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How does the pH of a solution affect the formation of a complex ion? Provide an explanation and example using the coordination reaction between a copper (II) ion and ammonia.

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The pH of a solution can significantly affect the formation of a complex ion by influencing the availability of the ligands and the stability of the complex ion formed. In the case of the coordination reaction between a copper  II  ion and ammonia, the pH plays a crucial role in determining the extent of complex formation.Copper  II  ions  Cu  can form a complex ion with ammonia  NH  as a ligand. The coordination reaction can be represented as follows:Cu aq  + 4NH aq   [Cu NH ] aq In this reaction, the copper  II  ion forms a complex ion with four ammonia molecules, resulting in the formation of the tetraamminecopper II  complex ion, [Cu NH ].The pH of the solution affects the availability of ammonia molecules to act as ligands. At low pH  acidic conditions , the ammonia molecules can react with the excess H ions present in the solution, forming ammonium ions  NH :NH aq  + H aq   NH aq The formation of ammonium ions reduces the concentration of free ammonia molecules available to form the complex ion with copper  II  ions. As a result, the equilibrium of the coordination reaction shifts to the left, and the formation of the [Cu NH ] complex ion is less favored.On the other hand, at high pH  alkaline conditions , the concentration of H ions is low, and the ammonia molecules remain mostly unprotonated. This increases the availability of free ammonia molecules to act as ligands, favoring the formation of the [Cu NH ] complex ion.In summary, the pH of a solution can significantly affect the formation of a complex ion by influencing the availability of ligands and the stability of the complex ion. In the case of the coordination reaction between a copper  II  ion and ammonia, higher pH  alkaline conditions  favors the formation of the [Cu NH ] complex ion, while lower pH  acidic conditions  reduces the extent of complex formation.

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