Chemistry Lab Report

Topic: The chameleon chemical reaction.

Name: María Susana Gallardo Granda.

Grade: 2do “A” BGC

Date: 25-11-2023

Teacher: Génesis Mantilla.

Introduction:

The chameleon chemical reaction is a very colorful reaction. It is named like that

due to the solution has color changes like a chameleon. In chemistry, this is an example

of a redox reaction, in which electrons are transferred from one compound to another. In

addition, when this happens in a chemical chameleon reaction, we visualize it as a color

change (CHEMICAL REACTIONS: CHEMICAL CHAMELEON, 2021).

The chemical chameleon reaction shows the reverse process, where purple

potassium permanganate is first reduced to green potassium manganate and lastly to

brown manganese dioxide. Although, sugar is common, several reducing agents can

also be used. (Chemical Chameleon, s.f).

General Objective:

 Make the chameleon chemical reaction to see the changes in the solution.

Specific objectives:

 Identify how many colors it is possible to observe.

 Understand the reason for the change of colors in this reaction.

Materials and Equipment:

 Beaker (1).

 Test tube (1).

 Spoon (1).

 Mortar (1)

 Pestle (1).

 Mixer (1).

Reagents:

 Potassium Permanganate: KMnO₄

 Water: H₂O

 Sodium Hydroxide: NaOH

Experimental procedure:

1. Step 1: Wash and dry the materials.

2. Step 2: Buy a candy.

3. Step 3: Put sodium hydroxide in the beaker.

4. Step 4: Add a little potassium permanganate for color.

5. Step 5: Blend the solution with the mixer.

 6. Step 6: Put in the candy, and keep shaking it without stopping

7. Step 7: Take notes of the changes, we will see different colors.

There is another form of doing this:

Step 1: Wash and dry the materials.

Step 2: Buy a candy.

Step 3: Put sodium hydroxide in the test tube.

Step 4: Add a little potassium permanganate for color.

Step 5: Blend the solution with the hand, circularly.

Step 6: Put the candy in the mortar to start to crush up in small pieces with the

pestle.

Step 7: Then put the small pieces in the test tube to start to mix it.

Step 8: Finally take notes of the changes, because we will see many colors as a

chameleon.

Results:

Potassium Permanganate + Sodium Hydroxide.

Color. Time. Description.

Initial color. 0,00 Seconds Initial color of the solution.

Dark purple.

Dark blue. 0.48 Seconds From initial color change to dark

blue in 0.48 seconds.

Light blue. 0.49,20 Seconds From dark blue to light blue

change in a time of 1.20 seconds to

0.49.20 seconds.

Green. 0.49,42 Seconds From Light blue to green change in

 a time of 0.022 milliseconds to

0.49.42 seconds.

Mustard yellow. 0.50,57 Seconds From green to mustard yellow

change in a time of 1.15 seconds to

0.50.57 seconds.

Yellow 0.51,16 Seconds From mustard yellow to yellow

change in a time of 0.59 seconds to

0.51.16 seconds.

Orange 1, 04 Minute From yellow to orange change in a

time of 0.53 seconds to 1.04

seconds.

Final color. 1, 40 Minute From orange to red orange change

Red orange. in a time of 0.36 seconds to 1.40

seconds.

Analysis:

When the candy was placed in the solution, it was possible to observe the color change

after a short time, and when it changed to the next color, it didn´t take a lot.

The equation of the chemical chameleon reaction will be shown:

 2KMnO4 + 6NaOH → 2Na3MnO4 + O2 + 2KOH + 2H2O

Sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or any other hydroxide is added to

alkalinize the solution. Many products can be used as reducing agents, but the
most common is sugar (Begoña, 2020).

How does sugar work with potassium permanganate?

Potassium permanganate is a strong oxidizing agent, while sugar is a reducing agent, so

different redox reactions occur during the reaction and different colors are observed

depending on the permanganate ions present during the reaction (Reacción Química Del

Permanganato De Potasio Con Sacarosa En Medio Básico, 2016).

Discussion:

We can observe the chemical chameleon reaction and the colors that compound this

experiment. Also, we detected that potassium permanganate appears to be a strong

oxidizing agent, so it can form explosive mixtures with combustible material, powdered

metals and ammonium compounds. These mixtures are friction sensitive. When are

involved in fire, it may cause explosion (Permanganato de potasio, s.f).

The same experiment (chameleon chemical reaction) of two of my classmates.

 Two of my classmates made the chameleon reaction, with the same materials,

reagents, and procedure. Right now, is going to be presented the results that they

obtained:

Initial color Time Final color

Fuchsia 0 – 10 s Dark purple

Dark purple 10 – 25 s Strong turquoise

Strong turquoise 25- 34 s Green

Green 34 – 38 s Light yellow

Light yellow 38 – 40 s Mustard

Mustard 40 – 43 s Light orange

Light orange 43 – 49 s Orange

 Orange 49 – 1. 20 m Red orange

Red orange 1.20 – 1.30 m Light red

 In summary, my classmate' experiment was the same, but they saw 9 colors in

this reaction, while I observed 8. I think this is because maybe they put more or

less reagents, so it changes the result a little bit. But, as far as I'm concerned, we

saw almost the same colors, and that's a good sign. Also, the solution was done

in a matter of minutes, and it was easy and efficient. There weren't too many

reagents and materials, so it wasn't difficult.

Graphics:

Drawing of the most relevant steps of the laboratory practice.

Conclusions:

 It was identified the number of colors that could be observed in this reaction, it

was about 8-9 different colors.

 It was understood the reason for the change of colors, we learn that sugar is a

reducing agent, and when it is combined with potassium permanganate it starts

to change of color.

Bibliography:

Anonym. (2021). CHEMICAL REACTIONS: CHEMICAL CHAMELEON. Retrieved

from:

https://chemisttree.com/blogs/lab-notes/chemical-reactions-chemical-chameleon

Anonym. (s.f). Chemical chameleon. Retrieved from:

https://academic-accelerator.com/encyclopedia/chemical-chameleon

Begoña. (2020). Experimento Reacción del Camaleón. Retrieved from:

https://www.experimentoscientificos.es/reaccion-del-camaleon/

Anonym. (2016). Reacción Química Del Permanganato De Potasio Con Sacarosa En

Medio Básico. Retrieved from:

https://www.instructables.com/Reacci%C3%B3n-Qu%C3%ADmica-Del-

Permanganato-De-Potasio-Con-S/

Anonym. (s.f). Permanganato de potasio. Retrieved from:

https://alsum.co/handbook/permanganatodepotasio/#:~:text=El%20permanganato

%20de%20potasio%20es,es%20un%20agente%20oxidante%20fuerte