Diocesan Boys School

G12 Chemistry
Investigative Study
School-Based Assessment

Laboratory Long Report

Name: Chu Kim Long Matthew
Class: G.12D
Class Number: 9

Submission Date
19
th
December, 2013

Title
Analysis of the quality of potable water

Objectives
To analyze the quality of 3 potable water samples (laboratory, sea water and tap water) from
different geographic zones by determining their permanganate index.

Schedule of work
Date Work
14
th
November, 2013 Proposal submission
21
st
November, 2013 Experiment 1 (Lab water sample)
28
th
November, 2013 Experiment 2 (Tab water sample)
12
th
December, 2013 Experiment 3 (Sea water sample)
19
th
December, 2013 Report submission

Materials
a) Chemicals
Chemicals Quantities
Laboratory water sample 250.0 cm
3
Sea water sample 250.0 cm
3

Tap water sample 250.0 cm
3

0.005003 M standard sodium oxalate solution 350.0 cm
3

0.00200 M standard potassium permanganate
solution
400.0 cm
3

0.5 M sulphuric acid 300.0 cm
3

Deionized or distilled water Accessible

b) Apparatus
Apparatus Quantities
Safety spectacles 3
Measuring cylinder, 10 cm
3
1
Conical flask, 250 cm
3
2
Burette, 50.0 cm
3
1
Pipette, 10.0 cm
3
1
Pipette, 25.0 cm
3
2
Magnetic stirrer-hotplate 1
Stand and clamp 1 set
Plastic washbottle 1
White tile 1

Theory
The quality of water can be determined by permanganate index, which is a scale.
Permanganate index indicates the amount of potassium permanganate solution used to oxidize
the oxidizable matter present in a water sample. The lower the permanganate index, it means
that the less amount of the permanganate used to oxidize the oxidizible matter in water, and
thus it imply that the water sample is polluted or contaminated by oxidizable matter to a
smaller extent, and hence the quality of water is higher, and vice versa.
The permanganate index can be expressed as KMnO
4
in mg dm
-3
and in milligrams of
oxygen per liter (dm
-3
) of water.
The half equation of permanganate is: MnO
4
-
(aq)
+ 8H
+
(aq)
+ 5e
-
Mn
2+
(aq)
+ 4H
2
O
(l)
,
which shows that permanganate is undergoing reduction.
The half equation of oxygen is: O
2(g)
+ 4H
+
(aq)
+ 4e
-
2H
2
O
(l)
, which shows that oxygen is
undergoing reduction.
Usually, the amount of permanganate consumed will be converted to the amount of
oxygen. According to the above half equations, each permanganate ion use 5 electrons during
reduction and each oxygen mole use 4 electrons during reduction. Therefore, one mole of
permanganate ions oxidize the same amount of oxidizable matter in water as 1.25 mole of
oxygen.
Potassium permanganate solution is purple in colour and it is a strong oxidizing agent.
According to the above half equation of permanganate, since permanganate ions, which is
purple in colour, will be reduced to manganese(II) ions, which is very pale pink in colour, in
acidic medium,. Therefore, it acts as an indicator as well.

Experimental Procedures
1. A clean 25.0 cm
3
pipette was used to transfer 50.0 cm
3
of laboratory water sample into a
clean 250 cm
3
conical flask.
2. A measuring cylinder was used to add 5 cm
3
of 0.5 M sulphuric acid into the laboratory
water sample in the conical flask.
3. A clean 10.0 cm
3
pipette was used to transfer 10.0 cm
3
of 0.00200 M standard potassium
permanganate solution into the laboratory water sample in the conical flask.
4. The solution was heated to about 60 C for 10 minutes on a hotplate. The solution was
stirred with a magnetic stirrer in order to make sure the solution is still purple in colour.
5. A clean 25.0 cm
3
pipette was used to transfer 25.0 cm
3
excess of 0.005003 M standard
sodium oxalate solution into the hot solution.
6. The content was shaken well.
7. A clean burette was filled with 0.00200 M standard potassium permanganate solution.
8. The initial reading of the burette was recorded.
9. A measuring cylinder was used to add 15 cm
3
of 0.5 M sulphuric acid into the contents in
the conical flask.
10. The hot solution was titrated with 0.00200 M standard potassium permanganate solution
until a permanent pink colour appeared.
11. The final reading of the burette was recorded.
12. Steps 1-11 were repeated for three times for consistent results.
13. Steps 1-12 were repeated for sea water sample and tap water sample instead of the
laboratory water sample.

Data and Calculation

Water sample used
Laboratory water sample

Date of experiment
21
st
November, 2013 (Thursday)

Chemicals
Chemicals Molarity
Sulphuric acid 0.5M
Sodium oxalate solution 0.00200M
Potassium permanganate solution 0.005003M

Observations
Before the experiment
1. The laboratory water sample is colourless
2. The 0.005003 M sodium oxalate solution is colourless
3. The 0.5 M sulphuric acid is colourless
4. The 0.00200 M potassium permanganate solution is purple in colour
During the experiment
1. After adding 10.0 cm
3
0.00200 M potassium permanganate solution and 5 cm
3
0.5 M
sulphuric acid to the water sample, the reaction mixture turns from colourless to
red-orange
2. After heating the reaction mixture for 10 minutes in 60C, the colour of the reaction
mixture turns from red-orange to red
3. After adding 25 cm
3
0.005003 M sodium oxalate solution and 15 cm
3
0.5 M sulphuric
acid to the reaction mixture, the reaction mixture turns from red to colourless
4. At the end-point of titration, the reactions mixture turns from colourless to
permanent very pale pink
After the experiment
1. The reaction mixture remains permanent very pale pink

Result
Trial 1
st
Titration 2
nd
Titration 3
rd
Titration
Final reading of burette (cm
3
) 22.00 43.50 21.70 43.30
Initial reading of burette (cm
3
) 0.00 22.00 0.00 21.70
Amount of potassium permanganate
solution used (cm
3
)
22.00 (rej.) 21.50 21.70 21.60

Average amount of potassium permanganate solution used
=

= 21.60 cm
3

Calculation
Ionic half equations: MnO
4
-
(aq)
+ 8H
+
(aq)
+ 5e
-
Mn
2+
(aq)
+ 4H
2
O
(l)
(1)
C
2
O
4
2-
(aq)
2CO
2(g)
+ 2e
-
(2)
By (1) x 2 + (2) x 5,
Overall equation: 2MnO
4
-
(aq)
+ 16H
+
(aq)

+ 5C
2
O
4
2-
(aq)
2Mn
2+
(aq)

+ 8H
2
O
(l)
+10CO
2(g)


The number of moles of potassium permanganate solution used in titration
=

x 0.00200
= 4.32 x 10
-5
mol

The mole ratio of C
2
O
4
2-
(aq)
to MnO
4
-
(aq)

= 5:2

The number of moles of excess sodium oxalate solution
= 4.32 x 10
-5
x

= 1.08 x 10
-4
mol
Total number of moles of sodium oxalate solution added
=

x 0.005003
=1.25075 x 10
-4
mol


The number of moles of sodium oxalate solution reacted with excess potassium permanganate
solution
= 1.25075 x 10
-4
- 1.08 x 10
-4

= 1.7075 x 10
-5
mol

The mole ration of MnO
4
-
(aq)
to C
2
O
4
2-
(aq)

= 2:5

The number of moles of excess potassium permanganate solution
= 1.7075 x 10
-5
x

= 6.83 x 10
-6
mol

Total number of moles of potassium permanganate solution added
=

x 0.00200

= 2 x 10
-5
mol

The number of moles of potassium permanganate solution reacted in laboratory water sample
= 2 x 10
-5
- 6.83 x 10
-6

= 1.317 x 10
-5
mol

Permanganate index (in mg dm
-3
) of the laboratory water sample
=


-

=

-

= 41.6172 mg dm
-3

The permanganate index of the laboratory water sample is 41.6172 mg dm
-3


Permanganate index (in mg of O
2
per litre of water) of the laboratory water sample
=


-

=

-

= 10.536 mg of O
2
per litre of water
The permanganate index of the laboratory water sample is 10.536 mg of O
2
per litre of water

Water sampled used
Tap Water Sample

Date of Experiment
28
th
November, 2013 (Thursday)

Chemicals
Chemicals Molarity
Sulphuric acid 0.5M
Sodium oxalate solution 0.00200M
Potassium permanganate solution 0.005003M

Observations
Before the experiment
1. The tap water sample is colourless
2. The 0.005003 M sodium oxalate solution is colourless
3. The 0.5 M sulphuric acid is colourless
4. The 0.00200 M potassium permanganate solution is purple in colour
During the experiment
1. After adding 10.0 cm
3
0.00200 M potassium permanganate solution and 5 cm
3
0.5 M
sulphuric acid to the water sample, the reaction mixture turns from colourless to
purple
2. After heating the reaction mixture for 10 minutes in 60C, the colour of the reaction
mixture remains unchanged
3. After adding 25 cm
3
0.005003 M sodium oxalate solution and 15 cm
3
0.5 M sulphuric
acid to the reaction mixture, the reaction mixture turns from purple to colourless
4. At the end-poin1t of titration, the reaction mixture turns from colourless to
permanent very pale pink
After the experiment
1. The reactions mixture remains permanent very pale pink

Result
Trial 1
st
Titration 2
nd
Titration 3
rd
Titration
Final reading of burette (cm
3
) 15.50 30.50 15.10 30.30
Initial reading of burette (cm
3
) 0.00 15.50 0.00 15.10
Amount of potassium permanganate
solution used (cm
3
)
15.50 (rej.) 15.00 15.10 15.20

Average amount of potassium permanganate solution used
=

= 15.10 cm
3





Calculation
Ionic half equations: MnO
4
-
(aq)
+ 8H
+
(aq)
+ 5e
-
Mn
2+
(aq)
+ 4H
2
O
(l)
(1)
C
2
O
4
2-
(aq)
2CO
2(g)
+ 2e
-
(2)
By (1) x 2 + (2) x 5,
Overall equation: 2MnO
4
-
(aq)
+ 16H
+
(aq)

+ 5C
2
O
4
2-
(aq)
2Mn
2+
(aq)

+ 8H
2
O
(l)
+10CO
2(g)


The number of moles of potassium permanganate solution used in titration
=

x 0.00200
= 3.02 x 10
-5
mol

The mole ratio of C
2
O
4
2-
(aq)
to MnO
4
-
(aq)

= 5:2

The number of moles of excess sodium oxalate solution
= 2.86 x 10
-5
x

= 7.55 x 10
-5
mol

Total number of moles of sodium oxalate solution added
=

x 0.005003
=1.25075 x 10
-4
mol

The number of moles of sodium oxalate solution reacted with excess potassium permanganate
solution
= 1.25075 x 10
-4
- 7.55 x 10
-5

= 4.9575 x 10
-5
mol

The mole ration of MnO
4
-
(aq)
to C
2
O
4
2-
(aq)

= 2:5

The number of moles of excess potassium permanganate solution
= 4.9575 x 10
-5
x

= 1.983 x 10
-5
mol

Total number of moles of potassium permanganate solution added
=

x 0.00200

= 2 x 10
-5
mol

The number of moles of potassium permanganate solution reacted in tap water sample
= 2 x 10
-5
- 1.983 x 10
-5

= 1.7 x 10
-7
mol


Permanganate index (in mg dm
-3
) of the tap water sample
=


-

=

-

= 0.5372 mg dm
-3

The permanganate index of the tap water sample is 0.5372 mg dm
-3


Permanganate index (in mg of O
2
per litre of water) of the tap water sample
=


-

=

-

= 0.136 mg of O
2
per litre of water
The permanganate index of the tap water sample is 0.136 mg of O
2
per litre of water

Water sample used
Sea Water Sample

Date of Experiment
12
th
December, 2013 (Thursday)

Chemicals
Chemicals Molarity
Sulphuric Acid 0.5M
Sodium oxalate solution 0.005003M
Potassium permanganate solution 0.00200M

Observations
Before the experiment
1. The sea water sample is colourless
2. The 0.005003 M sodium oxalate solution is colourless
3. The 0.5 M sulphuric acid is colourless
4. The 0.00200 M potassium permanganate solution is purple in colour
During the experiment
1. After adding 10.0 cm
3
0.00200 M potassium permanganate solution and 5 cm
3
0.5 M
sulphuric acid to the water sample, the reaction mixture turns from colourless to
purple
2. After heating the reaction mixture for 10 minutes in 60C, the colour of the reaction
mixture turns from purple to red
3. After adding 25 cm
3
0.005003 M sodium oxalate solution and 15 cm
3
0.5 M sulphuric
acid to the reaction mixture, the reaction mixture turns from red to colourless
4. At the end-point of titration, the reaction mixture turns from colourless to
permanent very pale pink
After the experiment
1. The reactions mixture remains permanent very pale pink

Result
Trial 1
st
Titration 2
nd
Titration 3
rd
Titration
Final reading of burette (cm
3
) 16.30 31.00 15.50 31.10
Initial reading of burette (cm
3
) 0.00 16.30 0.00 15.50
Amount of potassium permanganate
solution used (cm
3
)
16.30 (rej.) 15.70 15.50 15.60

Average amount of potassium permanganate solution used
=

= 15.60 cm
3


Calculation
Ionic half equations: MnO
4
-
(aq)
+ 8H
+
(aq)
+ 5e
-
Mn
2+
(aq)
+ 4H
2
O
(l)
(1)
C
2
O
4
2-
(aq)
2CO
2(g)
+ 2e
-
(2)
By (1) x 2 + (2) x 5,
Overall equation: 2MnO
4
-
(aq)
+ 16H
+
(aq)

+ 5C
2
O
4
2-
(aq)
2Mn
2+
(aq)

+ 8H
2
O
(l)
+10CO
2(g)


The number of moles of potassium permanganate solution used in titration
=

x 0.00200
= 3.12 x 10
-5
mol

The mole ratio of C
2
O
4
2-
(aq)
to MnO
4
-
(aq)

= 5:2

The number of moles of excess sodium oxalate solution
= 3.12 x 10
-5
x

= 7.8 x 10
-5
mol

Total number of moles of sodium oxalate solution added
=

x 0.005003
=1.25075 x 10
-4
mol

The number of moles of sodium oxalate solution reacted with excess potassium permanganate
solution
= 1.25075 x 10
-4
- 7.8 x 10
-5

= 4.7075 x 10
-5
mol

The mole ratio of MnO
4
-
(aq)
to C
2
O
4
2-
(aq)

= 2:5

The number of moles of excess potassium permanganate solution
= 1.7075 x 10
-5
x

= 1.883 x 10
-5
mol

Total number of moles of potassium permanganate solution added
=

x 0.00200

= 2 x 10
-5
mol

The number of moles of potassium permanganate solution reacted in sea water sample
= 2 x 10
-5
- 1.883 x 10
-5

= 1.17 x 10
-6
mol

Permanganate index (in mg dm
-3
) of the sea water sample
=


-

=

-

= 3.6972 mg dm
-3
The permanganate index of the sea water sample is 3.6972 mg dm
-3


Permanganate index (in mg of O
2
per litre of water) of the sea water sample
=


-

=

-

= 0.936 mg of O
2
per litre of water
The permanganate index of the sea water sample is 0.936 mg of O
2
per litre of water
Diagram



























Results and Conclusion
The permanganate index of the laboratory water sample in terms of KMnO
4
in mg dm
-3

and in mg of O
2
per litre of water is 41.6172 mg dm
-3
and 10.536 mg of O
2
per litre of water
respectively.
The permanganate index of the tap water sample in terms of KMnO
4
in mg dm
-3
and in
mg of O
2
per litre of water is 0.5372 mg dm
-3
and 0.136 mg of O
2
per litre of water respectively.
The permanganate index of the sea water sample in terms of KMnO
4
in mg dm
-3
and in
mg of O
2
per litre of water is 3.6972 mg dm
-3
and 0.936 mg of O
2
pre litre of water respectively.
Therefore, the permanganate index of the laboratory water sample is higher than that
of sea water sample, and the permanganate index of the sea water sample is higher than that
of tap water sample. Hence, the quality of laboratory water sample is lower than that of sea
water sample, and the quality of sea water sample is lower than that of tap water sample. In
other words, the quality of tap water sample is the highest while the quality of laboratory water
sample is the lowers.

Discussion
Precautions
a) Safety precaution
1. Keep 0.5 M sulphuric acid and 0.005003 M sodium oxalate solution away from the
skin and eye because they are irritating.
2. Handle 0.00200 M potassium permanganate solution carefully because it is a strong
oxidizing agent.
b) Experimental precaution
1. Do not set the magnetic stirrer to spin too fast so as to prevent any spillage of
chemicals in the conical flask.

Sources of error
1. The temperature is not constant when the experiment is performed, and thus the data
collected is not accurate. Since temperature will affect the solubility of oxygen in water,
which mean the solubility of oxygen will change with the temperature, so if the
temperature is not constant during the experiment, the data obtained will not be accurate.
2. Some of the oxidizable matters present in the water sample may be oxidized by the oxygen
in air. Thus the amount of oxidiziable matter in the water sample will decrease. Thus, the
calculated permanganate index will be smaller than the actual value.

Improvements
1. An oxygen meter can be employed. The data obtained from the oxygen meter can be used
as reference and comparison so as to reduce the first error.
2. Carry out the preparation works and titration as soon as possible to reduce the second error.

Other relevant information
Manganese, Mn, of permanganate ion, MnO
4
-
, has variable oxidation states, which the
maximum oxidation state is +7. Hence, permanganate ion has strong oxidizing ability, and thus
it is a strong oxidizing agent and it can be used to oxidize the oxidizable matters in the water
samples.

Answers to questions
1. Where do your samples of water come from?
The tap water sample comes from Hanley Villa, located in Ting Kau in Tsuen Wan. The sea
water sample comes from Rambler Channel.
2. What measurements would you carry out during the experiments?
The initial reading and the final reading of the burette would be recorded so as to measure
the volume of potassium permanganate solution used (cm
3
) in each titration. Then, the
average amount of potassium permanganate solution used would be measured. Then, the
number of moles of potassium permanganate solution used in titration would be calculated.
3. What variables will you need to keep constant in this investigation?
The amount of potassium permanganate solution added, amount of sodium oxalate
solution added, amount of sulphuric acid added, amount of water sample added, the time
allowed for heating and the temperature of heating the reaction mixture.
4. Will the proposed procedures be feasible and safe?
Yes. Since the molarity of sodium oxalate solution and potassium permanganate solution is
very diluted, which are 0.005003 M and 0.00200 M respectively. Thus, it is safer to handle
them. Also, the temperature of the water bath is 60C, which is not very high. To conclude,
the proposed procedures is safe.
On the other hand, the potassium permanganate solution added to the water sample are
excess so as to ensure that all the oxidizable matters in the water sample is oxidized and
some potassium permanganate solution remains. Then, the sodium oxalate solution added
to the reaction mixture are excess so as to ensure all the remaining potassium
permanganate solution are reacted. After, the amount of sodium oxalate solution remains
is determined by titration with potassium permanganate solution. Moreover, sulphuric acid
is added to acidify the potassium permanganate solution to ensure the reaction is carried
out in an acidic medium. In conclusion, the proposed procedures is feasible.
5. Briefly describe the method you used in your analysis.
The method I used in the analysis is to determine the permanganate index of a water
sample by carrying out back titration. Determining of permanganate index is one of the
examples of redox titration, which is a kind of volumetric analysis. Permanganate index
indicates the amount of potassium permanganate solution used to oxidize the oxidizable
matter present in a water sample. The lower the permanganate index, the higher the
quality of water, and vice versa.
The steps of determining the permanganate index are as follows:
Firstly, after obtaining the average amount of potassium permanganate solution used in
titration, the number of mole of potassium permanganate solution can be calculated.
Secondly, the number of moles of excess sodium oxalate solution can be obtained by using
the mole ratio of C
2
O
4
2-
(aq)
to MnO
4
-
(aq)
= 5:2.
Thirdly, the number of moles of sodium oxalate solution reacted with excess potassium
permanganate solution can be obtained by total number of moles of sodium oxalate
solution subtracting the number of moles of sodium oxalate solution remains.
Fourthly, the number of moles of excess potassium permanganate solution can be obtained
by using the mole ratio of MnO
4
-
(aq)
to C
2
O
4
2-
(aq)
= 2:5.
Fifthly, the number of moles of potassium permanganate solution reacted in water sample
can be obtained by total number of moles of potassium permanganate solution subtracting
the number of moles of potassium permanganate remains.
Lastly, the permanganate index of water sample can be obtained by mass of potassium
permanganate solutions reacted in water sample (mg) dividing volume of water sample
(dm
3
).

References
1. E.Cheng, J.Chow, Y.F. Chow, A.Kai, K.K.Lai, W.H. Wong, HKDSE Chemistry A Modern View
Book 7 Analytical Chemistry, Aristo Educational Press Ltd, 2011, page
2. Guideline of the G12 Chemistry Investigative Study - Analysis of the quality of potable
water
3. Analytical Chemistry Notes (Part II - Quantitative and Instrumental Analytical methods) by
Ms. H.Y. Tang, page 14-16