Transition metal complexes

Preparation of an iron complex

Accurately weigh about 5.0 g of iron(III) nitrate on a watch glass. Record the mass of the sample.

Place the sample in a 250 ml conical flask and dissolve with 25 ml of water.

Add 4.0 ml of acetylacetone and add 10 ml of ethanol. Stir the mixture.

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Slowly heat the mixture on a bunsen burner or hot plate for 10 minutes.

Cool in an ice bath.
Collect the precipitate by vacuum filtration. Wash the solid with no more than 5 ml of distilled water as it is partially soluble in water.

Allow the solid to dry in air for one day.

Weigh the sample of iron(III) tris(acetylacetone) (Fe(CH3COCHCOCH3)3) and record its mass.
Mass of iron(III) nitrate  
iron(III) tris(acetylacetone)  

Calculate the empirical formula of iron(III) tris(acetylacetone).

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