Estimation of Fe(II) Ions by Titrating it with K2Cr2O7 Solution using Internal Indicator

Principle:
In acid medium Fe(II) in a solution may be estimated by direct titration with a standard solution
of K2Cr2O7 in presence of either H3PO4 or ammonium bifluoride (NH4HF2) using barium
diphenylaminesulphonate (BDS) as indicator. Under this condition K2Cr2O7 quantitatively
oxidizes Fe2+ to Fe3+:
Cr2O72 + 14H+ + 6Fe2+  2Cr3+ + 6Fe3+ + 7H2O
 1/6 mol Cr2O72  1 mol Fe2+ = 1 equivalent
 1000 ml 1 N K2Cr2O7 solution  55.85 gm Fe2+
H3PO4 (or NH4HF2) stabilizes Fe3+ by complex formation which is essential for indicator
action of BDS.

Chemicals required:
a) standard N/20 K2Cr2O7 solution (to be prepared by accurate
weighing)
b) N/20 Mohr’s salt solution
c) 4 N H2SO4
d) syrupy H3PO4 or NH4HF2
e) saturated aqueous solution of BDS indicator

Procedure:
Pipette out an aliquot of 25 ml from the supplied Mohr’s salt solution in a 250 ml conical flask.
Add 25 ml of 4 N H2SO4, 3 ml syrupy H3PO4 (or 1-2 gm of NH4HF2) and 3-4 drops of BDS
indicator. Titrate with standard N/20 K2Cr2O7 solution until the colour of the solution just
changes from green to violet. Calculate the amount of iron in gm per litre present in the supplied
solution.

Results:

Table: Estimation of Fe2+ ion solution

Serial Volume of Volume of Mean volume Strength of
No. Mohr’s salt K2Cr2O7 (ml) of K2Cr2O7 K2Cr2O7
solution (ml) (ml)
1 25 x (say) y N (say)
2 25

Calculations:
1000 ml 1 N K2Cr2O7  55.85 gm Fe2+
 x ml y N K2Cr2O7  55.85  x  y/1000 gm Fe2+
Now 25 ml solution contains Fe2+ = 55.85  x  y/1000 gm
 1000 ml solution contains Fe2+ = (55.85  x  y/1000)  1000/25 gm

So, the amount of Fe(II) ions present in the supplied solution = _______ gm per litre.

Laboratory Manual prepared by Dr. Jishnunil Chakraborty

Department of Chemistry, St. Paul’s Cathedral Mission College