Chemistry Practical

Class – XII
Oxalic Acid
vs
Potassium Permanganate Titration
 Preparation of 250mL M/20 Oxalic acid Solution
Theory: Molecular formula of oxalic acid(crystalline form) is H2C2O4.2H2O
So, molar mass of oxalic acid is 126 g/mol
To prepare 1000mL 1 M oxalic acid solution mass of oxalic acid required is 126 g.
So, to prepare 250 mL M/20 oxalic acid solution, mass of oxalic acid required = 126/20x4 g
= 1.575 g
Materials required:
Similar to Mohr’s salt preparation. You need to take oxalic acid in place of Mohr salt.
Procedure:
1.575 g oxalic acid to be taken using electronic balance. It is to be dissolved in distilled water in
a 250mL volumetric flask.
* * * Standard procedure to be followed as you have done it in class XI.
Observation, calculation, result, precuations:
as you have done it in class XI.
 To find molarity and strength of KMnO4 solution
Theory: Potassium permanganate being an oxidising agent oxidises oxalic acid in an acid medium
to carbon dioxide and itself gets reduced to Mn2+ ion.
The reactions that take place are given below:
Oxidation part: C2O42- 2 CO2 + 2e-
Reduction part : MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e- Mn2+ + 4H2O
Overall equation : 2MnO4- + 5C2O42- + 16H+ 2Mn2+ + 10CO2 + 8H2O
So, for every two moles of permanganate ions ,five moles of oxalate ions are required.
No. of moles of permanganate 2
Thus, at the end point , ------------------------------------------- = -----------
No. of moles of oxalic acid 5

Contd in next slide

 To find molarity and strength of KMnO4 solution
(M x V ) of permanganate 2
so, ------------------------------------- = ------------
( M x V ) of oxalic acid 5

Using known volume ( 25 mL ) of oxalic acid of molarity ( M/20 ), volume of permanganate

solution can be found out from the titration and then molarity of permanganate solution can be
calculated.
Molar mass of KMnO4 is 158 g/mol
So, strength of permanganate solution = Molarity of KMnO4 X 158 g/mol.
No indicator is required as permanganate solution acts as self indicator and colour change will be
from colourless to faint permanent pink colour at the end point.
 To find molarity and strength of KMnO4 solution
Materials required : Like earlier titration.

Procedure: (i)25 mL of standard oxalic acid to be taken in a conical flask.

(ii) Around 20 mL of dilute ( 4 – 5 N ) sulphuric acid to be added to the oxalic acid
taken.
(iii) Whole mixture to be warmed up to a temperature around 60-70 oC by placing the
flask over tripod stand using wire gauge over Bunsen burner.
( This step is required as the reaction between oxalic acid and permanganate is slow at room
temperature and titration will be inaccurate. Increasing temperature causes increase in speed of
the reaction sufficient to have proper result and helps removal of CO2 from the mixture which
promotes the reaction in the forward direction). (Mn2+ acts as autocatalyst)
(iv) Permanganate solution from the burette is added to the flask slowly till the end
point is reached.
** The titration process has to be performed at least thrice to get concordant titre value.
 To find molarity and strength of KMnO4 solution
Observation Table:

Expt. No. Volume of Oxalic Burette reading (mL) Volume of Concordant

acid solution KMnO4 solution volume (mL)
(mL) used (mL)
Initial Final

1 25 0 12.2 12.2

2 25

3 25
 To find molarity and strength of KMnO4 solution

Calculation : Using working formula molarity and strength of KMnO4 solution can be
calculated.

Result : Molarity of KMnO4 solution = mol/L

Strength of KMnO4 solution = g/L
Precautions: Like previous expt.
For Reference how this titration is performed you can watch the video using the following link
:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDUd4KqBKa8

However, for calculations do not use the data available in the video. Use the
required data for our experiment only.
 DISCLAIMER

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