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Q.How does ammonia react with a solution of Cu2+?

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Step 1 — Limited ammonia: precipitation.

Ammonia acts as a mild base, and with limited addition to Cu2+(aq)Cu^{2+}(aq), it precipitates pale-blue copper(II) hydroxide:

Cu2++2NH3+2H2O→Cu(OH)2↓+2NH4+Cu^{2+} + 2NH_3 + 2H_2O \rightarrow Cu(OH)_2\downarrow + 2NH_4^+

Step 2 — Excess ammonia: complex formation.

On adding excess NH3NH_3, the initially formed Cu(OH)2Cu(OH)_2 precipitate dissolves because ammonia's lone pair acts as a ligand, coordinating to Cu2+Cu^{2+} to form a soluble complex ion:

Cu(OH)2+4NH3→[Cu(NH3)4]2++2OH−Cu(OH)_2 + 4NH_3 \rightarrow [Cu(NH_3)_4]^{2+} + 2OH^-

Step 3 — Observation. …

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