INTRODUCTION

In chemistry, a coordination complex consists of a central atom or ion, which is usually

metallic and is called coordination centre, and a surrounding array of bound molecules or ions,
that are I turn known as ligands. Many metal containing compounds, especially those of
transition metals.

There are three types of ligands that is Monodentate ligand, Bidentate ligand and
Polydentate ligands. Monodentate ligandis coordinate to only site of metal ion. In other words,
only one pair of electrons can be donated to the metal ion. Bidentate ligand is the ligand that
occupy two sites of metal ion. That is, it can be attached to two metal ion positions. Polydentate
ligand are the ligand that occupy many sites of the same metal ion. This category includes all the
higher level dentate ligands above bidentate.

A metal ion in solution does not exist in isolation but in combination with ligands such as
solvent molecules or simple ions or chelating groups, giving rise to complex ions or coordination
compounds. These complexes contain a central atom or ion, often a transition metal and a cluster
of ions or neutral molecules surrounding it. Ligands are ions or neutral molecules that bond to a
central metal atom or ion. Ligands act as Lewis bases, electron pair donors and the central atom
acid, electron pair acceptor. Ligands have at least one donor atom with an electron pair used to
form covalent bonds with the central atom.

OBJECTIVE

-To observe various colour change in a complex ion due ligand substitution.

CHEMICALS

-Copper sulphate, CuSO4.5H2O (0.035 M)

-Concentrated ammonia solution, NH3
-Concentrated hydrochloric acid, HCl
-Ethylenediamine (en), C2H2 (NH2)2
-Potassium cyanide, KCN (1.0 M)
-Ethyldiaminetetraacetate (EDTA), C10H16N2O8
APPARATUS

-Test tube
-Graduated cylinder
-Dropper
-Test tube rack

RESULT

Figure 1: Result for Various Colour Change in a Complex Ion

Table 1: Result for Various Colour Change in a Complex Ion

Test Tube Observation

1 No change / reaction
2 Light green
3 Blue
4 Dark blue
5 Light blue
6 Light yellow
DICUSSION

For the test tube 1, there is no reaction when copper sulphate(CuSO4) is dissolved in
water. The colour is colourless, this colour acted as control for this experiment. For the test tube
2, CuSO4 reacted with HCL. HCL which is colourless turned light green after reacting with
CuSO4 to form [CuCl4]²⁻ and SO4²⁻. The reaction that occurs was:

CuSO4.5H2O + 4Cl⁻ [CuCl4]²⁻ + SO4²⁻

For the test tube 3, CuSO4 reacted with ammonia(NH3).Ammonia which is colourless turned to
blue when reacted with CuSO4 to form [Cu(H2O) 2(NH3) 4]²⁺and SO4²⁻. This reaction is usually
used as a qualitative test for the copper(II)ion. The reaction that occurs was:

CuSO4.5H2O + 4NH4 [Cu(H2O) 2(NH3) 4]²⁺ + SO4²⁻

For the test tube 4,CuSO4 reacted with ethylenediamine (en). En which is colourless turned to
dark blue when reacted with CuSO4. The reaction that occurs was:

CuSO4.5H2O + C2H44(NH3) 2 + H2O

For the test tube 5,CuSO4 reacted with ethyldiaminetetraacetate (EDTA).EDTA which is
colourless turned to blue solution when reacted with CuSO4 to form EDTA²⁻. EDTA²⁻forms a
more stable complex and frees the indicator, which then displays its original colour. The
appearance of the free indicator means that all the metal ions had been complexed by EDTA²⁻
,which signals the end point. The reaction that occurs was:

CuSO4.5H2O + C10H16N2O8 (C10H16N2O8)²⁻ + 2H⁺

For the sixth test tube, CuSO4 reacted with potassium cyanide(KCN).KCN which is yellow in
colour turned to pale yellow when reacted with CuSO4. The reaction that occurs was:

CuSO4.5H2O + 2KCN Cu(CN) 2 + K2SO

CONCLUSION

There are various changes of colour occur towards CuSO4 when reacting with different complex
ions. Light green solution formed when HCL is added, blue solution is formed when NH3 is
added, dark blue solution formed when EN is added, light blue solution is formed when EDTA is
added and light yellow solution is formed when KCN is added.