Chemical Properties
Red crystal, deliquescent in most air
Uses
Cobaltous nitrate [Co(NO3)2·6H2O], also known as cobalt nitrate, is a red crystal that
absorbs moisture. It is used in inks, pigments, animal feed, soil enhancers, and hair dyes.
Uses
manufacture of cobalt pigments and invisible inks; decorating stoneware and porcelain; preparation of catalysts; production of vitamin B12 supplements.
Uses
Preparation of cobalt standard solutions.
Definition
ChEBI: A hydrate that is the hexahydrate form of cobalt dinitrate.
Preparation
The red hygroscopic hexahydrate Cu(NO3)2.6H2O crystallizes from aqueous solutions of cobalt bases in dilute nitric acid at room temperature. It becomes the trihydrate when heated at 56° ; at higher temperatures decomposition occurs.
General Description
Cobalt(II) nitrate hexahydrate (Co(NO3)2·6H2O) is the hydrated cobalt salt. Its step-wise thermal degradation has been investigated. It affords anhydrous cobalt(II)nitrate as decomposition product.
Purification Methods
Crystallise the nitrate from water (1mL/g), or ethanol (1mL/g), by partial evaporation. After 3 crystallisations from H2O it contains: metal (ppm) As (8), Fe (1.2), K (1), Mg (4), Mn (4), Mo (4), Na (0.6), Ni (18), Zn (1.6). The hexahydrate gives the pink anhydrous salt by the action of HNO3 and N2O5. The hexahydrate melts at ~55o to give a red liquid which decomposes on further heating at 100-105o to form Co3O4.
