CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM and APPLICATION OF

LeCHATELIERS PRINCIPLE
A system at equilibrium may be disturbed by subjecting the system to a stress, such as
changing the concentration of one of the participants or the temperature. LeChateliers principle
indicates that the system readjusts so as to minimize the stress and again restore equilibrium
conditions. In this lab you will be forming several complex ions; Fe(SCN)63Hg(SCN)42- FeCl41- . When a transition metal ion reacts with excess OH1-, NH3, SCN1-,
C1 or Cl1- a complex ion may form.
1-

In this experiment you investigate a number of equilibrium systems. You will

subject these systems to stresses and explain your observations in terms of LeChateliers
principle. In part 1 you investigate a reaction whose equation may be written
Fe3+ + 6SCN1- <----> Fe(SCN)63You will vary the concentrations of the participants in the reaction and observe, by means
of color changes, the effect on the equilibrium. Similarly, you observe and explain the changes
which occur when you vary the (H1+) in the reaction system whose equation is
Cr2O72- + H2O <----> 2CrO42-+ 2H1+
In part 2 you will observe the effect of changing the temperature of a system
represented by the equation
CoCl42- + 6H2O <----> Co(H2O)62+ + 4Cl1Your observations will enable you to add a heat term, H to the equation.
Safety Precautions:
Wear your goggles at all times
Never taste any chemicals
Dispose of all chemicals according to your teachers instructions
Wash your hands with soap and water when you are finished.
PROCEDURE:
Part 1 - Concentration changes and equilibrium Fe3+ + 6SCN1-Fe(SCN)631. Examine solutions of KCl, KSCN, FeCl3, and Hg(NO3)2. Record the colors of each ion listed
in Table 1. You will have to perform step 2 before recording the color of the Fe(SCN)63+ ion.
2. Place 10 drops of 0.1M FeCl3 into a large test tube and add the same amount of 0.1M KSCN.
Swirl the mixture and add enough distilled water until a transparent, orange-red solution is
obtained. Portion this solution into 5 equal portions in separate small test tubes.
3. Use the first tube as a color standard. To tube #2, add 1 ml of FeCl3 solution; to tube #3, add
1 to 2 g of KCl; to tube #4, add 1 ml of KSCN solution; and to tube #5, add 1 ml of Hg(NO3)2

solution. Shake each tube and compare the colors with the standard. Record your observations
in table 2. Use the species in table 1 to help you explain why the equilibrium shifted.

Part 2 - Concentration changes and equilibrium Cr2O72- + H2O 2CrO42-+ 2H1+

4. Examine solutions of K2Cr2O7, and K2CrO4. Describe the color of the Cr2O72- ion and the
CrO42- ion in table III.
5. Place 1 ml of 0.1M K2Cr2O7 in a test tube and add 1.0M NaOH until a color change is
observed. Record your observations in table IV.
6. Put 1 ml of 0.1M K2CrO4in a test tube and add 1.0M HNO3 until a color change is observed.
Record your observations.
7. Add 1 ml of BaCl2 solution to 1 ml of K2CrO4 solution. Decant solution and note color of
precipitate.
8. Add 1 ml of BaCl2 solution to 1 ml of K2Cr2O7 solution. Decant and note color of precipitate.
Record your observations. Use the results of procedures 7 and 9 to help in the identification of
the precipitate and in the identification of the components in aqueous K2Cr2O7.
9. Repeat procedure 8 but add the barium chloride solution to 1 ml of K2Cr2O7 solution to which
has been added 1 ml of 1.0 M HNO3.

Part 3 Temperature changes and equilibrium CoCl42- + 6H2O Co(H2O)62+ + 4Cl1Heat a small beaker of water to about 85c. Place about 0.3 g (a few crystals) of
crushed CoCl2 6H2O in a test tube and add about five ml of ethyl alcohol. Shake vigorously or
stir until most of the solid has dissolved. If the solution is not pink in color add water drop wise
until the solution turns pink.
Place the test tube into the hot water and observe the color. Immerse the test tube in a
beaker of cold water until the color changes again. Record your results in your data table.

Table I Color of ions

Fe3+ +6SCN1- <---> Fe(SCN)63-

Construct a data table to help you identify the color of the following ions;
K+, Cl1-, SCN1-, Fe3+, Fe(SCN)63+, Hg2+, Hg(SCN)42-, FeCl41(NO31- , Hg(SCN)42- and FeCl41- are colorless)
Table II Effect of Concentration Changes of the Equilibrium System
Fe3+ + 6SCN1- <---> Fe(SCN)63Construct a data table that will accommodate the information collected in steps 2 and 3.
Be sure to give a complete explanation for the shift in equilibrium in your data analysis section.

Table III Color of Ions

Construct a table that will help you identify the colors of the chromate and dichromate ions.

Table IV Effect of Changing [H3O+] on the Equilibrium

Cr2O72- + 3H2O <---> 2CrO42-+ 2H3O+
Construct a data table that will accommodate the information collected in steps 5 through 9.
Table V Colors of ions

CoCl42- Co(H2O)62+
Blue

Red

Table VI Effect of Temperature on the Equilibrium System

CoCl42- +6H2O <----> 2Co(H2O)62-+ 4Cl1Construct a data table that will accommodate the information collected in part 2.
Use the data in table 5 and 6 to help you convert the equilibrium equation into a thermo
chemical equation. Write the heat term, H on the correct side of the equation. State whether
the reaction exothermic or endothermic.
Report:
Discuss and explain what caused the equilibrium to shift in each of the equilibrium systems in
term of LeChateliers Principle. State what was added, the effect it had on the equilibrium and
the direction of the shift.
DCP, EV