Kinetics I Lab Report

The Rate Equation between Oxalic Acid and Potassium Permanganate

Purpose: Kinetics is defined as the measurement of rates of reactions. In order to

validate the importance of concentration on the rates of reactions, we experimentally
manipulated the molarity of oxalic acid and potassium permanganate to determine the
overall rate of reaction between them. In the lab, the time the reaction takes to fully
occur was marked by a color change called colorimetric analysis. The equipment used
include volumetric glassware, test tubes, stirring rods, and a pipet.

Procedure: Followed the experimental procedure as per the laboratory manual.

Variations made to the procedure include not utilizing the Eriochrome Black T tube and
instead stopping the timer when the solution transitioned to the color yellow.

Data:

Table 1: Data for Experiment #1 Conditions T=23.30C

Trial [KMnO4] [H2C2O4] Time (s) Rate1=[KMnO4]/
time
1 .0108 .315 149.4 7.23x10-5
2 .0108 .315 157.7 6.85x10-5
3 .0108 .315 151.6 7.12x10-5

Average Rate: 7.11x10-5 M/s Standard Deviation: 1.95x10-6 M/s 95%

Confidence : 4.84x10-6

Table 2: Data for Experiment #2 Conditions T=23.89C

Trial [KMnO4] [H2C2O4] Time (s) Rate1=[KmnO4]/
time
1 .0108 .629 84.6 1.28x10-4
2 .0108 .629 91.1 1.19x10-4
3 .0108 .629 98.4 1.10x10-4

Average Rate: 1.19x10-4 M/s Standard Deviation: 9.00x10-6 M/s 95%

Confidence : 2.24x10-5

Table 3: Data for Experiment #3 Conditions T=23.89C

Trial [KmnO4] [H2C2O4] Time (s) Rate1=[KmnO4]/
time
1 .0217 .315 157.7 1.38x10-4
2 .0217 .315 168.0 1.29x10-4
3 .0217 .315 148.3 1.46x10-4

Average Rate: 1.38x10-4 M/s Standard Deviation: 8.50x10-6 M/s 95%

Confidence : 2.11x10-5

Reaction Order Data:

Reaction Order X (rounded to nearest tenth): 1.0

Reaction Order Y (rounded to nearest tenth): 0.7
Overall Order of Reaction X+Y: k[KMnO4]1.0[H2C2O4]0.7 (1.0+0.7=1.7)
Rate Constant, k: .015 L/m*s

Results and Conclusions: The goal of this lab was to determine the rate constant
through various sets of reactions between potassium permanganate and oxalic acid. It
was discovered throughout the conduction of this experiment that reactions that
contain different concentrations of the same solution will react very differently, and the
time for the reaction to occur could happen in a very wide array of times. The use of
potassium permanganate and oxalic acid were helpful when determining the rate
constant because the experimenters could observe the color change of the solution,
which can get a close/accurate result on the time that was taken for the reaction to
occur. The experimenters performed multiple trials (3) of the same experiment, so
therefor the average rate of the reaction could be used, which is more accurate than
just using the value from one trial. The technique performed was very successful. This
can be supported by the similarity in reaction times for each trial in an experiment. The
closeness in these values as well as the rate shows that the performance of the
experiment was done so successfully and consistently. Also, the standard deviation
values show good accuracy. In regards to the rate constant, the value seems to be
accurate because it is within the same range as some of the other experimenters values
who performed the same experiment. The data that was gathered during and after the
conduction of this experiment was valid. Each trial of each experiment was close in
range to the other, which shows precision. It was shown in this experiment that the
solution with the most oxalic acid, had the largest reaction rate. It was expected before
the conduction of this experiment that all of the rates would be in a very close range to
each other, mainly because the total volumes for all the experiments remained constant,
as well as the chemical reagents used. After the experiment however, it was found that
different molarities and volumes added into a solution can highly vary and alter the
time in which the experiment will react. A major part of this lab was finding the
reaction order X and Y, as well as the rate constant for this specific reaction. To find
reaction order X and Y, a formula was used using the average rates from experiment
one and three, as well as the molarity concentration of potassium permanganate. These
values were then referred to as x and y, and were then used to determine the rate
constant. To find this value, the molarity concentration of potassium permanganate as
well as oxalic acid were raised to the power of x and y, which were just found in the
previous step, and was set equal to the average rate of experiment of experiment one.
The overall order of reaction was found by just adding the values of x and y. The
possible errors that could have occurred while performing this experiment include
adding too much or too little of a certain solution to a test tube. This could drastically
alter the values of the rate constant and would therefor throw off all of the data found
throughout the entire experiment. Another error could have been not stirring the
mixture long enough, so the reaction never fully occurred. The time values would then
be off, which would therefore alter values such as the average rate and the rate
constant. Also, the stirring could have changed the results, because during one trial,
the solution may have been stirred more aggressively or faster than during another
trial, which would ultimately speed up the reaction. If this experiment were to
conducted again, and if it were to improve, more trials per experiment would be helpful
and would result in more accurate data. Also, it would be wise to perform the
experiments with more varying concentrations of molarity of the same solutions, as well
as different volumes of each. This would expand the data collected, and could possibly
result in a more accurate rate constant. After the conclusion of this experiment, it was
discovered that the reaction times and the reaction rate could fluctuate greatly,
depending on the concentration of specific solutions. It was also learned the
colorimetric analysis is a very simple and effective way to determine the rate law of the
reaction between potassium permanganate and oxalic acid. Although there is room for
error when basing an experiment and reaction off color change, multiple trials help to
buffer the room for error that may exist. However, it is quite simple to obtain the rate
constant and other values such as the reaction orders with use of an experiment and
formulas. In conclusion, for this particular experiment, the higher the concentration of
oxalic acid, the higher the average rate reaction time. High average rates could be
caused by many different solutions that are part of other mixtures. This lab was an
effective way to connect the idea of reaction to a constant that is used in science
consistently; the rate constant.

Sample Calculations/Questions: See attached sheet.