1. Solubility and Complex Ion Equilibria
Chapter 16 Lesson 2
Solubility and Complex Ion Equilibria

2. 16.1 Solubility Equilibria and the Solubility Product
Precipitation and Qualitative Analysis
Equilibria Involving Complex Ions
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3. Precipitation
Precipitation is merely another way of looking at solubility equilibrium.
Rather than considering how much of a substance will dissolve, we ask: Will precipitation occur for a given starting ion concentration? 2

4. Criteria for Precipitation
To determine whether an equilibrium system will go in the forward or reverse direction requires that we evaluate the reaction quotient, Q (or IP).
To predict the direction of reaction, you compare Q with Ksp.
The reaction quotient has the same form as the Ksp expression, but the concentrations of products are starting values not necessarily saturated conc. 2

5. Criteria for Precipitation
Consider the following equilibrium.
H2O
where initial concentration is denoted by i. 2

6. Criteria for Precipitation
If Q = Ksp, the solution is just saturated with ions and any additional solid will not dissolve in solution but instead will precipitate out.
If Q < Ksp, the solution is unsaturated and more solid can be dissolved in the solution; no precipitate forms. Shift right increase Q
If Q > Ksp, , the solution is supersaturated meaning the solution contains a higher concentration of ions than possible at equilibrium; a precipitate will form. Shift to left decrease Q
solid ions Q = [ions] 2

7. The ion product quotient, Qc, is:
The concentration of calcium ion in blood plasma is M. If the concentration of oxalate ion is 1.0 x 10-5 M, do you expect calcium oxalate to precipitate? Ksp for calcium oxalate is 2.3 x 10-9.
M x 10-5 M
The ion product quotient, Qc, is:
This value is larger than the Ksp, so you expect precipitation to occur past saturation point. 2

8. PbCl2 (s) Pb2+ (aq) + 2Cl- (aq)
The concentration of lead ion is 0.25 M. If the concentration of chloride ion is M, do you expect lead chloride to precipitate? Ksp for lead chloride is 1.7 x 10-5.
PbCl2 (s) Pb2+ (aq) + 2Cl- (aq)
0.25 M M
Note: did not double chloride concentration
Q < Ksp = 1.7 x 10-5, indicating that a no precipitate will form (below the saturation point). 2

9. example: A student mixes L of M Sr(NO3)2 solution with L of M K2CrO4 solution to give a final volume of 0.300L. Will a precipitate form under these conditions? Ksp SrCrO4 = 3.6 x 10-5
Sr(NO3)2 (aq) + K2CrO4 (aq)  SrCrO4 (s) KNO3 (aq)
(aq)
SrCrO4 (s) Sr2+ (aq) + CrO42- (aq)
M M
we find that Q (2.0 x 10-5) < Ksp (3.6 x 10-5) indicating that no precipitate will form (below saturation point)

10. Selective Precipitation
Selective precipitation is the technique of separating two or more ions from a solution by adding a reactant that precipitates first one ion, then another, and so forth.
For example, when you slowly add potassium chromate, K2CrO4, to a solution containing Ba2+ and Sr2+, barium chromate precipitates first due to its lower solubility than SrCrO4. 2

11. Selective Precipitation
After most of the Ba2+ ion has precipitated, strontium chromate begins to precipitate.
It is therefore possible to separate Ba2+ from Sr2+ by selective precipitation using K2CrO4.
Take advantage in qual/quan type analysis. 2

12. Effect of pH on Solubility
Sometimes it is necessary to account for other reactions that aqueous ions might undergo.
For example, if the anion is the conjugate base of a weak acid, it will react with H3O+.
You should expect the solubility to be affected by pH. By adding and complexing out ions you can affect the pH of solution which could affect ppt reactions. 2

13. Effect of pH on Solubility
Consider the following equilibrium.
H2O
s by pH
Because the oxalate ion is conjugate base, it will react with H3O+ (added acid to lower pH).
H2O
According to Le Chatelier’s principle, as C2O42- ion is removed by the reaction with H3O+, more calcium oxalate dissolves (increase solubility).
Therefore, you expect calcium oxalate to be more soluble in acidic solution (lower pH) than in pure water. The acidity will react with the oxalate and shift the equil toward the right and allow more calcium oxalate to dissolve. 2

14. Separation of Metal Ions by Sulfide Precipitation
Many metal sulfides are insoluble in water but dissolve in acidic solution.
Qualitative analysis uses this change in solubility of the metal sulfides with pH to separate a mixture of metal ions.
By adjusting the pH in an aqueous solution of H2S, you adjust the sulfide concentration to precipitate the least soluble metal sulfide first.
Typically do some qual experiment similar in lab. 2

15. Qualitative Analysis
Qualitative analysis involves the determination of the identity of substances present in a mixture.
In the qualitative analysis scheme for metal ions, a cation is usually detected by the presence of a characteristic precipitate.
Next slide shows a figure that summarizes how metal ions in an aqueous solution are separated into five analytical groups. 2

16. Ebbing, D. D. ; Gammon, S. D. General Chemistry, 8th ed
Ebbing, D. D.; Gammon, S. D. General Chemistry, 8th ed., Houghton Mifflin, New York, NY, 2005. 2

17. Separating the Common Cations by Selective Precipitation
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18. Separation of Cu2+ and Hg2+ from Ni2+ and Mn2+ using H2S
At a low pH, [S2–] is relatively low and only the very insoluble HgS and CuS precipitate.
When OH– is added to lower [H+], the value of [S2–] increases, and MnS and NiS precipitate.
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19. Separation of Cu2+ and Hg2+ from Ni2+ and Mn2+ using H2S
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20. Complex Ion Equilibria
Charged species consisting of a metal ion surrounded by ligands.
Ligand: Lewis base
Formation (stability) constant.
Equilibrium constant for each step of the formation of a complex ion by the addition of an individual ligand to a metal ion or complex ion in aqueous solution.
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21. Complex Ion Equilibria
Be2+(aq) + F–(aq) BeF+(aq) K1 = 7.9 x 104
BeF+(aq) + F–(aq) BeF2(aq) K2 = 5.8 x 103
BeF2(aq) + F–(aq) BeF3– (aq) K3 = 6.1 x 102
BeF3– (aq) + F–(aq) BeF42– (aq) K4 = 2.7 x 101
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22. Complex Ions and Solubility
Two strategies for dissolving a water–insoluble ionic solid.
If the anion of the solid is a good base, the solubility is greatly increased by acidifying the solution.
In cases where the anion is not sufficiently basic, the ionic solid often can be dissolved in a solution containing a ligand that forms stable complex ions with its cation.
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23. AgCl(s) Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
How can one dissolve silver chloride and pull the rxn to the right even though chloride is a weak base?
AgCl(s) Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
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24. Calculate the concentration of NH3 in the final equilibrium mixture.
Concept Check
Calculate the solubility of silver chloride in 10.0 M ammonia given the following information:
Ksp (AgCl) = 1.6 x 10–10
Ag+ + NH AgNH K = 2.1 x 103
AgNH3+ + NH Ag(NH3)2+ K = 8.2 x 103
0.48 M
Calculate the concentration of NH3 in the final equilibrium mixture.
9.0 M
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25. Formation Constants for Complex Ions
The solution of a slightly soluble salt increase when one of its ions can be changed to a soluble complex ion.
AgBr (s) Ag+ + Br - Ksp = 5.0 x 10-13
Add NH3
Ag+ + 2NH3 Ag(NH3)2+ kform = 1.6 x 107

26. Formation Constants for Complex Ions
The very soluble silver complex ion removes Ag+ from the solution and shifts the equilibrium to the right increasing the solubility of AgCl.
AgBr + 2NH3 Ag(NH3)2+ + Br -
Kc = 8.0 x = [Ag(NH3)2+][Br -]
[NH3]2
Kc = kform x ksp = (1.6 x 107)(5.0x10-13)
= 8.0 x 10-6

27. Example How many moles of AgBr can dissolve in 1 L of 1.0 M NH3?
AgBr + 2NH3 Ag(NH3)2+ + Br –
-2x +x +x
1.0-2x x x
Kc = x2
(1.0-2x)2 = 8.0x10-6
X = 2.8x10-3, 2.8 x 10-3 mol of AgBr dissolves in 1L of NH3

28. Relative Solubility
Comparing solubilities: Which is most soluble in water?
CaCO3 Ksp = 3.8 x 10-9
Ksp = [Ca2+] [CO32-] =s2 = 3.8 x 10-9
s = 6.2 x 10-5 M
AgBr Ksp = 5.0 x 10-13
Ksp = [Ag+] [Br-] = s2 = 5.0 x 10-13
s = 7.1 x 10-7 M
CaF2 Ksp = 3.4 x 10-11
CaCO3 (s) Ca2+ (aq) + CO32- (aq)
s s
AgBr (s) Ag+ (aq) Br- (aq)
s s
CaF2 (s) Ca2+ (aq) F- (aq)
s s
Ksp = [Ca2+] [F-] 2 =(s)(2s)2 = 4s3 = 3.4 x 10-11
s = 2.0 x 10-4 M