What type of ion is formed when transition metal ions dissolve in water?
Metal-aqua ion
Water molecules act as ligands forming complexes such as [M(H2O)6]2+.
What ligand surrounds metal ions in aqueous transition-metal complexes?
Water
Six water molecules usually coordinate to the metal ion.
Fill in the blank:
The complex ion formed when Fe2+ dissolves in water is Fe(H2O)6.
2+
This is an octahedral metal-aqua complex.
True or False:
The acidity of [M(H2O)6]3+ ions is greater than that of [M(H2O)6]2+ ions.
True
Higher charge density polarises the O–H bonds more strongly.
What property explains why [M(H2O)6]3+ ions are more acidic than [M(H2O)6]2+ ions?
Higher charge density
Greater charge/size ratio weakens O–H bonds in coordinated water.
True or False:
Aluminium hydroxide dissolves in both acids and bases.
True
This demonstrates amphoteric behaviour.
Fill in the blank:
A substance that reacts with both acids and bases is described as _______.
amphoteric
Examples include Al(OH)3.
What reagent forms a blue precipitate with Cu2+ ions in solution?
Sodium hydroxide
Cu2+ forms a blue Cu(OH)2 precipitate.
True or False:
Fe2+ ions form a green precipitate when reacting with hydroxide ions.
True
Fe(OH)2 appears green but turns brown when oxidised.
Fill in the blank:
Fe3+ ions react with hydroxide ions to form a _______ precipitate.
brown
The precipitate formed is Fe(OH)3.
What reagent can dissolve aluminium hydroxide precipitate to form a colourless solution?
Excess sodium hydroxide
The amphoteric hydroxide dissolves forming a complex ion.
What laboratory method uses these reactions to identify transition metal ions?
Test-tube reactions
Observing colour changes and precipitates helps identify ions.
What is the colour of [Fe(H₂O)₆]²⁺(aq)?
Green solution
What is the colour of [Cu(H₂O)₆]²⁺(aq)?
Blue solution
What is the colour of [Fe(H₂O)₆]³⁺(aq)?
Pale violet solution
Appears orange due to hydrolysis.
What is the colour of [Al(H₂O)₆]³⁺(aq)?
Colourless solution
What happens when NaOH(aq) is added dropwise to [Fe(H₂O)₆]²⁺(aq)?
[Fe(H₂O)₄(OH)₂] forms
Green precipitate, darkens on standing due to oxidation to [Fe(H₂O)₃(OH)₃].
What happens when NaOH(aq) is added dropwise to [Cu(H₂O)₆]²⁺(aq)?
[Cu(H₂O)₄(OH)₂] forms
Blue precipitate.
What happens when NaOH(aq) is added dropwise to [Al(H₂O)₆]³⁺(aq)?
[Al(H₂O)₃(OH)₃] forms
White precipitate.
What happens when NaOH(aq) is added dropwise to [Fe(H₂O)₆]³⁺(aq)?
[Fe(H₂O)₃(OH)₃] forms
Brown precipitate.
What happens when excess NaOH(aq) is added to [Fe(H₂O)₆]²⁺(aq)?
No further reaction
What happens when excess NaOH(aq) is added to [Cu(H₂O)₆]²⁺(aq)?
No further reaction
What happens when excess NaOH(aq) is added to [Fe(H₂O)₆]³⁺(aq)?
No further reaction
What happens when NH₃(aq) is added dropwise to [Fe(H₂O)₆]²⁺(aq)?
[Fe(H₂O)₄(OH)₂] forms
Green precipitate, darkens on standing.