Chemlab: Chemistry 6


Week 8: Coordination Chemistry 4

Overview

Getting Started

Techniques

Procedure

FAQ

Full Lab Manual

Introduction & Goals

Chemistry & Background

Key Questions

Prelab Problems

Safety

Procedure

In Your Write-up

Experiments Index

ChemLab Home


Goals
This week, you will further investigate the ligand exchange reaction between NO2- and [Co(NH3)5(H2O)]3+. You will monitor the two steps of the reaction and determine the reaction rate constants and the order of both steps with respect to [Co(NH3)5(H2O)]3+.

To Learn or Review
Transition Metal Complexes
Zumdahl, pp. 910-917

Rate Laws
Zumdahl pp. 690-708

Reaction Mechanisms
Zumdahl, pp. 708-714

Color of Complex Ions
Zumdahl pp. 940-941

Introduction
The reaction mechanism for the substitution of a nitrite ion, NO2-, for the water ligand of [Co(NH3)5(H2O)]3+ is more complicated than it first appears. Your results from last week should have shown that the reaction occurs in two steps, an initial ligand attachment followed by an isomerization to a final product. Your data should have shown which linkage isomer, the nitro or nitrito, is formed first and which is formed second. The isomer formed initially is considered to be kinetically favored, since it can form quickly. The isomer that is the final product is the thermodynamically favored isomer, since it is energetically more stable, although it is not formed initially for kinetic reasons.

Dartmouth College
Trustees of Dartmouth College, Copyright 1997–2003