Rate of Isomerism of [Co(en)2Cl2] Essay

In the course of this experiment the rate of isomerism for the coordination complex cis[Co(en)2Cl2]Cl was determined using UV/Vis spectrometry. Using a range of wavelengths the optimum spectrometer setting for analysis was identified. The corresponding maximum and minimum absorbance of the cis and trans isomers respectively at 540 nm meant that it was selected as the wavelength to determine the rate of conversion between the isomers. The first order rate constant was calculated to be 0.0092 m-1 which is somewhat similar to the literature value of 0.00845 m-1 (Brasted and Hiriyama 1958). The half-life (t 1/2) was found to be 75.34 minutes. Introduction: The compound [Co(en)2Cl2]+ is known as a coordination complex, that is, it consists of a Cobalt atom surrounded by an array of molecules to which it is bound, called ligands (Brown 2010). In this case the ligands are Ethylenediamine which are ‘bidentate’, meaning bound in two locations. These ligands are bonded between the two Nitrogen atoms as seen in figure 1 below. This complex occurs in two geometric isomers, cis-[Co(en)2Cl2] + and trans-[Co(en)2Cl2] +. In this experiment the Chloride salt form of the complexes were used i.e. cis-[Co(en)2Cl2]Cl. Figure 1: The Trans and Cis isomers of [Co(en)2Cl2]+ Source: Shapter ,J. 2014 Experiment 1: Rate of Isomerism cis[Co(en)2Cl2]Cl, Flinders University, Australia The Cis- isomer form of the complex which is purple in solution reacts to form the Trans- isomer which is green in solution. This experiment uses spectroscopy to quantify the conversion of the Cis into the Trans isomer due to the fact that the concentration of the Cis isomer is proportional to the difference in absorbance of the two complexes in solution. This isomerism of the Cis-form is a first order reaction and its rate is expressed in equation 1 below. Equation 1: By measuring the optical densities at time 0, t and infinity the rate constant k can be determined with equation 2, a rearranged and substituted form of the formula used above. Equation 2: a) Which rearranges to give: b) Experimental: Solutions of 2 Ãâ€" 10-3 M Cis- and Trans-[Co(en)2Cl2]Cl were prepared and placed in volumetric flasks of 100 ml and 10ml volumes respectively. Samples of these solutions were placed in cuvettes and measured in a spectrometer over the range of wavelengths between 350 and 700 nm. The Varian Car 50 UV-Vis spectrometer recorded the absorbance of the two isomers and produced a print out which was used to identify the correct wavelength for further spectroscopy (see Appendix 1). Using the SP – 880 Metertech spectrometer, the absorbance was measured and recorded as seen in Table 1. Next the Cis isomer solution was warmed in a water bath at 40 degrees Celsius and a sample was taken and cooled in an ice bath. The absorbance of the sample was then measured using the wavelength previously selected. This was repeated at ten minute intervals for an hour. Finally a last sample of the cis[Co(en)2Cl2]Cl was analysed with the spectrometer 24 hours after to determine the value. Results: Table 1: Absorption of the Two Isomers at Various Wavelengths Wavelength (nm) Cis Trans 350 0.468 0.144 360 0.289 0.090 370 0.207 0.087 380 0.180 0.091 390 0.170 0.091 400 0.466 0.397 410 0.123 0.070 420 0.092 0.057 430 0.066 0.049 440 0.049 0.047 450 0.041 0.048 460 0.043 0.048 470 0.049 0.045 480 0.061 0.039 490 0.076 0.031 Wavelength (nm) Cis Trans 500 0.093 0.025 510 0.110 0.020 520 0.124 0.017 530 0.134 0.017 540 0.137 0.020 550 0.134 0.025 560 0.129 0.034 570 0.122 0.044 580 0.116 0.055 590 0.065 0.109 600 0.102 0.071 610 0.095 0.075 620 0.085 0.074 630 0.073 0.067 640 0.060 0.055 650 0.049 0.049 660 0.035 0.038 670 0.026 0.028 680 0.018 0.020 690 0.013 0.013 700 0.009 0.008 Figure 1: Absorbance against Wavelength of Cis and Trans Isomers Table 2: Absorbance of Cis Isomer at 540 nm Time (min) Cis Abs ln[Dt-D∞] y = -0.01104 X – 2.40936 10 0.117 -2.51331 -2.519758607 20 0.108 -2.63109 -2.630158414 30 0.100 -2.74887 -2.74055822 40 0.093 -2.8647 -2.850958026 50 0.089 -2.93746 -2.961357833 60 0.082 -3.07911 -3.071757639 t ∞ 0.036 Figure 2: Natural Logarithm of the Cis Isomer Absorbance against Time Table 3: Slope, Y intercept and Regression Error Generated by Linest Function -0.01104 -2.40936 0.00036364 0.014162 0.995679 0.015212 921.711268 4 0.21329205 0.000926 Calculations: Mass of Cis Isomer Required to Make 2 x 10-3 M 100ml M = Mass/(Volume Ãâ€" Molar Mass) Mass req. = 2 Ãâ€" 10-3 Ãâ€" ((100/1000) Ãâ€" 285) = 57mg Mass of Trans Isomer Required to Make 2 x 10-3 M 10ml M = Mass/(Volume Ãâ€" Molar Mass) Mass req. = 2 Ãâ€" 10-3 Ãâ€" ((10/1000) Ãâ€" 285) = 5.7mg k k = (ln[D0-D∞] -ln[Dt-D∞]) / t k = 0.0092 m-1 ln[Dt-D∞] ln[D0-D∞] -3.0718 -2.5198 Half life t 1/2 = ln[2/k] = 75.3422 min Error Propagation: Measured weight of isomers Cis 56.7mg Trans 5.7mg Resolution of Scales ‘Satorius Extend’: 0.1mg Volumetric glassware 100ml  ± 0.1 ml ‘A’ Class 10ml  ± 0.025 ml ‘A’ Class Discussion: Methanol was used as a solvent in this experiment to avoid the chemical interactions that may have occurred had water been used in its place (Mahaffy 2011). In the initial solution of the Cis isomer accuracy wasn’t as important as it was being measured to find the optimal wavelength for analysis as seen in Figure 1 and Appendix 1. Preparation of the Cis Isomer solution measured to produce Figure 2 required a mass of the compound as close as possible to the calculated amounts (See Results – Calculations) in order to produce results that allowed for the accurate determination of the rate constant (k) and half-life (t1/2). The relationship between k and t1/2 is that k is a factor in the formula of t1/2 (See Results – Calculations) and determines what unit of time that the half-life is expressed in (in this case minutes-1). Figure 1 plots the absorbance of the two isomers against the various wavelengths from 350nm 700nm. From this graph the wavelength of 540nm was id entified as the ideal to be used to determine the reaction rate of the isomers. This was due to the local maxima of the Cis isomer at this  point which coincides with the local minima of the Trans isomer. This data is confirmed by the printout of the Varian Car 50 UV-Vis spectrometer which also marked the 540nm point on its plot (see Appendix 1). This clear difference in absorption of the two isomers at this wavelength meant that the rate of inter-conversion could be determined. The graph of the natural logarithm of the absorbance of the Cis isomer against time can be seen in figure 2. By observing the points on the plot a straight line of decay confirms that this reaction is first order, a logarithm of the measured absorbance values (Christian 2010). Calculations were carried out on the data in table 2 to determine the k and t1/2 (see Results – Calculations). The k value calculated of 0.0092 m-1 roughly matches the figure generated by the linest function 0.01104m-1 (see Table 3, top left) and is also similar to the literature value of 0.00845m-1. With the calculated k value of 0.0092 the t1/2 was determined to be 75.3422 minutes. Slight variations between the k value calculated from the points in figure 2 and that generated by the linest function can be accounted for by the fact that the linest function is a calculate d line of best fit and so does not fit the data points collected exactly but is an approximation. The slight difference between the literature value of k 0.00845m-1 and the calculated k of 0.0092m-1 can be accounted for by human error in time, volume and mass measurement. The range of error in this measurement is  ±0.00075 which is the difference between the calculated and literature values. Conclusion: In this experiment the rate constant (k) was determined to be 0.0092m-1  ±0.00075 and the t1/2 was calculated to be 75.3422 minutes. References: Brasted, R. Hirayama C. 1958 The cis-trans Isomeration of Dichlorbis-(ethylenediamine)-cobalt(III) Chloride and Dichlorbis-(propylenediamine)-cobalt(III) Chloride in Alcohols, Journal of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota. Vol. 80 pp 788 – 794. Brown, T. LeMay H. Bursten, B. Murphy, C. Langford, S. & Sagatys D. 2010. Chemistry: The Central Science, Pearson, Australia. pp 1196 – 1197. Christian, G. 2010. Analytical Chemistry 6th Ed., John Wiley & Sons, USA. pp 159, 270 – 271. Mahaffy, P. Bucat, B . Tasker, R. Kotz, J. Treichel, P. Weaver, G. & McMurry, J. 2011. Chemistry: Human Activity, Chemical Reactivity, Nelson Education, Canada. pp 99, 115 – 116. Appendices: Appendix 1: Figure 3: Absorbance of Cis and Trans Isomers at Various Wavelengths (Varian Car 50 UV-Vis spectrometer)