The Chemistry of some d- Block elements

This practical is designed to investigate the chemical reactions of selected d – block

metals, looking specifically at their oxidation states and the complex ions they form. For
each part of the experiment record what you observe and attempt to explain these results.
This is open ended both in terms of observations and explanations. You can observe
whether the anticipated reactions occurred in all parts of the practical and which ones
gave surprising results.

This lab will be assessed for Data Collection on the observations you make and Data
Processing and Presentation, on your interpretation of these changes

Apparatus:
Per student
6 test tubes
2 x 100ml beakers
Splints

Chemicals required:
About 10cm3 per student of aqueous solutions of the following. The concentration is not
vital, from 1 mol/dm3 to 0.1 mol/dm3 will do unless stated otherwise:
Chromium (III) sulphate
Potassium chromate (IV)
Hydrogen peroxide
Manganese (II) sulphate
Potassium permanganate (VII) (0.01mol/dm3)
Iron (II) ammonium sulphate
Iron (III) chloride
Potassium thiocynate
Potassium iodide
Cobalt (II) chloride
Copper (II) sulphate
Sodium thiosulphate (0.2mol/dm3)

Supplies of the following laboratory reagents (50cm3 per student)

Aqueous sodium hydroxide (2mol/dm3)
Aqueous ammonia
Dilute sulphuric acid (1 mol/dm3)
Concentrated HCl
The following substances:

Solid manganese (IV) oxide (2g per group)

Solid glucose (2g per group)

Method:
1 Chromium
a) Fill a test tube to a depth of 1cm with a solution containing chromium (III) ions. Add
aqueous NaOH drop by drop until a precipitate forms, and then add an excess of NaOH.
Save the product for part B

b) Transfer some product from a) to a boiling tube to a depth of 1cm, add an equal
volume of aqueous hydrogen peroxide and heat gently.

c) Fill a test tube to a depth of 1 cm with a solution containing chromate (VI) ions. Add
dilute sulphuric acid a few drops at a time until a color change occurs. Now add aqueous
NaOH until there is a further change

2. Manganese
a) Fill a test tube to a depth of 1 cm with a solution containing manganese (II) ion s. Add
a few drops of NaOH (aq) and then an excess of it. Shake the test tube for a minute or
two, observing the precipitate carefully.

b) Fill a test tube to a depth of 2 cms with aqueous hydrogen peroxide and add a little
manganese (IV) oxide. Test the gas evolved with a glowing splint. Note any changes to
the solid and the solution

c) Fill one test tube to a depth of about 3 cm with dilute sulphuric acid, a second similar
depth with water and a third with NaOH (aq). Add 5 drops of 0.1mol/dm3 aqueous
potassium permanganate (VII) to each test tube and then shake. Now add 5 drops of
0.2mol/dm3 aqueous sodium thiosulphate to each and observe.

3. Iron
a) Fill a test tube to a depth of 1 cm with a solution containing iron (II) ions. Add a few
drops of NaOH (aq) and then an excess of NaOH. Leave the test tube to stand for about
10 mins and then observe closely near the surface

b) Fill a test tube to a depth of 1 cm with a solution containing iron (III) ions. Add a few
drops of NaOH (aq) and then an excess of NaOH.

c) Put a 1 cm depth of solutions containing ferrous and ferric ions into two separate test
tubes and then add a few drops of aqueous potassium thiocyanate to both.
4. Cobalt
a) Fill a test tube to a depth of 1 cm with a solution containing cobalt (II) ions. Add conc.
HCl a drop at a time until there is no further color change. Add water a little at a time,
until the color change is just reversed. Now warm the solution gently.

5. Nickel
a) Fill a test tube to a depth of 1 cm with a solution containing nickel (II) ions. Add conc.
HCl a drop at a time until there is no further color change.

b) Fill a test tube to a depth of 1 cm with a solution containing nickel (II) ions. Add a few
drops of aqueous ammonia and then an excess of the reagent.

6. Copper
a) Fill a test tube to a depth of 1 cm with a solution containing copper (II) ions. Add a
few drops of aqueous NaOH and then an excess of NaOH.

b) Fill a test tube to a depth of 1 cm with a solution containing copper (II) ions. Add a
few drops of aqueous ammonia and then an excess of the reagent.

c) Fill a test tube to a depth of 1 cm with a solution containing copper (II) ions. Add conc.
HCl a drop at a time until there is no further color change.

d) Put a 1 cm depth of aqueous solution of copper (II) ions in a boiling tube and dissolve
two spatulas of glucose in this. Heat the mixture to boiling and then maintaining this
temperature; add NaOH (aq) a drop at a time until there is no further change.

Notes:
DCP
Raw data
Processing data
Presenting processed data

Due: 1st December