Question

When an alkali metal dissolves in liquid ammonia the solution can acquire different colours. Explain the reactions for this type of colour change.
Or
Explain why alkali metals dissolve in liquid ammonia to form deep blue solution.

Solution

The dissolution of alkali metals in liquid ammonia is accompanied by the formation of ammoniated cations and ammoniated electrons as

straight M plus left parenthesis straight x plus straight y right parenthesis NH subscript 3 space rightwards arrow space space space stack space open square brackets straight M left parenthesis NH subscript 3 right parenthesis subscript straight x close square brackets to the power of plus with left parenthesis Ammoniated space cation right parenthesis below space plus space stack open square brackets straight e left parenthesis NH subscript 3 right parenthesis subscript straight y close square brackets to the power of minus with left parenthesis Ammoniated space electron right parenthesis below

The blue colour of the solution is due to the ammoniated electrons.

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