Determining Equilibrium Constant and Concentration

Purpose: The purpose of this lab is to use a calibration curve to find unknown
concentrations and then calculate the equilibrium constant.
Procedure: Six solutions were created using varying rations of Fe(NO3)3, KSCN, and HNO3.
A blank solution of Fe(No3)3 was placed in a cuvette to be used as a blank
solution for the spectrophotometer. The solution was placed in the sample holder
and then the absorbance was read. These steps were repeated with each of the six
test solutions. With the data that was provided from another class a calibration
curve was created. This data was used to determine the unknown concentrations
of the 6 test solutions. Once that data was gathered the true concentrations was
calculated. After the concentrations have been calculated the equilibrium constant
can be calculated for each solution.

Data: Data provided from other chemistry class

Test Tube Fe3+ Molarity SCN- Molarity absorbance
1 .191M

M .1884
2 .195M

M .1238
3 .160M

M .4815
4 .140M

M .4976

Data obtained in class

Test tube 0.002M Fe(NO3)3 0.002M KSCN 0.1M HNO3
1 5.0ml 0.0ml 5.0ml
2 5.0ml 1.0ml 4.0ml
3 5.0ml 2.0ml 3.0ml
4 5.0ml 3.0ml 2.0ml
5 5.0ml 4.0ml 2.0ml
6 5.0ml 5.0ml 0.0ml






Test Tube Fe(NO3)3
Molarity
KSCN Molarity Absorbance
1 .001M N/A -0.013
2 .001M

M .195
3 .001M

M .275
4 .001M

M .343
5 .001M

M .392
6 .001M .001M .270

Test Tube Keq
2

Calculations: See attached calculations
Conclusion: Based on the calculated large equilibrium constants shows that the reaction is
product favored.



Source of Error: One of the sources of error I believe came from the data that was
provided by the other class. This data could have caused the calibration curve data
to be incorrect.