Question

Our sample was made of NiSO₄ ∙ 6H₂O and NH₃ and ethanol.

If the sample of the complex ion compound that you prepared had not thoroughly dried, but contained traces of water or ethanol would this make your determination of the moles NH3/g and moles Ni2+/g too high, too low, or would it not affect your results at all? Would this make your determination of the value of x too high, too low or would it not affect your result at all? Explain.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Here we can see is that our sample has NiSO₄ ∙ 6H2O and NH₃ and ethanol . So we know that NH₃ acts as a ligand to the complex. The oxygen atom present in case of water or ethanol has 2 lone pairs of electron. Now if we have some traces of water or ethanol.This lone pair can itself acts as a ligand to the metal ion, hence disturbing the stotiometry . Hence we cannot make out what perecentage of metal ion has combined with water and with Ammonia.Hence it will make the moles of Ni₂ appears less as we will have unconsumed NH₃ which could not be consumed completely due to donation from lone pair of oxygen.