3c. (BONUS QUESTION) In the copper complexes investigated, the water and ammonia

Question

3c. (BONUS QUESTION) In the copper complexes investigated, the water and ammonia molecules act as Lewis bases (electron pair donors); they provide both of the electrons that form the covalent bonds between the Cu2+ ion and each ligand. Which ligand (H2O or NH3) is the stronger Lewis base? Explain your answer in terms of your answers for questions 3a and 3b. (hint: the poorer an oxidizing agent a species is, the harder it it to reduce that species. Hint #2: the copper complexes are reduced by gaining an electron.)

This is the procedure: http://www3.chem21labs.com/labfiles/UofC_GL23_Lab.pdf?rf=8308

Explanation / Answer

Water and ammonia molecules act as Lewis bases. The spectrochemical series indicates that NH3 is a stronger-field ligand than H2O.

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