I.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The experiment was divided into three parts, namely; A) the reaction order with respect to
3+

Fe , B) the reaction order with respect to I-, and C) the effects of Fe2+.
For the part A, the amounts of reagents added for Runs 1-5 are shown in Table 1 (see
Appendices). It can be observed that the amount of Ferric ions (Fe 3+) added is increasing and
that of Potassium iodide (KI) and Thiosulfate ions (S2O32-) were kept constant. It can also be
noted that even though the reaction studied is between Iron (III) Ion-Iodide Ion system the
consumption or appearance of these species are not measured directly. Instead, what was
measured was the time it took to consume all Thiosulfate ions which is also shown in Table 1
(see Appendices).
When solution A (from 100-mL beaker) and solution B (from 250-mL beaker) were mixed, the
timing started and during this, Triiodide ions (I3-) were being produced as shown in Equation 5
2Fe3+ + 3I2Fe2+ + I3
(see Introduction). This is the slow reaction which involves the formation of the chemical

intermediate,

I 3 . Before these two solutions were mixed though, 10-15 minutes were

allotted for the contents of each to achieve equilibrium. These Triiodide ions (I 3-) were then being
converted to Iodide ions (I-) with the presence of Thiosulfate ions (S2O32-), which is the limiting
reagent, as shown by the following reaction:

2
+ S 4 O 6
2 3 I
+ 2 S2 O3
I 3

(Equation 7)

The chemical reaction in Equation 7 above represents a fast reaction as can be

observed also in the experiment proper. [3]

Table 3. Initial concentrations of Fe3+ and I-present in each run.

Ru
n

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

0.04 M
Fe3+
(mL)
10
15
20
25
30
10
10

0.04
M KI

[Fe3
+]i

(mL)
10
10
10
10
10
5
15

(M)
0.004
0.006
0.008
0.01
0.012
0.004
0.004

[S2O3
2-]
(M)
(M)
0.0004
0.0004
0.0004
0.0004
0.0004
0.0004
0.0004

[Fe3+
]f
(M)
0.0036
0.0056
0.0076
0.0096
0.0116
0.0036
0.0036

[Fe3+
]ave
(M)
0.0038
0.0058
0.0078
0.0098
0.0118
0.0038
0.0038

[I-]

(M)
0.004
0.004
0.004
0.004
0.004
0.002
0.006

(s)
29.56
23.77
19.8
17.3
15.10
99.81
20.34

The table above shows the initial concentrations of [Fe3+] and [I-] present in each run.
The initial concentration for Fe3+ is notated as [Fe3+]ave (see also Appendices for the sample
calculation).
As observed, the amount of Thiosulfate ions (S2O32-) added for each run was kept
constant at 10 mL (see Table 1; Appendices) compared to the amount of Ferric ions (Fe3+) which
was varied and in an increasing manner. In the reaction, Thiosulfate ions run out eventually due
to its small amount and Triiodide ions started accumulating. Triiodide ions, which are the
complex of Iodine (I2) and Iodide ion (I-), caused the color change of the solutions that also
contained starch, the indicator, to turn blue (see Equation 9 below for the reaction that
occurred).
2I (aq) + starch

starch-I + I (aq)

(Equation 8)

Thus, the initial rate, Ratei, is calculated by Equation 9 below and the values are shown
in Table 4. For Runs 1-5, the initial rate is increasing, while for Runs 6-8 it is decreasing.

2
S 2 O3

1
[Rate ]i=
2

(Equation 9)

Table 4. A table showing the initial rate, log [Fe3+], log [I-], and log rate
Ru
n
1

[S2O32-]
(M)
0.0004
0.0004
0.0004
0.0004
0.0004
0.0004
0.0004
0.0004

t (s)

[Rate]I (M/s)

29.56

6.7659E-06

23.77

8.41397E-06

19.8

1.0101E-05

17.3

1.15607E-05

15.1

1.3245E-05

99.81

2.00381E-06

20.34

9.83284E-06

11.45

1.74672E-05

log
[Fe3+]
2.420216
403
2.236572
006
2.107905
397
2.008773
924
1.928117
993
2.420216
403
2.420216
403
2.420216
403

log [I-]

log rate

2.397940
009
2.397940
009
2.397940
009
2.397940
009
2.397940
009
2.698970
004
2.221848
75
2.096910
013

5.169674
434
5.074999
186
4.995635
195
4.937016
107
4.877946
952
5.698144
06
5.007320
953
4.757775
491

The general rate expression for Iron (III) Ion-Iodide Ion system is given by Equation 6
(see Introduction). The values of a and b are equivalent to the slopes to be determined for the
1st and 2nd part of the experiment, respectively.
For Runs 1-5, which is for the determination of the reaction order with respect to Fe 3+,
the [I-] was kept constant. Thus, the variable was [Fe 3+]. In order to determine the reaction order,
the logarithm of [Fe3+] and the rate was determined (see Table 4) and is plotted as shown in
Figure 1 below.

log rate vs. log [Fe3+]

-2.5

log rate

-2.4

-2.3

-2.2

-2.1

f(x) = 0.59x - 3.75

R = 1

-2

-4.7
-1.9
-4.8
-4.9
-5

Linear ()

-5.1
-5.2
log [Fe3+]

Figure 1. A figure showing the graph of log rate vs. log [Fe3+] with slope, m=0.5897.
The former figure above shows the graph of log rate versus log [Fe 3+] with its trend
line. It has a slope equivalent to 0.5897. According to the research made, this should have a
slope approximately equal to 1 since this is theoretically a first order reaction. Thus, it is obvious
that there were errors committed during the experiment. The reaction order with respect to Fe 3+
must be equal to 1. The direction of the line is also indicative that it is a 1st order reaction

Figure 2. A figure showing the graph of log rate vs. log [I-] with slope, b=1.5142.
For the 2nd part of the experiment, which is the reaction order with respect to I - (Runs 68), the amount of reagents added are shown in Table 2 (see Appendices). It is noted that Ferric

ion is kept constant and Iodide ion is varied. In order to determine the reaction order, the
logarithm of [I-] and the rate for Runs 1, 6-8 was also taken as shown in Table 4 above.
Plotting log rate vs. log [I-] gives a graph shown in Figure 2 with slope equals to 1.5142.
Errors were significant nevertheless, the order of reaction with respect to iodide ion is 2.
Thus, the general rate expression can be stated as:

3+

Fe
rate=k

(Equation 7)

Now, the specific rate constant can be determined by substituting the measured rates,
[Fe ]ave, and [I-] found in Table 4 for Runs 1, 6-8 into Equation 7.
3+

Table 5. A table showing the value of the average specific rate constant.
Run

t (s)

[Rate]I (M/s)

[Fe3+]
ave
(M)

[I-] (M)

0.004

29.56

6.7659E-06

0.0038

23.77

8.41397E-06

0.0058

19.8

1.0101E-05

0.0078

17.3

1.15607E-05

0.0098

15.10

1.3245E-05

0.0118

99.81

2.00381E-06

0.0038

20.34

9.83284E-06

0.0038

From the table above, it can be observed

k (L2
mol-2 s)

k ave (L2
mol-2 s)

111.2812 87.78734
478
496
0.004
90.66774
984
0.004
80.93758
094
0.004
73.72891
353
0.004
70.15377
708
0.002
131.8294
233
0.006
71.87749
774
that as the concentration of Iodide ion is

increased the specific rate constant is decreasing.

For the third part of the experiment, the effects of added Fe2+ on the reaction rate was
studied. It was found out to have only a small effect to the reaction so as to be considered
negligible.

II.

APPENDICES

Table 1.A table showing the amount of reagents added for Runs 1-5 and the time it takes for the
mixture to turn blue in color.
Ru
n
1
2
3
4
5

250-mL beaker
0.04 M
0.15 M
Water
3+
Fe
HNO3
(mL)
(mL)
(mL)
10.00
20.00
20.00
15.00
15.00
20.00
20.00
10.00
20.00
25.00
5.00
20.00
30.00
0.00
20.00

0.04 M
KI (mL)
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00

100-mL beaker
0.004 M
Starch
Change
2S2O3
(mL)
in time (s)
(mL)
10.00
5.00
29.56
10.00
5.00
23.77
10.00
5.00
19.80
10.00
5.00
17.30
10.00
5.00
15.10

Water
(mL)
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00

Table 2.A table showing the amount of reagents added for Runs 6-8 and the time it takes for the
mixture to turn blue in color.
Ru
n
6
7
8

0.04 M
Fe3+
(mL)
10.00
10.00
10.00

0.15 M
HNO3
(mL)
20.00
20.00
20.00

Water
(mL)

0.04 M
KI (mL)

20.00
20.00
20.00

5.00
15.00
20.00

0.004 M
S2O32(mL)
10.00
10.00
10.00

Sample Calculations:
For Run 1:
a) Determination of the initial concentration of Thiosulfate:

( 0.004L mol )
1L
100 mL (
1000 mL )

10103 L
S 2 O3 =

Starch
(mL)
5.00
5.00
5.00

Change
in time
(s)
99.81
20.34
11.45

Water
(mL)
30.00
30.00
15.00

2
S 2 O =0.0004 M

b) Determination of the initial rate:

2
S 2 O 3

1
[Rate ]i=
2
[Rate ]i=

1 0.0004 M
2 29.56 s

[Rate ]i=6.7659106 M s1
c) Calculating for [I-]

( 0.04Lmol )
1L
100 mL (
1000 mL )
3

1010 L

I=

I =0.004 M

d) Calculating for [Fe3+] i

3+
Fe

3+

Fe

e) Calculating for [Fe3+] f

3+
Fe

3+

Fe

3+
Fe

3+
Fe

f) Calculating for [Fe3+]ave

3+
Fe

3+
Fe

3+
Fe

3+
Fe

3+
Fe

g) Calculating for the specific rate constant, k

3+
F e

rate=k
3+

Fe

rate
k=
k=

6.7659106 M s1
2
[0.0038 M ] [ 0.004 M ]

k =111.2812478mol2 s

h) Calculating for the average specific rate constant, kave

k ave =

111.28+90. 67+80.94+ 73.73+70.15+131.83+71.88+71.82

8

k ave =87.787 L2 mol2 s