NAME: OSEI DAVID NANA YAW

INDEX NO: 6142311

EXPERIMENT: A.3.1.1
DEMONSTRATOR: STEPHEN
BOANDOH
DATE:5TH NOVEMBER, 2013.

TITLE:DETERMINATION OF THE EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANT FOR THE

FORMATION OF TRI-IODIDE ION.
AIMS OF EXPERIMENT
The aims and objectives of the experiment are:
1. To determine the equilibrium constant for the formation of tri-iodide ion.
2. To determine the partition coefficient of iodine between water and pet ether.
INTRODUCTION
Iodine is an essential trace element and is the heaviest element known to be
needed by living organisms. Tis a chemical element, that has the symbol I and
atomic number 53. There are 37 isotopes of iodine, but only one, 127I, is stable.
Naturally-occurring iodine is a single isotope with 74 neutrons. Chemically, iodine is
the least reactive of the halogens and the most electropositive halogen after
astatine. However, the element does not occur in the Free State in nature. As with
all other halogens (members of Group VII in the Periodic Table), when freed from its
compounds iodine forms diatomic molecules (I2), called iodides. Iodides are very
soluble in water. Iodine, under standard conditions is a dark-purple/dark-brown solid.
It can be seen apparently sublimating at standard temperatures into a violet-pink
gas that has an irritating odour. This halogen forms compounds with many
elements, but is less reactive than the other members of its Group.
In practice, it is very rare for a solidifying system to be composed of a single,
highly pure element or compound. The liquid normally contains other elements or
compounds in solution, i.e. solutes, present either as deliberate additions or as
inadvertent impurities. Redistribution of such solute affects the nature of the
process and the microstructure of the product. For that reason, separation or
isolation of profitable element or compound is under taken.
A separation process is a process used to transform a mixture of substances
into two or more distinct products. Such a process can be filtration, extraction,
chromatography, etc.
Extraction is employed here in this experiment in which a specification of Liquid-

liquid extraction is the technique involved. Liquid-liquid extraction is a

technique in which a solution usually aqueous is brought into contact with a
second solvent usually organic in order to bring about a transfer of one or
more solutes onto the second solvent. The second solvent here is a suitable

organic solvent which has certain qualities for selection and effective
separation.
Partitioning and Distribution is involved here where their theoretical
values are calculated. They are partition coefficient. A partition or
distribution coefficient, KD, is the ratio of concentrations of a compound in the
two phases of a mixture of two immiscible solvents at equilibrium. Hence these
coefficients are a measure of differential solubility of the compound between
these two solvents. Partition Coefficient, KD,
Concentration of solute in solvent a =[A]a = KD
Concentration of solute in solvent b
[A]b
When the sample in question exits in multiple forms putting it in a multiple
equilibra, then partition ratio or Distribution ratio is employed and so is the
formation constant, Ka, of the sample involved. The equilibrium involving the
formation of triiodide is I2 + I- = I3In this experiment, the equilibrium constant for the formation of triiodide ion and the partition coefficient of iodine between water and heptane
would be calculated for and analyzed.
CHEMICAL

Iodine
0.1M Potassium iodide
0.05M Sodium thiosulphate
Starch indicator
Hexane
Distilled water
APPARATUS

Separating funnel
Beaker
Spatula
Wash bottle
Retort stand
Burette
Pipette
Conical flask
PROCEDURE

1. 0.25g of iodine was weighed into beaker.

2. 25cm3 of hexane was added to it.
3. 25cm3 of water was added shaken. The mixture was left to stand for some
time for the phases to separate.
4. The hexane layer was run off into a flask.

5. Equivalent volume of potassium iodide(KI) of the run off organic phase

solution was added and shaken
6. The mixture was then titrated against 0.05M Sodium thiosulphate solution
using starch indicator. Towards the end of the titration the flask was shaken
after each addition of thiosulphate solution. The end-point was reached when
the containing solution just became colourless.
7. 0.5g of iodine was accurately weighed and 25cm3 of hexane was added in a
separating funnel.
8. 25cm3 of 0.01M potassium iodide (KI) solution was added and shaken well.
The mixture was left to stand for some time to allow the phases to separate.
9. The hexane layer was run off into a flask.
10. About 25cm3 of the organic phase solution was taken and an equivalent
amount of it was taken in terms of 0.1M KI solution was added.
11. The mixture was then titrated with 0.05M sodium thiosulphate solution.
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
Organic phase Hexane
Indicator starch
Volume (Hexane) 50cm3
1. TITRATION WITH WATER
Burette Reading
1
3
FINAL/cm
11.10
3
INITIAL/cm
0.00
3
TITRE/cm
11.10
2. TITRATION WITH KI
Burette Reading
FINAL/cm3
INITIAL/cm3
TITRE/cm3

CALCULATIONS:
Reaction Equation
2S2O32- + I2 S4O62- + 2II2 + I- = I3Initial moles of Iodine =

Initial moles of Iodine

Conc of Na2 S2O3 = 0.05M

1
10.10
0.00
10.10

2
22.20
11.10
11.10

2
20.20
10.10
10.10

n (Na2 S2O3) =
n (Na2 S2O3) = 0.000505 moles
mole ratio from equation
=

Conc of I2 in organic layer =

= 0.0007375
Conc of I2 in aqueous layer =
Partition Coefficient between water and Heptane, K D =

Constant of formation, Ka, of I3Conc of Na2 S2O3 = 0.05M

Titre value = 10.10 ml
n (Na2 S2O3) =
mole ratio form equation
=

Conc of I2 in organic layer =

= 0.0007375 moles

Conc of I2 in aqueous layer =

Constant of formation, Ka of I3-=

[I3-] = [I2] + [I-]
Moles of I2 =
[I2] =
[I-] = 0.1 mol/L
Moles = 0.1 moles
I3- = 0.1 moles +

= 0.10099 moles

[I3-] =

I3-=

= 25.503

DISCUSSION

It was clearly observed that the reaction between the thiosulphate and the
iodine was a redox reaction with the I2 been reduced and the thiosulphate
being oxidized. In the dissolution of the solid iodine in the paraffin, it was
noticed that the iodine did not completely dissolve but there was some
remains in the solid state. The concentration of the iodine in the organic
phase was found to be smaller than that in the aqueous phase.
The relatively large KD means the substance in question has a high tendency
to dissolve in an organic solvent much more than in an aqueous phase.
Therefore from experimental data and calculations made, theres a high
magnitude of quantitative distribution in the hexane than in the water. That
gave a KD of 0.128. This bears to the fact that the efficiency of extraction of
the sample if need would be of a greater one. Since not all of the iodine
dissolved in the second procedure of the experiment, Ka of iodine was found
as iodine now existed in more than one form. Thus multiple equilibra existed.
The ka of I3- was then found to be 25.503.
ERROR ANALYSIS

Dissolution of iodine was not totally complete in that there were still lumpy
particles of solid iodine in the separation funnel. This affected the
concentration of iodine in the various phases thereby affecting the
experimental data.
PRECAUTIONS
1. All glass wares were thoroughly washed before and after use.
2. Goggles were worn to prevent accidental contact of fluid to the eye.
3. The volume readings were done from the meniscus.
CONCLUSION
The equilibrium constant of the formation of tri-iodide ion was found to be 25.503
and the partition coefficient of iodide, K D between water and heptane was obtained
to be

. From these result the experiment was successful.

REFERENCES

1. Modern Analytical Chemistry, Author - David Harvey, Pages 172 to 185

2. Vogel`s Quantitative Chemical Analysis , 5th Edition, 1989, pages 161163