Cobalt(II) hydroxide facts for kids
Cobalt(II) hydroxide, also called cobaltous hydroxide, is a chemical compound. It is made up of cobalt and hydroxide groups. Its chemical formula is Co(OH)2. This compound usually looks like a rose-red powder. Sometimes, a blue form has also been seen, but it's not as stable.
Cobalt(II) hydroxide is used in many ways. It helps paints, varnishes, and inks dry faster. It's also important for making other cobalt compounds. You can find it used as a catalyst, which is something that speeds up chemical reactions without being used up itself. It's also used in making battery electrodes, which are parts of batteries that help electricity flow.
Contents
What is Cobalt(II) Hydroxide?
Cobalt(II) hydroxide is an inorganic compound. This means it doesn't contain carbon-hydrogen bonds like organic compounds do. It's a solid substance that can be found as a powder.
What Does it Look Like?
This compound most often appears as a rose-red powder. Imagine a soft, reddish-pink color. There's also a less common version that can look bluish-green.
How is it Used?
Cobalt(II) hydroxide has several important uses:
- Drying Agent: It helps liquids like paints and varnishes dry more quickly. It acts like a special helper that speeds up the drying process.
- Making Other Cobalt Compounds: It's a starting material for creating many other useful compounds that contain cobalt.
- Catalyst: In chemistry, a catalyst helps chemical reactions happen faster or more easily. Cobalt(II) hydroxide can play this role in different processes.
- Battery Electrodes: It's used in making parts of batteries called electrodes. These electrodes are key for how batteries store and release energy.
Properties of Cobalt(II) Hydroxide
- Chemical Formula: Co(OH)2
- Weight: Each molecule of cobalt(II) hydroxide weighs about 92.948 grams per mole.
- Density: It is quite dense, meaning a small amount of it weighs a lot. Its density is 3.597 grams per cubic centimeter.
- Solubility: It doesn't dissolve very well in plain water. However, it can dissolve in acids and ammonia. It does not dissolve in weak alkalis.
- Melting Point: If you heat it up to about 168 degrees Celsius (334 degrees Fahrenheit), it starts to break down.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Cobalt(II) hydroxide powder
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Cobalt hydroxide nanotubes. Scale bars: (a,b) 500 nm, inset 200 nm; (c,e) 50 nm; (d) 100 nm.
