The intensity of ongoing research interest in cobalt ammine complexes is measured by the fact that a recent Chemical Abstracts cumulative index to the chemical literature has about 5000 entries referring to articles on the subject over a five year period. There are molecules which, as a class, are called amines , but the ammonia as a ligand is called ammine in the chemical's name. Once a successful synthesis has been carried out, a number of reactions of the complex will be explored that will establish the purity of the product and characterize some of its chemical behavior in weeks two, three, and four. The purpose of each reagent in the mixture is described below. It is extremely soluble in water and the solubility increases rapidly with increasing temperature.
Aqueous ammonia is quite volatile, losing ammonia gas.
In low concentrations, exposure to the gas causes irritation to the eyes and throat. At higher concentrations it is extremely toxic. Although the 6 M reagent does not present a serious hazard, ammonia solutions should be covered or kept in the hood throughout the procedure . Dilute ammonia solutions are familiar as household cleaning agents. They derive their effectiveness from the degradative action of basic solutions on natural fats.