Name: Aliyah Ruan

Date: 24/06/21
Title: Redox Reactions
Aim: To observe the reactions of some oxidizing and reducing agents.
Apparatus and Material: test tubes, test tube rack, test tube holder, droppers, wooden splint,
acidified potassium manganate (VII) solution (KMnO4), acidified potassium chromate (VI)
solution (K2Cr2O7), acidified potassium iodide solution (KI), hydrogen peroxide solution
(H2O2), solutions containing Fe2+ ions and Fe3+ ions.
Results:
TABLE SHOWING THE RESULTS OF REACTIONS OF COMMON OXIDISING AND
REDUCING AGENTS

TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE

To 1cm3 of KMnO4/H+ in a
test tube, KI/H+ was added.
The colourless solution (KI)
turned brown.
The purple KMnO4/H+ was
decolourised.
Overall colour change:
Purple to brown/reddish brown
KMnO4 was the oxidising agent.
Purple MnO4- changed to colourless Mn2+.
Oxidation number changed from +7 to +2 and
KI was the reducing agent.
2I-(aq) – 2e -> I2(aq)
I in colourless KI had an oxidation state of -1
which increased to 0 in brown I2(aq) when it was
oxidized and iodide was oxidised to iodine and
the oxidation number of the Iodide ion
changed from -1 to 0.

To 1cm3 of KMnO4/H+ in a
test tube, Fe2+ was added.
The light green solution (Fe2+)
turned brown.
The purple KMnO4/H+ was
decolourised.
Overall colour change:
Purple to light brown
KMnO4 was the oxidising agent
Mn in purple MnO4-(aq) was the oxidising agent.
Oxidation state of +7 which decreased +2 in
colourless Mn2+(aq) when it was reduced.
Fe2+ was the reducing agent.
Fe2+(aq) -e- → Fe3+(aq)
Fe in pale green Fe2+(aq) had an oxidation state
of +2 which increased to +3 in pale yellow
Fe3+(aq) when it was oxidized.
To 1cm3 of KMnO4/H+ in a
test tube, H2O2 was added.
To 1cm3 of K2Cr2O7/H+ in a
test tube, KI/H+ was added.
To 1cm3 of K2Cr2O7/H+ in a
test tube, Fe2+ was added.
Effervescence of a colourless,
odourless gas which relights a
glowing splint.
The purple KMnO4/H+ was
decolourised.
Overall colour change:
Purple to colourless.
The colourless solution (KI/H+)
turned brown.
The orange solution
(K2Cr2O7/H+) turned green.
Overall colour change:
Orange to initial
yellow-green/brown. On
standing the solution turned
reddish brown.
The light green solution (Fe2+)
turned pale brown.
The orange solution
(K2Cr2O7/H+) turned emerald
green.
Overall colour change:
Orange to green.
KMnO4 was the oxidising agent.
Mn in purple MnO4-(aq) had an oxidation state of
+7 which decreased +2 in colourless Mn2+(aq)
when it was reduced.
H2O2 was the reducing agent.
H2O2 (aq) → O2 (g) + 2e- +2H+
O in colourless H2O2(aq) had an oxidation state
that increased from -1 to 0 in colourless O2(g)
when it was oxidized.
K2Cr2O7 was the oxidising agent
Cr was reduced. The oxidation number
changes from +6 to +3. Orange Cr2O72-(aq)
changes to green Cr3+(aq). Cr in orange Cr2O72-
(aq) had an oxidation state of +6 which
decreased to +3 in green Cr3+(aq) when it was
reduced.
KI was the reducing agent.
2I–(aq) -2e- → I2 (g)
I in colourless KI had an oxidation state of -1
which increased to 0 in brown I2(aq) when it was
oxidized. Iodide was oxidised to iodine.
K2Cr2O7 was the oxidising agent
The oxidation number changes from +6 to +3.
Orange Cr2O72-(aq) changes to green Cr3+(aq). Cr
in orange Cr2O72-(aq) had an oxidation state of
+6 which decreased to +3 in green Cr3+(aq)
when it was reduced.
Fe2+ was the reducing agent.
Fe2+(aq) -e- → Fe3+(aq)
Fe in pale green Fe2+(aq) had an oxidation state
of +2 which increased to +3 in pale brown Fe3+
(aq) when it was oxidized. Fe was oxidised to
2+
Fe .3+
To 1cm3 of K2Cr2O7/H+ in a Effervescence of a colourless,
test tube, H2O2 was added. odourless gas which relights a
glowing splint.
The colourless solution (H2O2)
remained colourless.
The orange solution
(K2Cr2O7/H+) turned green.
Overall colour change:
Orange to initial black. On
standing the solution turned
green
To 1cm3 of H2O2 in a test The colourless solution (KI/H+)
tube, KI/H+ was added. turned reddish brown.
The colourless solution (H2O2)
remained colourless.
Overall colour change:
colourless to reddish brown.
To 1cm3 of H2O2 in a test The colourless solution (H2O2)
tube, Fe2+ was added. remained colourless.
The light green solution (Fe2+)
turned brown.
Overall colour change:
colourless to pale yellow/light
brown.
K2Cr2O7 was the oxidising agent
Cr was reduced. The oxidation number
changes from +6 to +3. Orange Cr2O72-(aq)
changes to green Cr3+(aq). Cr in orange Cr2O72-
(aq) had an oxidation state of +6 which
decreased to +3 in green Cr3+(aq) when it was
reduced.
H2O2 was the reducing agent.
H2O2 (aq) → O2 (g) + 2e- +2H+
H2O2 was oxidised. O in colourless H2O2(l) had
an oxidation state that increased from -1 to 0 in
colourless O2(g) when it was oxidized. The
oxygen atom oxidation number changed from -
1 to 0.
H2O2 was the oxidising agent.
H2O2 (aq) + 2e- +2H+ → 2H2O
O in colourless H2O2(aq) had an oxidation state
that decreased from -1 to -2 in colourless H2O(l)
when it was reduced.The oxygen atom
oxidation number changed from -1 to -2.
KI was the reducing agent.
2I–(aq) -2e- → I2 (g)
I in colourless KI had an oxidation state of -1
which increased to 0 in brown I2(g) when it was
oxidized. Iodide was oxidised to iodine.
H2O2 was the oxidising agent.
H2O2 (aq) + 2e- +2H+ → 2H2O
H2O2 was reduced. O in colourless H2O2(aq) had
an oxidation state that decreased from -1 to -2
in colourless H2O(l) when it was reduced and
Oxidation number of O changed from -1 to -2.
Fe2+ was the reducing agent.
Fe2+(aq) -e- → Fe3+(aq)
Fe in pale green Fe2+(aq) had an oxidation state
 of +2 which increased to +3 in pale brown Fe3+
(aq) when it was oxidized.

To 1cm3 of Fe3+in a test tube, The colourless solution (KI/H+) Fe3+ was the oxidising agent.
KI/H+ was added. turned brown. Fe3+ +e- → Fe2+(aq)

The reddish brown solution
(Fe3+) turned light green.
Overall colour change:
Brown to reddish-brown
Fe in light yellow Fe3+(aq) had an oxidation state
of +3 which decreased to +2 in light green Fe2+
(aq) when it was reduced.
KI was the reducing agent.
2I–(aq) -2e- → I2 (aq)

I in colourless KI had an oxidation state of -1

which increased to 0 in brown I2(aq) when it was
oxidized and oxidation number of the iodide
ion changed from -1 to 0.

Discussion:
An oxidising agent causes oxidation to occur. It is reduced, gains electrons and its oxidation
number decreases. However a reducing agent causes reduction to occur. It is reduced,loses
electrons and it increases in oxidation number. The reason the chemical H2O2 can be both an
oxidising and reducing agent is because In this molecule the oxidation number for oxygen is –1.
This is halfway between O2(0) and H2O(–2), and so hydrogen peroxide can either be reduced or
oxidized.

Reflection:
From this lab I have learnt that redox reactions are used in many scientific instruments such as a
breathalyzer test. This measures the amount of alcohol present in the air someone is breathing
out. In the Breathalyzer test ,ethanol(alcohol) participates in a redox reaction; it gets oxidized as
it loses electrons (H atoms) and the potassium dichromate( inside the breathalyzer test) gets
reduced as it picks up some electrons.
Conclusion:
In the reactions carried out during this experiment the oxidising agents were KMnO4 ,
K2Cr2O7/H+ and Fe3+ . The reducing agents were KI/H+ and Fe3+. H2O2 can be used as both a
reducing agent and an oxidising agent.