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Chapter 15: Problem 39

The wavelength of maximum absorption of \(\mathrm{Cu}\left(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\right)_{4}^{2+}\) is \(580 \mathrm{~nm}\) (orange-yellow). What color is a solution of \(\mathrm{Cu}\left(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\right)_{4}^{2+} ?\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The color of the solution containing the Cu(NH3)4^2+ complex ion will be blue.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the complementary color rule

The color of a solution depends on the light it absorbs and the light it transmits. When a substance absorbs light in one part of the spectrum, it will transmit other colors of light - these colors are called complementary colors, because they 'complement' the color absorbed. Thus, the color of the solution will be the complementary color of the light absorbed by it.
02

Determine the absorbed color

In this problem, the wavelength of maximum absorption for Cu(NH3)4^2+ is given as 580 nm, which corresponds to the orange-yellow part of the visible light spectrum.
03

Find the complementary color

Now that we know the color of the light absorbed by the complex ion, we can determine the complementary color, which will be the color of the transmitted light. The complementary colors are those found on the opposite side of the color wheel or color spectrum. Orange-yellow light, when considering the color spectrum (or color wheel), is found opposite bluish colors. So the complementary color of orange-yellow is bluish.
04

Determine the color of the solution

Since the complementary color of the absorbed light is bluish, the color of the solution containing the Cu(NH3)4^2+ complex ion will be a blue color.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Why is \(\left[\mathrm{Co}\left(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\right)_{6}\right]^{3+}\) diamagnetic while \(\left[\mathrm{CoF}_{6}\right]^{3-}\) is paramagnetic?

WEB Indicate whether each of the following is true or false. If the statement is false, correct it. (a) The coordination number of iron(III) in \(\mathrm{Fe}\left(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\right)_{4}(\mathrm{en})^{3+}\) is 5 . (b) \(\mathrm{Ni}(\mathrm{CN})_{6}^{4-}\) is expected to absorb at a longer wavelength than \(\mathrm{Ni}\left(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\right)_{6}{ }^{2+}\)

Bipyridyl (Bipy) is a molecule commonly used as a bidentate ligand. When \(0.17 \mathrm{~mol}\) of bipyridyl is dissolved in \(2.4 \mathrm{~L}\) of a solution that contains \(0.052 \mathrm{M} \mathrm{Fe}^{2+},\left[\mathrm{Fe}(\mathrm{bipy})_{3}\right]^{2+}\left(K_{\mathrm{f}}=1.6 \times 10^{17}\right)\) is formed. What are the con- centrations of all species when equilibrium is established?

Oxyhemoglobin is red, and hemoglobin is blue. Use Le Châtelier's principle to explain why venous blood is blue and arterial blood is bright red.

What are the concentrations of \(\mathrm{Cu}^{2+}, \mathrm{NH}_{3}\), and \(\mathrm{Cu}\left(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\right)_{4}^{2+}\) at equilibrium when \(18.8 \mathrm{~g}\) of \(\mathrm{Cu}\left(\mathrm{NO}_{3}\right)_{2}\) is added to \(1.0 \mathrm{~L}\) of a \(0.400 \mathrm{M}\) solution of aqueous ammonia? Assume that the reaction goes to completion and forms \(\mathrm{Cu}\left(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\right)_{4}^{2+}\).
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