I.
Introduction
In 1893, Alfred Werner, a 26 year-old French-Born Swiss chemist, was a major
contributor about the construction of coordination compounds. He suggest a theory
known as “Werner’s theory”. According to him, there are two types of valences: primary
valence and secondary valence. Primary valence is the number of negative ions needed
to satisfy the charge on the metal ion. This is also called as ionizable valency. Primary
valence corresponds to the oxidation state. On the other hand, secondary valence is the
number of ions of molecules that are coordinated to the metal ion. It is also referred as
secondary nonionizable valency. Every metal has a fixed number of secondary valence.
Secondary valence is always called as coordination number.
Werner performed conductivity measurements on [Pt(NH 3)6]Cl4 in order to
determine the number of ions present in the compound. According to his investigation,
there are 5 ions present in [Pt(NH3)6]Cl4 compound.
Conductivity of a solution is a measurement that is extremely useful method in
determining the number of ions. Conductivity is the ability of a solution, a metal or a gas,
to pass an electric current. In solutions, the current is carried by cations and anions
whereas in metals it is carried by electrons. Conductivity is measured in aqueous
solutions of electrolytes. Electrolytes are substances containing ions. The resistance of
the solution is measured in conductivity. Conductance (G) is defined as the reciprocal of
the electrical resistance (R) of a solution between two electrodes.
G= 1/R (1)
Where the unit of R is ohm and G is ohm -1 or mho. The conductivity meter in fact
measures the conductance and displays the reading converted into conductivity.
Specific conductance or what they call as “conductivity” is defined as the
conductance of a solution of definite dilution enclosed in a cell having two electrodes of
unit area separated by one centimeter apart. It is denoted by the symbol k (kappa).
Specific conductance must be identified in order to calculate the cell constant. Cell
constant is the ratio of distance between conductance electrodes to the area of the
electrodes, measured from the determined resistance of a solution of known specific
conductance. It is determined by dividing specific conductance to the measured
conductance and is denoted by C, which has a unit of cm -1. The equation is as follows:
C=ks/Gs (2)
Another entity in conductance measurements is the molar conductance. Molar
conductance is defined as the conductivity of an electrolyte solution divided by the
molar concentration of the electrolyte, and so measures the efficiency with which a
given electrolyte conducts electricity in solution. The unit for molar conductance is mho-
cm2/mole. It is usually denoted by the symbol lambda, λ m. The equation is as follows:
λm = 001k/ M (3)
Below is a range of values of molar concentration for 2-5 ions at 25 ℃ in water.
Number of ions Molar Conductance
(mho-cm2/mole)
2 118-131
3 235-273
4 408-435
5 560
The purpose of the experiment is to determine the number of ions of
Hexaamminecobalt(III) chloride and Chloropentaamminecobalt(III) chloride compound
by calculating the molar conductance and comparing it to the range of values of molar
concentration.
II. Methodology
Determination of cell
constant Conductivity Measurement
Rinse Conductivity cell with Prepare 1x10-3M solution of the
atleast three proportions of compound that was prepared last
0.01 KCl solution. experiments.
Adjust temperature of a Thoroughly rinse cell with one or
fourth portion to 25and portions of sample.
determine the conductance.
Calculate the Cell Adjust temperature of a final
Constant using this portion to about 25and measure
equation C= . the conductivity of the sample.
III. Data and Calculations
A. Data
Compound Molar
Compound Mass(g) Conductance
(mho-cm2/mole)
[Co(NH3)6]Cl3 552
[Co(NH3)6]Cl3 0.0268g
[Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2 601
[Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2 0.0250g
Table
Table 1 Shows the Mass of the Compounds (in grams) dissolve 3 Shows the Molar Conductance of the compounds
in Water
Compound Measured Conductivity
( µmho /cm )
[Co(NH3)6]Cl3 552
[Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2 601
Table 2 Shows the Measured Conductivity
B. Calculations
*Mass of compound must be dissolve in 100mL water
−3
1 x 10 mol 1L 268 g [Co(NH 3) 6]Cl 3
M[Co(NH3)6]Cl3 = ( ) ( ) ( ) (100mL)
1L 1000 mL 1 mol
=0.0268g [Co(NH3)6]Cl3
1 x 10−3 mol 1L 250 g [Co(NH 3) 6]Cl 3
M[Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2 = ( ) ( ) ( ) (100mL)
1L 1000 mL 1 mol
=0.0250g [Co(NH3)6]Cl3
*Molar Conductance
1L
∗1000 mL
1 x 10−3 mol
k 556 µmho ∗1 cm3
Λm[Co(NH3)6]Cl3= M = cm * 1L
∗1 x 10−6 mho
1mL
1 µmho
556 mho −cm ²
¿
mole
1L
−3
∗1000 mL
1 x 10 mol
k 601 µmho ∗1 cm3
Λm[Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2= M = cm * 1L
∗1 x 10−6 mho
1mL
1 µmho
601 mho−cm²
= mole
IV. Results and Discussions
Table 1 shows the mass of the two compounds. The mass of
Hexaamminecobalt(III) chloride and chloropentaamminecobalt(III) chloride was 0.0268g
and 0.0250g, respectively. These two compounds were dissolved in water separately.
The concentration of these two compounds were obtained by converting the mass of
the compound into moles and divided by the volume of the water, in Liters, which
obtained a concentration of 1 x 10 -3M. These concentration were used to determine the
molar conductance of the compounds.
Table 2 shows the measured conductivity. Hexaamminecobalt(III) chloride has a
conductivity of 552 μ mho/cm in 26.2 ℃ while chloropentaamminecobalt(III)
chloride has a conductivity of 601 μ mho/cm in 26.2 ℃ . These was determined
through the use of the conductivity meter in measuring its conductivity.
Table 3 shows the molar conductance of Hexaamminecobalt(III) chloride and
Chloropentaamminecobalt(III) chloride. The data in the table 2 was used in calculating
the molar conductance. From the equation, k, is the measured conductivity that was
divided from the molar concentration of the compound. [Co(NH3)6]Cl3 has a molar
conductance of 552 mho-cm2/mol which belonged to the ranges 450-560 and above.
This only means that Hexaammineccobalt(III) chloride has 5 ions. On the other hand,
Chloropentaamminecobalt(III) chloride has a molar conductance of 601 mho-cm 2/mol.
This implies that this compound was belonged to the ranges 560 and above and has 5
ions.
Conductivity measurements are temperature dependent. They are directly
proportional to the temperature. This means that if the temperature increases.
Conductivity increases and vice versa. In the situation of Chloropentaamminecobalt(III)
chloride, the measured conductivity is too high that resulted to have 5 ions.
Chloropentaamminecobalt(III) chloride must only have 4 ions. This implies that the
compound Chloropentaamminecobalt(III) chloride has a high temperature that resulted
the conductivity to rise.
V. Conclusion
Based from the calculations and references that was gathered, it was therefore
concluded that Hexaamminecobalt(III) chloride has 5 ions in regards with its molar
conductance, which is 552 mho-cm2/mol. On the other hand,
Chloropentaamminecobalt(III) chloride has 5 ions. This result was due to the increase in
temperature and resulted to high conductivity.
VII. References
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