2, wherein both chloride centers are bridging ligands. The sites on the octahedral centres
occupied by aquo ligands.
The reaction of 𝑁𝑖𝐶𝑙2 . 6𝐻2 𝑂 with concentrated ammonia shown that the colour
changed to clear light blue, indicating the solution is absorbing orange light which is higher
in energy than red light. This is because, ammonia attaches to the central metal ion using the
lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom. Absorbance spectrum indicates yellow
wavelengths are absorbed, justifying the opposite, blue, which is observed. Ammonia is one
of structure that comes with monodentate ligands. Ammonia is a stronger field ligand than
water.
𝑁𝑖𝐶𝑙2 . 6𝐻2 𝑂 (0.1M) reacted with 𝐶2 𝐻4 (𝑁𝐻2 )2, en shown that its colour turned into
clear light purple. The solution light blue to blue to purple as ethylenediamine molecules
progressively coordinate around the metal center to eventually form Ni(en)3+.The ligand of
𝐶2 𝐻4 (𝑁𝐻2 )2 , en is a bidentate ligand that give it a stronger ligand than water or ammonia .
The purple color indicates the solution is absorbing yellow light which is higher in energy
than orange or red light. The absorbance spectrum indicates yellow wavelengths are
absorbed, justifying the opposite, purple, which is observed.
EDTA very stable complexes with most of the transition metals. This hexadentate
ligand forms very stable complexes with most of the transition metals. In this experiment,
the blue color of nickel(II) chloride hydrate were change to clearly bright blue.
Lastly, the Nickel(II) chloride hydrate when it reacts with KCN has been observed
their changes color are turn immediately to bright yellowish. The cyanide ion (CN-) is
monodentate, but a very strong field ligand, which also forms square-planar complexes with
nickel (II).Cyanide is a stronger ligand than any of the other ligands because there is σ-
bonding from the ligand to the metal and π-back bonding from the metal to the ligand. The
yellow color indicates the solution is absorbing blue light, which is higher in energy than
green, yellow, orange, and red. The absorbance spectrum indicates yellow wavelengths are
absorbed, justifying the opposite, purple, which is observed.
CONCLUSION
Strong-field ligands cause a large split in the energies of d-orbitals of the central
metal atom and transition metal coordination compounds with these ligands are typically
yellow, orange, or red because they absorb higher-energy violet or blue light. Coordination
compounds of transition metals with weak-field ligands are often blue-green, blue, or indigo
because they absorb lower-energy yellow, orange, or red light.
The a given metal ion determine the size of the d–orbital splitting, thus the color
changes as the ligands are differents.

REFERENCE

[1] Jim Clark, “Origin of Color in Complex Ion”; (6 September 2019); Truro School in
Cornwall. Retrived on 8 September 2019 from
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Inorganic_Chemistry/Supplemental_Module
s_(Inorganic_Chemistry)/Coordination_Chemistry/Complex_Ion_Chemistry/Origin
_of_Color_in_Complex_Ions
[2] JoVE Science Education Database. General Chemistry. Coordination Chemistry
Complexes. JoVE, Cambridge, MA, (2019). Retrieved on 8 September 2019 from
https://www.jove.com/science-education/10179/coordination-chemistry-complexes