Spot the mistake...
During a vacation, the Tan family was at an overseas chemistry laboratory. Mrs Tan wanted to get samples of solutions as souvenirs based on her children's favourite colours:
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Benedict - green - iron (III) nitrate
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Bob - blue - copper (II) sulfate
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Brenda - red - iron (III) thiocyanate
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Brian - orange - potassium dichromate
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Billy - yellow - potassium chromate
However, Mr Tan pointed out that ONE of his children will NOT be happy with what they receive.
Benedict, Bob, Brenda, Brian or Billy?
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1 solution
Iron (III) compounds are either yellowish or reddish-brown. It is iron (II) compounds that are green. So Benedict should have gotten iron ( II ) nitrate, NOT iron ( III ) nitrate!!!
The other four children will be happy with what they receive. Most of you would be familiar with the colours of copper (II) sulfate, potassium dichromate and potassium chromate solutions. Iron (III) thiocyanate, of formula [ F e S C N ( H 2 O ) 5 ] 2 + , is described as a blood-red solution.