IB CHEMISTRY Redox (SL/HL) 9a

Title: Standardisation of Potassium Manganate (VII)

Aim: Calculate the oxidation number of an element in a

compound Define redox in terms of electron gain or loss. Safety: Goggles, KMnO4
Identify if an element is oxidised or reduced and deduce should be treated as harmful and
redox half equations. (SL/HL) H2SO4 is an irritant.

Instructions:
1. Use an electronic balance to weigh out a mass of 9.6-9.8g of hydrated ammonium iron sulfate.
((NH4)2SO4. FeSO4. 6H2O).
2. Dissolve this solid into about 100cm3 of distilled water in a clean 250cm3 beaker using a glass
rod.
3. Transfer this solution using a funnel to a clean 250cm 3 volumetric flask.
4. Wash out the beaker with a small amount of distilled water and add this to the flask.
5. Make up to the 250cm3 mark using 1 mol dm-3 H2SO4 and then shake to ensure equal mixing.
6. Pipette a 25cm3 portion of this solution into a clean conical flask.
7. Add another 25cm3 of H2SO4 using a measuring cylinder.
8. Prepare the KMnO4 solution of unknown concentration in a burette.
9. Titrate by slowly adding the KMnO4 to the solution of acidified ammonium iron sulfate.
10. No indicator is required. Titrate until the first permanent pink colour is obtained, adding the
KMnO4 drop-wise near the end-point. This is your first rough titration.
11. Repeat with fresh samples until concordant results (within 0.1cm 3) are obtained.
12. Record all results and observations in an appropriate manner. Include relevant random
uncertainties.

Analysis/conclusion:
This is the equation that describes the reaction taking place.
MnO4-(aq) + 5Fe2+(aq) + 8H+(aq)  Mn2+(aq) + 5Fe3+(aq) + 4H2O(l)
1. What is the oxidation state of the Mn at the start/end of the experiment?
2. Is the manganese oxidised or reduced during this reaction?
3. Give a half equation describing this reaction.
4. What is the oxidation state of the iron at the start/end of the reaction? Use this to write out the
half equation for its reaction and decide if the iron is oxidised or reduced.
Calculation:
5. Calculate the molar mass of ammonium iron sulfate.
6. Calculate the number of moles of ammonium iron sulfate dissolved in 250cm 3 of solution and
then deduce the number of moles in each 25cm 3 portion used.
7. Use the equation above to determine the number of moles of MnO 4- used during the titration.
8. Use the average titre value from your concordant results to determine the concentration of the
potassium manganate solution.
Extension:
9. Calculate the % random uncertainties.
10. The literature value for the concentration of [MnO4-] = 0.02 mol dm-3 comment on this value
compared to the one that you have calculated.
11. Give some examples of systematic errors that could explain any difference in values.
12. Explain why it is important to add acid to the reaction mixture?