Republic of the Philippines

LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY

Tacloban City

SCIENCE UNIT

Laboratory Work ___

Name: _____________________________ Year and Section: _______________

Date Accomplished: ___________________ Date Submitted: ________________
Instructor: ___________________________ Rating: _______________________

Redox Reactions
Introduction
Among several major types of chemical reactions, one of the most important is
oxidation-reduction. Oxidation-reduction, or redox, reactions combine chemicals wanting
to gain electrons (or be reduced) with chemicals that are willing to give up electrons (or
be oxidized). For example, sodium (Na), with its single loosely held valence electron,
gives up its outer electron (or is oxidized) by sulfur (S) to form sodium sulfide (Na 2S):
2Na + S → Na2S. In this redox reaction, two sodium atoms each give up an electron to
fill the sulfur atom’s outer shell. Each of the sodium atoms are subsequently oxidized to
form positive ions (Na+), while the sulfur atom is reduced to a negative ion (S-2). These
oppositely charged ions combine to form sodium sulfide. Oxidation is loss of electrons
while reduction is gain of electrons. Species that loses the electron is known as the
reducing agent, while the species that gains electrons is known as oxidizing agent.

Redox reaction is present everywhere such as when your cells convert sugar into
energy so you can move, breathe and think, when the plants photosynthesize sunlight
into food, in battery power and even fire. Even though oxidation cannot occur without
reduction and vice versa, it is often useful to consider oxidation-reduction reactions in two
parts called half-reactions. Added together, the two half-reactions make up the overall
oxidation-reduction reaction.

Redox reactions which occur in the electrodes, as well as at the electrode-

electrolyte interface dictate the proper function of any electrochemical device because
the quantity of energy stored and the lifetime of the system are limited by them. All
electrochemical systems currently being considered for energy storage are limited by the
available chemistry, which rarely produces the right electrode materials on demand, as
well as by the complicated and capricious nature of the interfaces.

Objectives:
 To study redox reaction
 To observe the effect of the reaction that happens in the experiment

Analytical Chemistry Aurelia, Cabigayan, Cabrales, Mendez, Pelen, Peros, Rubas

GROUP 1
Activity 1: Chameleon Chemical Reaction

Safety Precautions
The experiment itself is safe. Some precautions are needed while preparing the
solutions, though.
 Sodium hydroxide is corrosive. Gloves, while weighing it, are recommended.
 Potassium permanganate has a bad tendency for staining everything it comes in
contact with. However, only a very small quantity of it is going to be used.

Chemicals and Materials Needed:

500 ml beaker
100 ml beaker
Stirring rod
6 g sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
9 g sucrose
0.03 g Potassium permanganate (KMnO4)
Water
Evaporating dish
Analytical balance

Procedure
Solution A.
 Prepare a beaker with 500 ml water. Add 6 g of sodium hydroxide and 9 g
of sucrose, then stir.
Solution B.
 Prepare the potassium permanganate solution by adding 0.03 g potassium
permanganate into 30 ml of water.
Then, add potassium permanganate solution into the beaker and stir. Watch the
changes of color.

Analytical Chemistry Aurelia, Cabigayan, Cabrales, Mendez, Pelen, Peros, Rubas

GROUP 1
Post-Lab Questions
1. What are the colors of the solution you observed in the experiment?

Based on your observation.

2. What particular chemical or substance in the experiment gains electron (reduced)

as well as the chemical that loses electron(oxidized)?

The potassium permanganate gains electron as it is the reduced substance

while the sugar loses electron as it is the oxidized substance.

3. How does the oxidation-reduction reaction occur in the experiment?

The potassium permanganate is reduced (gains electrons), while the

sugar is oxidized(loses electrons). This occurs in two steps. First, the
permanangate ion (purple in solution) is reduced to form the manganate ion
(green in solution): As the reaction is proceeding, both the purple
permanganate and green manganate are present, blending together to
produce a solution that appears blue. Eventually, there is more green
manganate, yielding a green solution. Next, the green manganate ion is
further reduced and forms manganese dioxide: Manganese dioxide is golden
brown solid, but the particles are so small they make the solution appear to
change color. Eventually, the particles will settle out of solution, leaving it
clear.

4. Why will the potassium permanganate solution change its color?

An atom of manganese Mn in KMnO4 has a considerable positive charge (+7).

Mn+7 is a potent oxidant, which means it really wants to get some electrons
(e-) into its possession. Usually, Mn+7 takes several electrons at a time – it’s
so hungry to “treat itself.” However, the conditions of the reaction are
chosen in such a way that a “hungry” manganese cannot hurry and will
saturate itself with electrons gradually. And glycerol acts like a caring nurse,
feeding the manganese with electrons portion by portion. The reactions in
which substances exchange electrons and change its color are called the
oxidation-reduction reactions. The atoms hungry for electrons are called the
oxidizing agent, and the atoms that give away their electrons (“feed”
oxidants) are called the reducing agent. In our case, manganese is the
oxidant and glycerol is the reducer.

5. Show the chemical equation of the reactions that occurs in the experiment.
MnO4- + e- → MnO4-2

MnO4-2 + 2H2O + 2e- → MnO2 + 4OH-

Analytical Chemistry Aurelia, Cabigayan, Cabrales, Mendez, Pelen, Peros, Rubas

GROUP 1
 Republic of the Philippines
LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
Tacloban City

SCIENCE UNIT

Reflection and Documentation

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Analytical Chemistry Aurelia, Cabigayan, Cabrales, Mendez, Pelen, Peros, Rubas

GROUP 1