Comparing the Synthesis and IR Analysis of Ni(SCN)2(PPh3)2 and Ni(NO3)2(PPh3)2: Yield, Solvents, Concentrations, and Absorbance

It is important to consider the yield, solvent used and the concentration when analyzing the absorbance of these compounds. The higher yield of Ni(NO3)2(PPh3)2 likely means a more successful synthesis process, which might contribute to its higher absorbance value. The difference in absorbance between Ni(SCN)2(PPh3)2 and Ni(NO3)2(PPh3)2 could be due to several factors including: 1. Chemical structure: The structure and bonding of the molecules could affect how they interact with IR radiation, leading to differences in absorbance. 2. Solvent used: Acetonitrile for Ni(SCN)2(PPh3)2 and nitromethane for Ni(NO3)2(PPh3)2. Differences in solvents can affect how the vibration of molecular bonds will interact with IR radiation, hence affecting the absorption spectrum. 3. Concentration: The concentration affects absorbance. The 1 x 10-3 M concentration of Ni(SCN)2(PPh3)2 is less than the 5 x 10-3M concentration of Ni(NO3)2(PPh3)2. According to Beer-Lambert Law, higher concentration generally results in higher absorbance given the same path length. In conclusion, the higher yield, choice of solvent, and higher concentration likely contributed to Ni(NO3)2(PPh3)2 having a higher absorbance value than Ni(SCN)2(PPh3)2. It could be beneficial to repeat the experiment controlling for these factors, to determine which is the most significant contributor to the difference in absorbance.