Title: Redox Reactions

Aim: To determine the colour changes that occur with oxidising and reducing agents.

Apparatus and materials:

 distilled water
 beaker
 potassium permanganate
 potassium dichromate
 hydrochloric acid
 dropper
 sodium chlorite
 test tubes
 test tube holders
 spatula
 glucose
 iron(11) sulphate
 potassium iodide
 gloves
 hydrogen peroxide

Diagram:

Procedure: All aqueous reagents were poured into separate beakers. \=Each solid reagent was added to
distilled water using a spatula in separate beakers in order to become aqueous solutions. The beakers
were properly labelled .Acidified potassium permanganate(KMnO4/H+) was added dropwise (8 drops )
and gently shaken with (5 drops ) of each of the following reducing agents in a test tube: potassium
iodide (KI) , iron (II) sulphate (FeSO4),concentrated hydrochloric acid. (HCl),hydrogen peroxide
(H2O2)and glucose (C6H12O6). The test tubes were properly labelled and placed on test tube holders
for easy identification. Any changes were observed and recorded in a suitable table. The following steps
were repeated using acidified potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7/H+) hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) and
sodium chlorate (Na ClO) instead of KMnO4. However hydrogen peroxide was not added added to itself
 Reducing agents

Reagents Potassium iodide Iron(11) sulphate Concentrated HCl Hydrogen Glucose

Peroxide
(KI) (FeSO4) (HCl) (C6H12O6)
(H2O2)

Acidified  Purple  KMnO4  Purple  Purple

Potassium KMnO4 decolourised. KMnO4 to Mn7+
permanganate became  Pale yellow colourless/pa became
(KMnO4/H+) colourless FeSO4 turned le pink. colourless
yellow brown  Effervescent
(purple) of a gas .Cl2
gas evolved

Acidified  Colourless  Orange Cr6+  No colour  Orange

KI changed became green. change was Cr6+
Potassium
to brown  Pale yellow observed turned to
dichromate
FeSO4 became  Remained green
(K2Cr2O7/H+) brown orange

(orange)

Sodium  Colourless  Pale yellow  Effervescent

chlorite KI changed FeSO4 became of a gas .
--------------
to brown yellow-brown  Cl2 gas
(NaClO)
evolved
(colourless)

Hydrogen  Colourless  Pale yellow  Effervescent

peroxide KI and FeSO4 became of a gas .
--------------
H2O2 FeSO4 became  Cl2 gas
(H2O2)
became yellow-brown. evolved
(colourless) brown Fizzing
 Bubbling occurred
occurred
(oxygen
gas)
Discussion:

Redox reactions are a combination of reduction and oxidation reactions occurring

simultaneously . Reduction is the gain of electrons, a decrease in oxidation state,a loss of
oxygen or a gain of hydrogen. Oxidation is the loss of electrons ,and increase in oxidation state,
a gain of oxygen or a loss of hydrogen

An oxidizing agent, or oxidant, gains electrons and is reduced in a chemical reaction. Also

known as the electron acceptor, the oxidizing agent is normally in one of its higher possible
oxidation states because it will gain electrons and  be reduced. A reducing
agent, or reductant, loses electrons and is oxidized in a chemical reaction. A reducing agent is
typically in one of its lower possible oxidation states, and is known as the electron donor.

A reducing agent is oxidized, because it loses electrons in the redox reaction. So in order to
identify an oxidizing agent, the oxidation number of an atom before and after the reaction is
observed. If the oxidation number is greater in the product, then it lost electrons and the
substance was oxidized. If the oxidation number is less, then it gained electrons and was
reduced. The substance that is reduced in a reaction is the oxidizing agent because it gains
electrons. The substance that is oxidized in a reaction is the reducing agent because it lost
electrons. Example in the reaction of acidified potassium permanganate (KMnO4/H+) and
potassiumiodide(KI) .

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………. The manganese ion was reduced from +7 to +2. And the iodide ion was
oxidised from -1 to 0. Thus because of the iodine solid the solution turned brown. Therefore
potassium permanganate turned colourless because it was reduced by potassium iodide and
potassium iodide produced a brown colour because it was oxidised by potassium
permanganate. Consequently potassium iodide is the reducing agent and potassium
permanganate is the oxidizing agent.

Similarly in the reaction between acidified potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7/H+) and iron(ll)
sulphate (FeSO4)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………….

The chromium ions were reduced from +6 to +3 and turned from orange to green while the iron
ions were oxidised from +2 to +3 and turned from pale yellow to red-brown. Therefore
potassium dichromate produced a green colour because it was reduced by iron(ll) sulphate
and iron(ll) sulphate produced a red-brown colour because it was oxidised by potassium
dichromate Consequently potassium dichromate is the oxidizing agent and iron(ll) sulphate is
the reducing agent.

Some substances however, act as both oxidising and reducing agents, Hydrogen peroxide
(H2O2) when  served as an oxidizing agent, oxygen is reduced to H 2O. and when H2O2 is served
as a reducing agent, the oxygen is oxidized to O 2 and bubbles are noticed .In the experiment
H2O2 acted as an oxidising agent with Fe2+. The pale yellow Fe2+ turns to brown Fe3+. However
when H2O2 acts as a reducing agent with KMnO4, the purple Mn7+ changed to colourless
Mn2+. Nitrous acid (HNO2) , sodium nitrate (NaNO3) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) all act as both
reducing and oxidising agents.

When concentrated hydrochloric acid was combined with various oxidising agents Cl2 gas was
evolved. Chlorine can be identified by its characteristic sharp, choking smell. It also makes damp
blue litmus paper turn red, and then bleaches it white. Therefore damp blue litmus paper can
be used to test for the presence of chlorine gas.

It is concluded that acidified potassium permanganate ,acidified potassium dichromate

,hydrogen peroxide and sodium chlorate are oxidising agents. Potassium iodide , iron(ll)
sulphate, concentrated hydrochloric acid, hydrogen peroxide and glucose solution are all
reducing agents

Precaution:

1.) It was ensured that care was taken when handling the concentrated hydrochloric acid

2.) It was ensured that all test tubes were cleaned and dried to avoid contamination and to
allow a clear and accurate colour change.

SOE:

1.) Students had difficulty in discerning the different colour changes , which resulted in
fairly inaccurate results

Conclusion: It is concluded that acidified potassium permanganate ,acidified potassium

dichromate ,hydrogen peroxide and sodium chlorate are oxidising agents. Potassium iodide ,
iron(ll) sulphate, concentrated hydrochloric acid, hydrogen peroxide and glucose solution are all
reducing agents

Reflection: I have now understood the concept of redox reactions . My experimental knowledge
was also increased as I was introduced to different reagents..During my research I have
understood basic principles relating to redox reactions such as the browning of apples and the
rusting of metals