CHM 131

REDOX TITRATION LABORATORY

REPORT

Experiment:
Determination of the molarity and concentration of
sodium thiosulphate solution by titration with potassium
permanganate

Student’s 1. NOOR ALIA BINTI MOHD ZAKI 2022870152

(name&ID) 2. NUR MAISARAH BINTI ZAINUDDIN 2022880424
3. NUR DINI DAMIA BINTI MOHD AMRAN 2022469958
4. NUR ATHIRAH BINTI YUSDI 2022605768
5. NUR AIFA BINTI MOHAMAD RIFA’AI 2022661758
6. NURUL AMIRA SYAHIDA BINTI AZNAN 2022476482
Class A4AS120131
Group Group 31
Lecturer’s NORTHAQIFAH HASNA BINTI MOHAMED KHIR
name
Date of 23/1/2023
submission
INTRODUCTION
Redox reaction involves the transfer of electrons, whereas an acid-base reaction involves
the transfer of protons. Just as an acid can be titrated against a base, we can titrate an oxidising
agent against a reducing agent using a similar procedure. We can carefully add a solution
containing an oxidising agent to a solution containing a reducing agent
The end point is reached when the reducing agent is completely oxidised by the oxidising
agent. Two common oxidising agents are potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and potassium
permanganate (KMnO4). The colours of the dichromate and permanganate anions are different
from those of the reduced species.

Cr2o72 → Cr3+
Yellow-orange Green

MnO4- Mn2+
→
Light Purple Pink

Sodium thiosulphate is a reducing agent. It is considered an absolute standard, which means

that if weigh an amount, that will know exactly how many moles of product produce, without
losing an amount between weighing and making the solution, and there is no indefinite amount
of impurities (like absorbed water) to affect the measurement.
Thus, these oxidising agent can themselves be used as an internal indicator an a redox
titration because they have distinctly different colour in the oxidised and reduced forms. Redox
titration requires the same method of calculation (based on the mole method) as acid-based
neutralisation.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the molarity and concentration of solution by titration with potassium
permanganate.

APPARATUS
 Volumetric flask (250 Ml)
 Pipette (20mL)
 Graduated cylinder (10mL)
 Conical flasks (250 mL)
 Beaker (50mL)
 Burette

CHEMICALS
 Sodium thiosulphate (Na2S2O3)
 0.025 M standard KMnO4 solution
 2.0 M sulphuric acid
PROCEDURE
1. The burette is washed with tap water followed by distilled water and rinsed with about 5 -
10 mL of KMnO4 solution, the second rinsing is conducted through the burette tip. The
burette is clamped to the retort stand.
2. The burette is filled with KMnO4, the tip is completely filled and contains no air bubbles.
The initial burette reading to two decimal places were recorded. A good estimation of the
burette volume was required since the colour of KMnO4 is quite intense.
3. On an analytical balance, 4 g of Sodium thiosulphate using weighing paper has weighed
accurately. The mass of Na2S2O3 was recorded.
4. Transfer the weighed sample to a 250 mL volumetric flask with the aid of a filter funnel.
The funnel is rinsed with distilled water into the volumetric flask. 10 mL sulfuric acid
was added into the volumetric flask using a graduated cylinder. The distilled water was
added until the calibration mark. The flask is capped and shaked to obtain a
homogeneous solution.
5. 50 mL Na2S2O3 solution has been poured into a small beaker. A pipette is washed with
distilled water and rinsed with Na2S2O3 solution. 20 mL solution Na2S2O3 is pipetted
into a conical flask (there are no air bubbles ensured at the tip of the pipette)
6. 10 mL sulphuric acid was added into the conical flask using a graduated cylinder.
7. This solution has been titrated with the standard KMnO4 solution from the burette until
the end point is reached. The end point is indicated by the permanent colour change from
dark purple to light pink. The final burette reading has been recorded.
8. The titration process is repeated until two consecutive titrations (one titration after
another) agree to + 0.10 mL.
RESULTS
Table 5.1:Determination of the Molarity and Concentration of Sodium Thiosulphate Sodium
Number of ROUGH Titration 1 Titration 2 Titration 3 Titration 4
titration Titration

Final burette 23.00 20.90 20.80

reading (ml)

Initial burette 0.00 0.00 0.00

reading (ml)

Volume of 23.00 20.90 28.00

KMNO_4 used
(ml)

Mass of sample Na_2S_2O_3 used = 4.0096 g

Volume of Na_2S_2O_3 used (pipette volume) = 20 mL
Concentration of standard KMnO_4 = 0.025 M
Average volume of KMnO_4
(from the two consecutive titration which agree to +-0.10mL) = 20.85 mL

Calculate the molarity (M) and concentration (g/L) of sodium thiosulphate.Use relevant chemical
equation to support your answer.

i) Molarity of Sodium Thiosulphate:

M1=? M2=0.025 V1=0 V2=28.00
M1(20)/0.025(28.0) = ½
M1 = 0.0175 mol
ii) Concentration of Sodium Thiosulphate :
Molar mass Na2S2O3 = 46 + 64 + 48
= 158 g/mol
Concentration = 0.0175 × 158 = 2.765 g/L

QUESTIONS
Why did the solution turn to pink at the end of the titration?
The solution turns to pink colour at the end of the titration between sodium thiosulphate and
sulfuric acid because of the redox reaction taking place between sodium thiosulphate and sulfuric
acid. Redox titration using sodium thiosulphate (Na2S2O3) as a reducing agent and KMnO4 acts
as an indicator results a redox reaction.

DISCUSSION
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the molarity and concentration of Sodium
Thiosulphate (Na₂S₂O₃) by titrating with Potassium Permanganate (KMnO₄). Potassium
Permanganate (KMnO₄) is a self indicator in acidic solution and it served its purpose as an
oxidizing agent. Meanwhile, Sodium Thiosulphate (Na₂S₂O₃) is a reducing agent which can be
standardized against an oxidizing agent which in this case was Potassium Permanganate
(KMnO₄).The average volume of KMnO₄ is 20.85mL from the two consecutive titration which
agree to +- 0.10mL. The average values can be obtained by taking the sum of titration 1 which is
20.90 and titration 2 which is 28.00 and divide by 2 .From calculations, the molarity of Sodium
Thiosulphate (Na₂S₂O₃) which is 0.0175M. If there was an incorrect data , it would likely be
due to an over titration of Potassium Permanganate (KMnO₄) resulting in higher number of
molarity and vise versa if it were in a lesser molarity. At the end of titration, the solution
becomes a light brown colour . This is due to the fact that KMnO₄ which is a dark purple colour,
is reduced to manganese dioxide , which is a brown precipitate. The error that could be found in
this experiment would be parallax error which is a failure to read the volume of a liquid properly.
For instance, when taking the final and initial reading of the burette. Therefore, to avoid parallax
error, the burrete must be placed parallel to the eyes when taking the reading of the burette. Not
only that, the error in this experiment could be caused by the conical flask that had been used
before and not cleaned thoroughly. As a consequence, the end result of the solution will be
affected. To overcome this issue, the conical flask has to be check for cleanliness before starting
an experiment. Despite the fact that this experiment has some minor errors, this experiment has
served its purpose to help better understand the concepts of redox reaction and to improve
laboratory skills such as developing safety skills, pipetting, and measuring.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, this experiment prove that it is possible to titrate an oxidising agent, which is
potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) against a reducing agent which is sodium thiosulphate
(Na₂S₂O₃) by getting the result of light brown colour. At the end of this experiment, students
are able to calculate the molarity and concentration of sodium thiosulphate.

REFERENCES
- Richardson, J. N., Stauffer, M. T., & Henry, J. L. (2003). Microscale quantitative analysis
of hard water samples using an indirect potassium permanganate redox titration. Journal
of chemical education, 80(1), 65.
- Allen, J. F., & Holmes, N. G. (1986). Electron transport and redox
titration. Photosynthesis: energy transduction: a practical approach, 103-141.
- Shaabani, A., Tavasoli‐Rad, F., & Lee, D. G. (2005). Potassium permanganate oxidation
of organic compounds. Synthetic communications, 35(4), 571-580.