DISCUSSION

The purpose of the experiment ( Kinetics – Order of Reaction ) is to determine and

calculate the order of a reaction between two given chemicals. In the experiment, 0.5 M of
oxalic acid, H2C2O4 and 0.02 M of potassium permanganate solution, KMnO 4 were used.
Water is also used in the experiment in order to differentiate the concentration in each
experiment. In Experiment 1, 10 mL of KMnO 4 were added into 20 mL of H2C2O4 inside an
Erlenmeyer flask without any presence of water. In Experiment 2, 5 mL of KMnO 4 were
added into a mixture of 20 mL of H2C2O4 and 5 mL of water. In Experiment 3, 10 mL of
KMnO4 were added into a mixture of 10 mL of H2C2O4 and 10 mL of water. When added,
make sure to swirl the flasks and immediately start the stopwatch.

Three trials needed to be conduct in each experiment to obtain an average time taken
for the solution to change colour to light brown. In Experiment 1, 129 s, 137 s, and 147 s
were recorded in trial 1, trial 2 and trial 3 respectively. In Experiment 2, 141 s, 150 s, and 141
s were recorded in trial 1, trial 2 and trial 3 respectively. In Experiment 3, 318 s, 332 s, and
323 s were recorded in trial 1, trial 2 and trial 3 respectively.

To calculate the order of reaction, we need to tabulate and compare the data that
consists of the concentration of KMnO4 used in each experiment, the concentration of H2C2O4
used in each experiment, and the initial rate for each experiment. The calculations are shown
below.

Experiment 1:

0.02 mol
(0.01 L)
Concentration of KMnO4 used = 1L
0.03 L

= 0.0067 M

Experiment 2:

0.02 mol
(0.005 L)
Concentration of KMnO4 used = 1L
0.03 L

= 0.0033 M

Experiment 3:

0.02 mol
(0.01 L)
Concentration of KMnO4 used = 1L
0.03 L

= 0.0067 M
Experiment 1:

0.5 mol
( 0.02 L)
Concentration of H2C2O4 used = 1L
0.03 L

= 0.33 M

Experiment 2:

0.5 mol
( 0.02 L)
Concentration of H2C2O4 used = 1 L
0.03 L

= 0.33 M

Experiment 3:

0.5 mol
( 0.01 L)
Concentration of H2C2O4 used = 1 L
0.03 L

= 0.17 M

Experiment 1:

129+ 137+147
Average time (s) = = 137.7
3

Experiment 2:

141+150+ 141
Average time (s) = = 144 s
3

Experiment 3:

318+332+ 323
Average time (s) = = 324.3 s
3
Experiment 1:

0.02
Initial rate = ¿ ¿ = = 1.45 × 10-4 M/s
137.7

Experiment 2:

0.02
Initial rate = ¿ ¿ = = 1.39 × 10-4 M/s
144

Experiment 3:

0.02
Initial rate = ¿ ¿ = = 6.2 × 10-5 M/s
324.3

The above calculations are tabulated and hence we can calculate the order of reaction
for KMnO4 and H2C2O4 , the overall order of reaction and the rate constant of the reaction.

Experiment [ KMnO4 ] (M) [ H2C2O4 ] (M) Initial rate (M/s)

1 0.0067 0.33 1.45 × 10-4
2 0.0033 0.33 1.39 × 10-4
3 0.0067 0.17 6.20 × 10-5

Rate of KMnO4:

Rate 1
= ¿¿
Rate 2
x
1.45× 10−4 0.0067
1.39× 10 −4 = (
0.0033 )
1.04 = 2.03x

Assume 1 = 2x

20 = 2x
 x=0

Rate of H2C2O4:

Rate 1
= ¿¿
Rate 3
y
1.45× 10−4 0.33
6.20 ×1 0−5 = ( )
0.17

2.34 = 1.94x

Assume 2 = 2y

21 = 2y

y=1

rate = k [ KMnO4 ]0 [ H2C2O4 ]1

To find the rate constant, k:

k = rate
¿¿
Substitute the values in Experiment 2:
−4
k = 1.39× 10 = 4.1 × 10-4 s-1
¿¿

Thus, the rate law is:

Rate = (4.1 × 10-4) [ KMnO4 ]0 [ H2C2O4 ]1

= (4.1 × 10-4) [ H2C2O4 ]

Overall order of reaction is a (0 + 1) or first-order reaction overall.