Experiment T1: The Study of Chemical Equilibrium by

Absorption Spectrophotometry in the Visible Region

(Fe3+/SCN- system).

Date: 24th November 2022

Lab Partner: Kieran Beran

Introduction: In this experiment, the methods required to ascertain the equilibrium

constant for the creation of an iron(III) thiocyanate complex ion (FeSCN2+) from
Fe3+ and SCN- are provided forth. These are the methods that will be performed in
this experiment: quantitative solution preparation of a number of solutions, followed
by measurement of solution absorbance using a UV-Vis spectrum. The
concentrations of Fe3+ and SCN- are determined by subtracting the original
concentration from the concentration that was used to create the FeSCN2+. To
determine the equilibrium constant for the complex's creation, the combined
concentrations will be employed.

Procedure: The procedure is as shown on page 99-101 of the ‘2nd year manual
2019-2020’.

Results and Observations:

Amount of each solution used to make the dilutions:

Blanks
A B C (i) (ii)
0.1M HNO3 (cm3) 25 25 25 25 25
0.0166M Fe(NO3)3 2.5 2.5 5 2.5 5
(cm3)
0.004M KSCN (cm3) 2.5 5 20 0 0
H2O (cm3) 70 67.5 50 72.5 70

The different solutions went from light to dark when a different amount of each
solution was added to them, the blanks being the lightest and C being the darkest.
Calculations:
UV-Vis of A,B,C:
Conclusion: This experiment resulted in success as the Keq values were close to the
literature value of 300. The Keq value for solution A and B came out to be 240.96,
which is particularly close to the literature value. A reason why the values, including
C (120.48) are not exactly 300 is because maybe too much water was added to the
dilutions. Another reason would be the UV-Vis my partner and I was using was
reading 1.317 for absorbance when it should have been below 1, which could of
haven an effect on the results.

Lab Notebook: