Why does the compound CoCl26H2O turn blue when dissolved in

Why does the compound CoCl₂*6H₂O turn blue when dissolved in ethanol and pink when dissolved in water?

Solution

Co(II) forms two colored complexes with Cl- ions that exists in the following equilibrium,

[Co(H2O)6]²⁺(aq) + 4Cl^- (aq) ---->[CoCl4]^2- (aq)+6H2O(l)

[Co(H2O)6]²⁺(aq),pink color exists in water,while [CoCl4]^2- ,(blue) dominates in ethanol

In ethanol ,[CoCl4]Cl2 form ,while in water [Co(H2O)6]Cl2 is formed