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Chemistry Forums for Students => Analytical Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: McCoy on September 25, 2008, 03:48:32 PM

Title: preparation of Co(en)3Cl3
Post by: McCoy on September 25, 2008, 03:48:32 PM

I did an experiment with the following reagents to prepare Co(en)3Cl3 :1,2 diaminoethane and 1.6g CoCl2.6H2O and the result was quite astonishing. The product(Co(en)3Cl3 ) has more mass than the reactants! Where did the law of conservation of mass go?

Title: Re: preparation of Co(en)3Cl3
Post by: Borek on September 25, 2008, 03:52:59 PM

Quote from: McCoy on September 25, 2008, 03:48:32 PM

Where did the law of conservation of mass go?

It either lost with a lousy lab technique or with a lack of drying.

Title: Re: preparation of Co(en)3Cl3
Post by: McCoy on September 25, 2008, 04:06:38 PM

okay. Which means the product actually might have water on it when it was weighted!Can this be the most reasonable explanation? thanks

Title: Re: preparation of Co(en)3Cl3
Post by: Borek on September 25, 2008, 04:11:25 PM

Assuming you have weighted reagents correctly, that's the first thing I would think about, that your product was contaminated - either with water or with something else.