lOMoARcPSD|13356490

Lab Report on Oxidation and Reduction

Further Chemistry for Biosciences Foundation Year (University of Sussex)

StuDocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university

Downloaded by Kasule Samuel (kasuleblessing@gmail.com)
 lOMoARcPSD|13356490

FND04: FURTHER CHEMISTRY FOR BIOSCIENCES - LAB REPORT

Oxidation and Reduction (REDOX) Reactions

Introduction
Oxidation-reduction reactions, otherwise known as redox reactions, are fundamentally a
process that involves a transfer of electrons. Oxidation can be defined as loss of electrons
and reduction as gain of electrons. Therefore, oxidation results in an increase in oxidation
number and reduction a decrease in oxidation number (Gent and Ritchie, 2007).

In a redox reaction, the substance that is reduced is called an oxidising agent as it gains
electrons from the substance that is oxidised. In contrast, a reducing agent loses electrons so
it itself is oxidised whilst reducing another substance (Gent and Ritchie, 2008). Although
oxidation and reduction reactions can be viewed separately through half-equations,
reduction and oxidation occur simultaneously forming a whole reaction (Haustein, 2014).
The total number of electrons lost must equal the total electrons gained in a redox reaction
in order to maintain neutrality. The half equations can be combined to construct a balanced
full net ionic equation. For instance, in the reaction of iron (III) chloride and tin (II) chloride,
the iron is being reduced and the tin is being oxidised. The chloride ions are unaffected and
are known as spectator ions.

Fe3+ + e-  Fe2+ Reduction

Sn2+  Sn4+ + 2e- Oxidation

The following half equations can be combined by balancing them through multiplying the
coefficients in the reduction equation by 2. Followed by adding the balanced half equations
together.

Sn2+  Sn4+ + 2e-

2Fe3+ + 2e-  2Fe2+
Sn2+ + 2Fe3+ + 2e-  Sn4+ + 2Fe2+ + 2e-
(Blackman et al., 2015)
Sn2+ + 2Fe3+  Sn4+ + 2Fe2+

Substances that have a large affinity for electrons tend to be good oxidising agents such as
potassium manganate and the halogens. In comparison, metals are usually good reducing
agents as they have a strong tendency to lose electrons (Gent and Ritchie, 2007). Redox
agents are responsible for the visible colour changes as well as changes in property in some
instances. This is because a colour change indicates that a chemical reaction has taken place.
Furthermore, the products of a redox reaction can then be confirmed by adding certain
reagents to test for it. For instance, iodine is a reducing agent which will turn blue/black in
the presence of starch.

Redox reactions have various applications in chemistry such as reducing alcohol to aldehyde
which is essential in organic synthesis. Furthermore, reduction and oxidation reactions are
vital to some of the basic functions of everyday life including photosynthesis, respiration,
combustion and rusting (Haustein, 2014).

Downloaded by Kasule Samuel (kasuleblessing@gmail.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|13356490

Aim
To observe the redox reactions of common oxidising and reducing reagents as well as
identifying which of the chemical substances are being oxidised and reduced by constructing
equations for each of the 6 reactions.

Method
This practical has been split into 6 parts.

Firstly, 5cm3 of iron (II) sulphate solution and 2cm3 of dilute sulphuric acid were added into a
test tube. Followed by a dropwise addition of 2cm3 of potassium (VII) manganate.
Observations of the addition of potassium (VII) manganate were then noted as the
manganate ions (MnO4-) acted as oxidising agents thus oxidising the iron (II) ions (Fe2+). After
this, the solution was divided into two separate test tubes. To one, a few drops of potassium
hexacyanoferrate (II) solution was added and to the other, potassium thiocyanate solution.
These reagents confirmed the presence of the products formed by the change in colour of
the two solutions.

The second experiment follows, 5cm3 of potassium iodide solution and 2cm3 of bromine
water were put together in a test tube. The product of this reaction was tested by adding a
few drops of starch solution to test for iodine ions (I-). An observation of this reaction was
then noted.

Following this, 2cm3 of iron (III) chloride solution was added into a test tube followed by
2cm3 of potassium iodide. The resulting solution was split equally into two test tubes. To
one, starch solution was added to test for I- and to the other, sodium thiosulphate was
added until no further colour change occurred followed by adding a few drops of potassium
ferricyanide (potassium hexacyanoferrate (III)) solution to confirm the presence of iron (II)
ions. The colour changes of these reactions were observed.

Experiment four consisted of adding 2cm3 sodium sulphite solution into a test tube as well as
2cm3 of dilute sulphuric acid and 1cm3 of potassium dichromate. This resulting solution was
then warmed gently by placing the test tube into a beaker of warm water whilst swirling the
test tube in order to speed up the reaction. The dichromate ions (Cr2O72-) act as oxidising
agents and so results in a colour change which was observed.

Experiment five consisted of adding 5cm3 of concentrated hydrochloric acid in a boiling tube
and 5cm3 of potassium manganate (VII) solution. The resulting solution was also warmed
gently by placing the test tube in a beaker of warm water. An observation of the colour
change was made followed by a test of the gas evolved. A damp universal indicator paper
was placed over the top of the boiling tube and the colour of the paper indicated the pH of
the gas.

Lastly, experiment six comprised of adding 2cm3 of sodium sulphite solution as well as 2cm3
of chlorine water. The products of the reaction was then tested by adding a few drops of
barium chloride solution and an observation was made.

Downloaded by Kasule Samuel (kasuleblessing@gmail.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|13356490

Results

Experimen Observation
t
When dropwise addition of the potassium manganate (VII) solution was
added to the iron (II) sulphate and dil. sulphuric acid solution, the mixture
remained colourless.

1 When potassium hexacyanoferrate (II) solution was added, the solution

turned from colourless to deep blue.

When potassium thiocyanate solution was added, the solution turned from
colourless to a red-brown colour.
When starch solution was added to a solution of potassium iodide and
2
bromine water, the solution turned from orange to black.
Adding starch to the solution of iron (III) chloride and potassium iodide
turned the solution from brown to black.

3 Adding sodium thiosulphate to the solution turned the solution black then
went to an orange-brown solution. Adding a few drops of potassium
ferricyanide (potassium hexacyanoferrate (III)) after no further colour
changes occurred, the solution turned a dark green colour.
When potassium dichromate was added to a warmed solution of sodium
4 sulphite and dilute sulphuric acid, there was no observable reactions as the
solution remained an orange colour throughout the experiment.
Adding potassium manganate (VII) solution to the concentrated
hydrochloric acid caused the solution to turn brown and when warmed
gently, turned slightly clearer and appeared light brown.
5
When testing the gas evolved with a damp universal indicator paper, the red
indicated a pH of 1.
Testing the sodium sulphite and chlorine water solution with barium
6 chloride caused the solution to turn from colourless to a cloudy white
precipitate.

Downloaded by Kasule Samuel (kasuleblessing@gmail.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|13356490

Conclusion
In the first experiment, the solution was initially purple due to the potassium manganate
(VII) solution but then turned colourless indicating that the MnO4- ions had been reduced to
Mn2+ ions. Supposedly, a purple layer should have formed after reaching a certain point but
the result does not show this. Adding the potassium thiocyanate solution resulted in the
solution turning red-brown indicating the presence of Fe3+. The expected colour for this was
supposed to be blood red. The presence of Fe3+ was also confirmed by the addition of
potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) solution as the solution turned from clear to a deep blue
colour. The expected outcome of this test was meant to give a Prussian blue precipitate.

MnO4-(aq) + 8H+(aq) + 5e- Mn2+(aq) + RED

4H2O(l) Fe2+(aq) Fe3+(aq) + OX
e-+ 5Fe2+ Mn2+(aq) + 4H2O(l) + 5Fe3+
MnO4-(aq) + 8H+(aq)
In this (aq) case, the
MnO4 ions are being reduced therefore acting as the oxidising agent in this reaction and Fe 2+
-

as the reducing agent.

Experiment 2 showed the potassium iodide and bromine water solution turned from orange
to black when tested with starch solution. The colour change implies that iodine is present
as a product of the reaction. Therefore, Br2 acts as the oxidising agent and I- act as the
reducing agent. The result of this experiment follows the expected outcome as iodine turns
starch blue/black.

Br2 (aq) + 2e- 2Br-(aq) RED

2I-(aq) i2 (aq) + 2e- OX
Br2 (aq) + 2I-(aq) I2 (aq) + 2Br-(aq)

Experiment 3 showed a colour change when starch solution was added from a brown
solution to black. The expected result for this was meant to be a dark purple solution instead
of black. This implies that iodine is present as a product which is true in this case as I - is
oxidised to I2 by the oxidising agent Fe3+. Furthermore, when sodium thiosulphate solution
and potassium ferricyanide solution was added, the solution turned dark green indicating
the presence of Fe2+. The expected outcome of the addition of sodium thiosulphate was
meant to be a dark purple solution but goes back to the original brown solution over time.
The addition of potassium ferricyanide was meant to form a dark turquoise colour change.

Fe3+(aq) + e- Fe2+(aq) RED

2I-(aq) i2 (aq) + 2e- OX
f
2Fe3+ (aq) + 2I-(aq) 2Fe2+ (aq) + I2 (aq)

Downloaded by Kasule Samuel (kasuleblessing@gmail.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|13356490

Experiment 4 did not react according to what was expected. The solution should have
turned from orange to green to indicate the reduction of Cr2O72- to Cr3+. SO32- is the reducing
agent in this experiment as it reduces the dichromate ions and therefore the dichromate
ions act as the oxidising agent.

Cr2O72-(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6e- 2Cr3+(aq) + RED

7H2O(l) SO32-(aq) + H2O(l) SO42-(aq) + 2H+(aq) + 2e-OX
Cr2O72-(aq) + 8H+(aq) + 3SO32-(aq) 2Cr3+(aq) + 4H2O(l) +
3SO42-(aq)
Experiment 5 showed that the solution of concentrated hydrochloric acid and potassium
manganate (VII) solution turned brown which was not the expected observable result. The
addition of the potassium manganate (VII) solution should have turned the colourless
solution red. Therefore, Cl- act as the reducing agent as it reduces MnO4- to Mn2+ causing the
colour change. Furthermore, the universal indicator paper showed a very acidic pH of 1
which was a bit unexpected as the brown precipitate produced was manganese oxide
(MnO2) indicating that insufficient acid was added.

MnO4-(aq) + 8H+(aq) + 5e- Mn2+(aq) + RED

4H2O(l) 2Cl-(aq) Cl2 (aq) + 2e- OX
f
2MnO4-(aq) + 10Cl-(aq) + 16H+(aq) 2Mn2+(aq) + 8H2O(l) + 5Cl2
(aq)
Experiment 6 coincided with the expected result of the reaction. The barium
chloride solution turned the resulting solution from colourless to a cloudy white precipitate
which is a common test for sulphate ions. Cl2 is responsible for reducing SO32- to SO42- in
order for the product, SO42- to be tested.

Cl2 (aq) + 2e- 2Cl- RED

(aq) + H2O(l) SO42-(aq) + 2H+(aq)
SO32-(aq) OX
Cl2 (aq)++2e-
SO32-(aq) + H2O(l) 2Cl-(aq) + SO42-(aq) + 2H+
(aq)

Evaluation
Most of my results coincide with the expected outcomes of the colour change tests in each
redox reaction. However, there was a few experiments in which the anticipated reaction did
not occur. For instance, experiment four did not work in the practical as no visible change
was observed. Various sources of error may explain the reasoning behind this such as
insufficient cleaning of the test tubes in between experiments therefore chemical residue
may be left in the tubes affecting the products of the reaction taking place. Furthermore,
this experiment required heat in order for the reaction to occur instantly on the basis of
chemical kinetics as potassium dichromate is a less powerful oxidising agent than potassium
manganate (VII). Another source of error could be accuracy of measuring out the supplied
reagents. Similarly, experiment five had conflicting results as the pH test indicated the
solution to be very acidic however the brown precipitate implies that insufficient acid was
added producing MnO2. This could also be explained by inaccurate measurements of the

Downloaded by Kasule Samuel (kasuleblessing@gmail.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|13356490

reagents and could be improved by carefully measuring out the chemicals using appropriate
equipment such as pipettes. For future practical’s, more care should be given to the
measurements of the chemicals given to provide accurate results.

Moreover, the qualitative analysis was not as precise in comparison to the expected colour
changes. For instance, the colour change in experiment three was meant to turn a dark
turquoise colour with the addition of potassium ferricyanide however my results describe
the colour as dark green. Likewise, experiment one was meant to be Prussian blue instead of
deep blue. The preciseness of descriptive observations would have greatly improved the
accuracy and reliability of the practical. However, the descriptive analysis is difficult to
completely match the expected as different people would have different ways of describing
a shade of colour.

References
Blackman, A., Bridgeman, A., Laurie, G., Southam, D., Thompson, C. and Williamson, N.
(2015). Chemistry: Core concepts. 1st ed.
Gent, D. and Ritchie, R. (2007). OCR Chemistry AS. 1st ed. Oxford: Heinemann.
Gent, D. and Ritchie, R. (2008). OCR A2 Chemistry. 1st ed. Oxford: Heinemann.
Haustein, C. (2014). Oxidation-reduction reactions. [online] Gale Science in Context.
Available at: http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CV2644031629/SCIC?
u=albertak12&xid=5e56703a [Accessed 22 Mar. 2017].

Downloaded by Kasule Samuel (kasuleblessing@gmail.com)