The colours of inorganic ions and complexes; information needed for OCR A Level Chemistry A Specification
colour resulting from dissolution of CuSO4.5H2O
pale blue
complex ion formed from dissolution of CuSO4.5H2O
[Cu(H2O)6]2+
colour resulting from addition of NH3 (dropwise) to Cu2+ solution
pale blue precipitate
compound formed from addition of NH3 (dropwise) to Cu2+ solution
Cu(OH)2
colour resulting from addition of excess NH3 to Cu2+ solution
dark blue
complex ion formed from addition of excess NH3 to Cu2+ solution
[Cu(NH3)4(H2O)2]2+
colour resulting from addition of excess HCl to Cu2+ solution
yellow
compound formed from addition of excess HCl to Cu2+ solution
CuCl42-
colour resulting from reduction of Cu2+ with I-
white precipitate (CuI) + brown liquid (I2)
ion formed from reduction of Cu2+ with I-
Cu+
colour resulting from disproportionation of Cu+ solution
brown solid (Cu) + blue solution (CuSO4)
species resulting from disproportionation of Cu+ solution
Cu2+/Cu
colour resulting from addition of water and excess HCl to CoCl2.6H2O
blue
compound formed from addition of water and excess HCl to CoCl2.6H2O
CoCl4 2-
colour resulting from dissolution of KCr(SO4)2.12H2O
pale purple (common for Cr(III) to appear green in solution due to impurities)
complex ion formed from dissolution of KCr(SO4)2.12H2O
[Cr(H2O)6]3+
colour resulting from addition of NH3 (dropwise) to Cr3+ solution
dark green precipitate
compound formed from addition of NH3 (dropwise) to Cr3+ solution
Cr(OH)3
colour resulting from addition of excess NH3 to Cr3+ solution
purple
complex ion formed from addition of excess NH3 to Cr3+ solution
[Cr(NH3)6]3+
colour resulting from addition of excess OH- to Cr(OH)3
dark green
complex ion formed from addition of excess OH- to Cr(OH)3
[Cr(OH)6]3-
colour resulting from addition of K2Cr2O7 to 0.1moldm-3 HCl
orange
ion formed from addition of K2Cr2O7 to 0.1moldm-3 HCl
Cr2O72-
colour resulting from oxidation of Cr3+ with hot alkaline H2O2
yellow
ion formed from oxidation of Cr3+ with hot alkaline H2O2
CrO42-
colour resulting from dissolution of MnSO4.4H2O
pale pink
complex ion formed from dissolution of MnSO4.4H2O
[Mn(H2O)6]2+
colour resulting from addition of NaOH dropwise to Mn2+ solution
pale brown precipitate
compound formed from addition of NaOH dropwise to Mn2+ solution
Mn(OH)2
colour resulting from dissolution of FeSO4.7H2O
pale green
complex ion formed from dissolution of FeSO4.7H2O
[Fe(H2O)6]2+
colour resulting from addition of NaOH dropwise to Fe2+solution
dark green precipitate
compound formed from addition of NaOH dropwise to Fe2+ solution
Fe(OH)2
colour resulting from dissolution of FeCl3.6H2O
yellow
complex ion formed from dissolution of FeCl3.6H2O
[Fe(H2O)6]3+
colour resulting from addition of NaOH dropwise to Fe3+ solution
orange-brown precipitate
compound formed from addition of NaOH dropwise to Fe3+ solution
Fe(OH)3
colour change resulting from oxidation of MnO4- by Fe2+
purple to pale pink
products of oxidation of MnO4- by Fe2+
Mn2+ & Fe3+
colour change resulting from reduction of Fe3+ by I-
orange brown to brown
products of reduction of Fe3+ by I-
I2 & Fe2+