ANALYSIS OF IRON IN RAZOR BLADE USING REDOX TITRATION AND BLANK TITRATION

DARAMAN, NOLI CARLO P., DAYSA, RAECHELLE S., DELOS SANTOS, JONALYN D., FACUN, ANGELI ELEANOR B. Department of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Baguio July 18, 2012 ABSTRACT Redox titration is another type of titration that is used in volumetric analysis. This method of titration is used in this experiment, the analysis of iron in razor blade. The main objective of this experiment is for the students to learn this type of titration and learn a new method of getting more accurate results, which is the blank titration. Standardization of KMnO4 and titration between a prepared solution and KMnO4 are the main procedures of the experiment. The result of the experiment is the average of the computed percent composition of iron which is 51.87% is much lower than the ideal percent composition which is 95%. But still, this experiment is still successful because the objectives of this experiment were achieved and new techniques were learned.

INTRODUCTION Aside from direct and indirect titration, another type of titration which is called oxidation-reduction titration can be used in volumetric analysis. Volumetric analysis through oxidation and reduction is based on reactions which involve the transfer of electrons from a molecule, atom or ion to another chemical species. [1] For this experiment, redox reaction will be used along with titration in the analysis of iron in razor blade. Redox titration involves the redox reaction of the analyte and the titrant, which are the razor blade and the KMnO4. Potassium Permanganate (KMnO4) is used as an oxidizing agent in volumetric analysis. The MnO4- ion is reduced to Mn2+ upon reaction with an acid. Since the MnO4- ion has a deep purple color, it serves as a self indicator itself. Therefore, a

drop excess of it, will give a distinct color to a large volume of solution. [2] The razor blade used in this experiment was mainly composed of iron and carbon. There are also some trace elements such as nickel and chromium that are added which modifies the properties of steel. The razor blade was dissolved and the iron content was subjected to analyzation. The iron content of the blade is analyzed through redox titrations. Blank titration technique and calculations are helpful to get accurate results. The use of KMnO4 also illustrates the use of a self - indicating agent. RESULTS Table 1.0 Standardization of KMnO4 Solution Trial 1 2 3 Weight of 0.1804 0.2203 0.2109 Na2C2O4 used g g g

Mean of the weight of Na2C2O4used: 0.2039 Final burette 26.5 ml 29.0 ml 26 .6ml reading Initial burette 0.0 ml 0.0 ml 0.0ml reading KMNO4 volume 26.5 ml 29.0 ml 26.6 ml KMNO4 volume 0.1 ml in blank titration KMnO4 molarity 0.0204 M 0.0227 M 0.0237M KMnO4 normality 0.10 N 0.12 N 0.12 N

Table 2.0 Analysis of Razor Blade Brand Name: Dorco Weight of razor blade: 0.5502 g Trial Final burette reading Initial burette reading KMnO4 volume 1 9.5 ml 0.0 ml 9.5 ml 2 9.0 ml 0.0 ml 9.0 ml 3 9.0 ml 0.0 ml 9.0 ml

% Fe in Razor Blade Sample Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 53.76% 50.93% 50.93% Average %Fe composition: 51.87% DISCUSSION The purpose of the laboratory exercise was to perform a reduction titration between a standardized solution of potassium permanganate and iron (II) in order to determine the concentration of the latter. The permanganate ion in the titrant was reduced to Mn2+ and the Fe2+ in the analyte was oxidized to Fe3+. Everything was done in a solution acidified by sulfuric acid so that the MnO4- would get reduced to Mn2+ and the extra oxygen atoms could form water. From the titration data and the balanced oxidation/reduction equation the

normality and molarity of the FeSO4 solution were gotten. For the first part of the experiment which is the standardization of KMNO4, Na2C2O4 was used. In the step of standardizing the KMNO4, heating a prepared solution which is Na2C2O4 dissolved in a prepared acid solution was done before the titration. During the titration, the prepared solution with 0.1804 g Na2C2O4 consumed 26.5 ml of KMnO4, the solution with 0.2203 g Na2C2O4 consumed 29.0 ml of KMnO4 and the solution with 0.2109 g Na2C2O4 consumed 26.6 ml of Na2C2O4. It can be observed that as the weight of Na2C2O4 that was dissolved in the prepared acid solution increases, the amount of KMnO4 also increases. Moreover, a temperature between 80-90 C was maintained during the titration of the heated solution to hasten oxidation of any organic species in distilled and de-ionized water. [3] With this, it was observed that the hotter the heated solution, the faster the rate of reaching the end point. These results show precision and using these results and by blank determination, which is used to detect and compensate for systematic errors in an analysis, [4] the molarity of the KMnO4 was computed, averaging to .0223 M. For the second part of the experiment, the analysis of razor blade, 9.5 ml of KMnO4 was used for the first trial, 9.0 ml of KMnO4 was used for the second and third trial. This result shows precision. The computed molarity of KMnO4, the volume of KMnO4 that was consumed in the titration, the dilution factor which is 5 (computed from 250ml/50ml) and the weight of the razor blade sample which were known by weighing and computing were used in computing for the percent composition of iron in the razor blade. With this, 53.76% Fe in trial 1, 50.93% Fe in trial 2 and 50.93% Fe in trial 3 were computed which would give an

average of 51.87% Fe composition in the razor blade. The result is less than that of the ideal percent composition in a usual razor blade which indicates that the razor blade is not purely composed of iron. There may also still be errors that were committed during the experimentation such as personal errors and instrumental errors that led to a low percent composition of iron. CONCLUSION

/%D0%A1%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0% D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B3%D1 %96%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D 1%84%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%83%D0%BB%D1% 8C%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%82/English/2.%20Titri metric%20analys..htm accessed on 16 July 2012 [3] Skoog, Douglas A., West, Donald M., Holler, F. James, Crouch, Stanley R.. 2010. Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry. Philippines. MG Reprographics, p.G-3 APPENDIX

Based on the results of the experiment, the volume of KMnO4 that is used in the titration is dependent on the weight of Na2C2O4 that was dissolved and temperature of Na2C2O4 that was heated. As for the analysis of the razor blade sample, the iron content was lower than the ideal content of a razor blade. This may be because of personal errors and instrumental errors. Another possible reason is that the razor blade that was used in the experiment is an imitation of the real brand. After the experiment, the students learned some techniques about blank titration. They also figured out how to do calculations in blank titration. Overall, the objectives of the experiment were achieved, thus still making this experiment a success. LITERATURE CITED
[1]

A. Molarity and Normality of of KMNO4

Trial 1:

Trial 2:

Trial 3:

http://www.federica.unina.it/agraria/analytic al-chemistry/oxidation-reduction-titration/ accessed on 13 July 2012 [2] Harris, Daniel C. 2009. Exploring Chemical Analysis. 4th ed. New York: W. H. Freeman and Company, p.357 [3] http://intranet.tdmu.edu.te.ua/data/kafedra/i nternal/pharma_2/classes_stud/%D0%BC%D0% B5%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B0 %20%D1%85%D1%96%D0%BC%D1%96%D1%8F

Average of molarity:

B. %FE in razor blade

Trial 1:

also act as the reducing agent thus having an inaccurate concentration after solving. Carbon is a non-metal that can also interfere with the determination of iron. 3. What chemical species is the reducing agent in the standardization step? The oxidizing agent?
2MnO4 + 6H + 5H2C2O4
+

%Fe = 53.76%

Trial 2:

2Mn + 8H2O + 10CO2

2+

%Fe = 50.93%

Trial 3:

%Fe = 50.93%

ANSWER TO QUESTIONS 1. Other oxidizing agents are also employed for the determination of iron in an unknown sample. What is one obvious advantage of KMnO4 over K2Cr2O7 and Ce(SO4)2 as oxidants in the titrimetric determination of iron? The advantage of KMnO4 was that it acts as a self indicator. The analyte solution does not need to be added with an indicator because the purple color of the solution of KMnO4 helped in analyzing the endpoint of the titration. 2. What other metals present in razor blade might interfere in the determination of iron? Explain. There are other trace elements that can be found in a razor blade such as aluminum and copper. These metals can interfere in the determination of iron because it can

The equation above is an ionic equation that shows the reaction by standardizing the KMnO4 solution. The oxidizing agent and reducing agent in the standardization step cease to exist. Analyzing the equation above, the MnO4was reduced to Mn2+ making it possible to be the oxidizing agent but in every redox reactions there must be the presence of the reducing as well as the oxidizing agent. The Na2C2O4 was de-ionized with sulfuric acid solution in order to inhibit the further reduction of the potassium permanganate solution. 4. While HNO3 is a stronger acid than HCl, it cannot be used to dissolve the razor blade? Why? Nitric acid (HNO3) cannot be used to dissolve the razor blade like hydrochloric acid because of being a very strong oxidizing agent. If HNO3 would be used, the dissolution of the razor blade would result to the reduction of iron. If the amount of iron present in the razor blade would be reduced in the dissolution process then, the calculated percent composition of Iron would be affected and would also be inaccurate. 5. In what way can the presence of chloride adversely affect the results of this analysis? Explain. If Cl concentration is higher than usual, a higher probability of rapid oxidation

of Cl- will happen due to the formation of high unstable ferrate ions (FeO4-2) in the presence of iron (II). If such case would happen, a higher volume of MnSO4 solution will be added to the iron (II) solution to reduce the risk of the formation of highly unstable ferrate ions (FeO4-2).