Chemical Analysis by Redox Titration Lab

Jessie Potter

Mrs. Haberman

AP Chemistry

November 8, 2017
Purpose:

The purpose of this lab was to determine the amount or concentration of an

unknown substance by conducting redox titrations using a standardized

permanganate solution to find the percent hydrogen peroxide in a commercially

sold solution.

Procedure:

First, obtain 10.0 grams of the commercial hydrogen peroxide solution by

weighing it out using an analytical scale. Next transfer the solution to a 250 mL

Erlenmeyer flask, rinse the peroxide container with water, and add rinsings to the

flask. Dilute the flask with water to about 75 mL and then add 20 mL of 3 M

H2SO4. Obtain a 50 mL buret and, after rinsing it with water, rinse it again with 5

mL of the standard MNO4 solution. Fill the buret with the standard solution by

momentarily opening the stopcock and record the initial reading. Next, place a

sheet of white paper under the sample flask and begin slowly titrating the H2O2

solution while continuously stirring it by gently swirling the flask. Continue

titrating until the color of the MNO4 becomes present. At this point, slow down to

adding drops only. Continue until one drop of the MNO4 produces a very faint

pink color that lasts for at least 30 seconds. This pink color shows the first excess
amount of MNO4 that is not being reacted by the H2O2. Record the final buret

reading and complete this process one to two more times.

Experimental Data:

Mass of H2O2 (mg) Concentration of Initial Buret Final Buret Volume of

Standard Solution (M) Reading (mL) Reading (mL) MNO4 (mL)
Trial 1 26.4 .1 9.4 12.5 3.1

Trial 2 19.6 .1 12.6 14.9 2.3

Trial 3 19.6 .1 14.9 17.2 2.3

Trial 1 Observations: After adding in the first amount of permanganate, the peroxide
was very pink as too much permanganate was added.

Trial 2 Observations: After adding in the second amount of permanganate, the peroxide
was less pink but still had some color as too much permanganate was added again.

Trial 3 Observations: After adding in the third amount of permanganate, the peroxide
was the perfect color, a very faded pink, as the right amount of permanganate had
finally been added.

Calculations:

1. Calculate the milligrams of H2O2 in the sample for each trial.

Molarity= moles/liters  .1 M= moles/.0031 L = 3.1 X 10-4 moles MNO4-

3.1⋅10−4 𝑀𝑛𝑂4 5 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝐻 𝑂

2 2 34.016 𝑔 𝐻2 𝑂2 1000 𝑚𝑔 𝐻2 𝑂2
𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 1 → ⋅ 2 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑀𝑛𝑂 ⋅ ⋅ = 26.4 𝑚𝑔 𝐻2 𝑂2
1 4 1 mole 𝐻2 𝑂2 1 𝑔 𝐻2 𝑂2

Molarity= moles/liters  .1 M= moles/.0023 L = 2.3 X 10-4 moles MNO4-

2.3⋅10−4 𝑀𝑛𝑂4 5 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝐻 𝑂

2 2 34.016 𝑔 𝐻2 𝑂2 1000 𝑚𝑔 𝐻2 𝑂2
𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑠 2 & 3 → ⋅ 2 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑀𝑛𝑂 ⋅ ⋅ = 19.6 𝑚𝑔 𝐻2 𝑂2
1 4 1 mole 𝐻2 𝑂2 1 𝑔 𝐻2 𝑂2
 2. Calculate the %H2O2 by mass in the commercial sample for each trial.

Trial 1 26.4 mg/ (9.77 g)(1000) = (.0027)(100) = .27% H2O2

Trials 2 & 3 19.6 mg/ (10.17 g) (1000) = (.0019)(100) = .19% H2O2

3. Calculate the average %H2O2 in the commercial hydrogen peroxide solution.

.0019 + .0027 = .0046/2 = (.0023)(100) = .23% H2O2

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the overall purpose of the lab was to determine the percent

hydrogen peroxide in a commercially sold solution by conducting redox titrations

using a standardized permanganate solution. This purpose was achieved as the

percent peroxide was able to be determined. After completing the lab and

calculations, the percent peroxide in the unknown solution was determined to be

.23% H2O2.

Discussion of Theory:

The theory that was focused on in this lab was titration. Titration is a common

method for determining the amount or concentration of an unknown substance.

It works as it allows for a qualitative relationship between two reacting

substances. In this lab, the two substances used were permanganate, MnO4, and

peroxide, H2O2. The permanganate was self-indicating, which allowed for the
exact time in which the reaction stopped to be determined as the permanganate

went in clear but turned a faint, permanent pink once all of the permanganate, or

the reactant, was used up. The amount of permanganate that was needed to

react with the peroxide can then be taken and used to determine the amount of

peroxide in the solution by using the calculations shown above.

Error Analysis:

The lab procedure was fairly simple and not much error occurred. However, one

source of error could have occurred during Trial 1 as the buret was kept open

and the permanganate freely dripped into the peroxide instead of a slower, more

controlled drip that would have allowed for more accurate results. This free drip

affected the results as it added too much permanganate to the peroxide solution

and caused it to turn very pink instead of the light, faded pink that was wanted.

However, in Trials 2 and 3 the error was corrected as a more controlled drip was

used that allowed for the right amount of permanganate to be dripped into the

peroxide solution to achieve the light pink color.

Questions:

1. What type of environment does this redox reaction take place in?

The reaction takes place in an acidic environment.

2. Write the balanced net ionic equation for the reaction.

Unbalanced Equation: H2O2 + MnO4  Mn+2 + O2

Oxidation Reaction:

5(H2O2  O2 + 2H+ + 2e-) = 5H2O2  5O2 + 10H+ + 10e-

Reduction Reaction:

2(5e- + 8H+ + MnO4  Mn+2 + 4H2O) = 10e- + 16H+ + 2MnO4  2Mn+2 +

8H2O

Reaction After Adding Reduction and Oxidation Reactions Together:

5H2O2 + 10e- + 16H+ + 2MnO4  5O2 + 10H+ + 10e- + 2Mn+2 + 8H2O

Final Balanced Reaction After Cancelling:

5H2O2 + 6H+ + 2MnO4  5O2 + 2Mn+2 + 8H2O