The Complex Ion Equilibrium

Of Iron (III) and Thiocyanate (SCN-) Ions

Odaro Osayimwen
Chem 1212L-197
March 08, 2013

Purpose and Procedure:

The purpose (goal) of this experiment is to calculate the value of the equilibrium
constant. The procedure for the experiment is from the lab manual referenced below.
There were no significant deviations from that procedure.
Block/McKelvy/Denniston/Silverstein (2012). Laboratory Experiments for Chem 1211L
and 1212L, with contribution from Georgia Perimeter Faculty, 7e, p 159-165 (The
Complex Ion Equilibrium of Iron (III) and Thiocyanate (SCN-) Ions).

Data
mL

Absorbance

1 mL

.117 A

2 mL

.200 A

3 mL

.271 A

4 mL

.329 A

5 mL

.369 A

6 mL

.406 A

7 mL

.431 A

8 mL

.453 A

9 mL

.473 A

10 mL

.492 A

Calculation
mL

[Fe]

[SCN]

1 mL

(.100 M)(1.00 mL)/(101.00 mL) =

9.901 E-4 M

(2.00 x 10-4 M)(100.00 mL)/(101.00 mL)

= 1.9802 E-4 M

2 mL

(.100 M)(2.00 mL)/(102.00 mL)=

.001961 M

(2.00 x 10-4 M)(100.00 mL)/(102.00 mL)

= 1.9608 E-4 M

3 mL

(.100 M)(3.00 mL)/(103.00 mL)=

.002912 M

(2.00 x 10-4 M)(100.00 mL)/(103.00 mL)

= 1.9417 E-4 M

4 mL

(.100 M)(4.00 mL)/(103.00 mL)=

.003846 M

(2.00 x 10-4 M)(100.00 mL)/(104.00 mL)

= 1.9231 E-4 M

5 mL

(.100 M)(5.00 mL)/(105.00 mL)=

.004762 M

(2.00 x 10-4 M)(100.00 mL)/(105.00 mL)

= 1.9048 E-4 M

6 mL

(.100 M)(6.00 mL)/(106.00 mL)=

.005660 M

(2.00 x 10-4 M)(100.00 mL)/(106.00 mL)

= 1.8868 E-4 M

7 mL

(.100 M)(7.00 mL)/(107.00 mL)=

.006542 M

(2.00 x 10-4 M)(100.00 mL)/(107.00 mL)

= 1.8692 E-4 M

8 mL

(.100 M)(8.00 mL)/(108.00 mL)=

.007407 M

(2.00 x 10-4 M)(100.00 mL)/(108.00 mL)

= 1.8519 E-4 M

9 mL

(.100 M)(9.00 mL)/(109.00 mL)=

.008257 M

(2.00 x 10-4 M)(100.00 mL)/(109.00 mL)

= 1.8349 E-4 M

10 mL

(.100 M)(10.00 mL)/(110.00 mL)=

.009091 M

(2.00 x 10-4 M)(100.00 mL)/(110.00 mL)

= 1.8182 E-4 M

[Fe]

[SCN]

Sum

Product

9.901 E-4 M

1.9802 E-4 M

.001188

1.9606 E-7

.001961 M

1.9608 E-4 M

.002157

3.8447 E-7

.002912 M

1.9417 E-4 M

.003107

5.6556 E-7

.003846 M

1.9231 E-4 M

.004038

7.3964 E-7

.004762 M

1.9048 E-4 M

.004952

9.0703 E-7

.005660 M

1.8868 E-4 M

.005849

1.0680 E-7

.006542 M

1.8692 E-4 M

.006729

1.2228 E-7

.007407 M

1.8519 E-4 M

.007593

1.3717 E-7

.008257 M

1.8349 E-4 M

.008440

1.5150 E-7

.009091 M

1.8182 E-4 M

.009273

1.6529 E-7

A*sum

A/Prod

A*sum/prod

.117 A * .001188
=1.39010 E-4

.117 A/1.9606 E-7

=596758.5

709.02

.200 A * .002157
=4.31373 E-4

.200 A/3.8447 E-7

=520200

1121.99

.271 A * .003107
=8.41942 E-4

.271 A/5.6556 E-7

=479171.1

1488.69

.329 A * .004038
=1.32865 E-3

.329 A/7.3964 E-7

=444811.0

1796.35

.369 A * .004952
= 1.82743 E-3

.369 A/9.0703 E-7

=406822.3

2014.74

.406 A * .005849
= 2.37472 E-3

.406 A/1.0680 E-6

=380149.8

2223.52

.431 A * .006729
= 2.90019 E-3

.431 A/1.2228 E-6

=352469.7

2371.76

.453 A * .007593
= 3.43944 E-3

.453 A/1.3717 E-6

=330247.1

2507.43

.473 A * .008440
= 3.99229 E-3

.473 A/1.5150 E-6

=312211.2

2635.17

.492 A * .009273
= 4.56218 E-3

.492 A/1.6529 E-6

=297658.7

2760.11

A/Prod vs. A*sum/prod

700000
y = -143.4x + 693521
R = 0.9963

600000

A/Prod

500000
400000
A/Prod

300000

Linear (A/Prod)

200000
100000
0
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

A*sum/prod

y = -143.4x + 693521
Slope = -Kc
Kc= 143.4

Result
Kc= 143.4

Error Analysis:
The errors from this experiment came from the following:
1. The measurements of the volumes of each solution.
2. The readings of each container.
3. The error from using the spectrometer
This affected my results in the following:
1. This affected the absorbance of the sample.
2. This affected the concentration of the sample

Percent error=
= 4.4 %

Discussion
In this experiment, we use the absorbance to determine the equilibrium constant of a
reaction. Iron (III) ion and Thiocyanate ion react to for a reddish solution; the more the
iron (III) ion, the reddish it is. And the more concentrated it is with Iron (III) ions the
higher its absorbance. But as the concentration kept rising, the rate at which it increases
began to reduce. My result is pretty accurate; there is only a 4.4% error (from my error
analysis). This means the experiment went pretty well and my data and result is
acceptable.