Objective

To standardize the potassium permanganate solution and to determine the composition of metal
by titration method.

Introduction

Oxidation-reduction process involve electrons transfer from one species to another. Potassium
permanganate has been widely used as an oxidizing agent and requires no indicator unless very
dilute solutions are used. In acidic solution, potassium permanganate oxidizes iron (II), while being
reduced to manganese (II). The reactions for the process are:

MNO4- + 8H+ + 5ē → Mn2+ + 4H2O

Fe2+ → Fe3+ + ē

MnO4- + 8H+ + 5Fe2+ → Mn2+ + 4H2O + 5Fe3+

Chemical and Apparatus

0.1M potassium permanganate solution Burette

Solid sodium oxalate (Na2C2O4) Conical flask

1M Sulphuric acid Hot plate

Iron ore Volumetric flask

Procedure

A. Standardization of the Potassium Permanganate Solution

1. A dried sodium oxalate is weighed accurately between 0.2 to 0.25g and being putted
into a conical flask.
2. 40 mL of 1M Sulphuric acid solution is added.
3. The solution is heated gently until 60°C and without delay the solution is titrated with
permanganate solution until the first persistent pink colour.
4. The titration is repeated twice to obtain two acceptable result.
B. Analysis of ore
1. 1.00g of iron ore is weighed accurately into a conical flask.
2. 30 mL of distilled water and 30mL of 1M of sulphuric acid is added into the conical
flask.
3. A glass funnel is placed on the conical flask and being heated gently on a hot plate for
20 – 30 minutes until the ore is dissolves.
 4. The mixture is filtered into a 100 mL volumetric flask and being filled up to the mark
with 1.0M sulphuric acid solution.
5. 25mL of the solution is pipette into a conical flask and being heated gently up to
60°C and was titrated with permanganate solution until the first persistent pink
colour. The titration is repeated to obtain two acceptable results.

Result

A. Standardization of potassium permanganate solution

Trial 1 Trial 2
Weight of Na2C2O4 (g) 0.20048 0.20013
Final buret reading (mL) 33.00 33.10
Initial burette reading (mL) 0.00 0.00
Volume of KMnO4 (mL) 33.00 33.10

B. Analysis of ore

Trial 1 Trial 2
Weigh of iron ore (g) 1.0013 1.0023
Final burette reading (mL) 26.50 26.00
Initial burette reading (mL) 0.00 0.00
Volume of KMnO4 (mL) 26.50 26.00

Discussion

For Part 1, we want to standardize the potassium permanganate solution. So, after the experiment,
we get the volume of potassium permanganate used to fully react with sodium oxalate is 33.00
mL. So, after a few calculation, we know that the concentration of the potassium permanganate
solution is 0.02 mol/L. It is derived from this chemical equation,

2MnO4- + 5C2O42- + 16H+ → 2Mn2+ + 10CO2 + 4H2O

From this chemical equation, we can calculate the actual molarity of potassium permanganate
solution,

Molar mass for Na2C2O4 = 134

Molar mass for KMnO4 = 158

Mole for Na2C2O4:-

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 =
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
 0.2
=
134
= 1.5 × 10−3

Mole of KMnO4:-

From the equation the ratio between mole of KMnO4 and Na2C2O4 is 2:5. Hence, the mole for
KMnO4 is 5.0×10-4

Actual Molarity for KMnO4:-

𝑀𝑉
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 =
1000
𝑀(33.0)
=
1000
5.0 × 10−4
𝑀=
0.033
= 0.018

In part 2, we need to make a standard solution in a volumetric flask. We need to find the actual
percentage of iron in the iron ore solution. First we need to find the concentration of iron(II) in
iron ore solution.

Number of mole of permanganate:

𝑀𝑉
𝑛𝑜 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 =
1000
0.1(26.5)
=
1000
= 2.65 × 10−3

1 mol of permanganate is equal to 5 mol of ferum

∴ hence, the number of mole for ferum is 0.013mol

Therefore concentration of iron (II) in iron ore solution is

0.013𝑚𝑜𝑙
= 0.133
0.1𝐿
Then we find the actual percentage of iron(II) in iron ore solution.

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑢𝑚 = 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 × 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠

= 0.013 × 55.85
= 0.74𝑔
 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝐹𝑒
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑢𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑟𝑒 = × 100%
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑟𝑒
0.74
= × 100
1.00
= 74%

In this experiment, no indicator is needed because the end point is easily observed. The colour of
the permanganate ion is purple whereas the manganate ion is nearly colourless. One drop excess
of permanganate will affects the colour of persistence pink of the solution.

Question

1. Calculate the following:

a) Actual molarity of potassium permanganate solution. Titration reaction:

2MnO4- + 5C2O42- + 16H+ → 2Mn2+ + 10CO2 + 4H2O

Molar mass for Na2C2O4 = 134

Molar mass for KMnO4 = 158

Mole for Na2C2O4:-

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 =
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
0.2
=
134
= 1.5 × 10−3

Mole of KMnO4:-

From the equation the ratio between mole of KMnO4 and Na2C2O4 is 2:5. Hence, the mole for
KMnO4 is 5.0×10-4

Actual Molarity for KMnO4:-

𝑀𝑉
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 =
1000
𝑀(33.0)
=
1000
5.0 × 10−4
𝑀=
0.033
= 0.018
 b) Concentration of iron(II) in iron ore solution (initial volume of 100mL)

MnO4- + 8H+ + 5Fe2+ → Mn2+ + 4H2O + 5Fe3+

Number of mole of permanganate:

𝑀𝑉
𝑛𝑜 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 =
1000
0.1(26.5)
=
1000
= 2.65 × 10−3

1 mol of permanganate is equal to 5 mol of ferum

∴ hence, the number of mole for ferum is 0.013mol

Therefore concentration of iron (II) in iron ore solution is

0.013𝑚𝑜𝑙
= 0.133
0.1𝐿

c) Percent of purity of iron(II) in unknown iron sample

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑢𝑚 = 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 × 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠

= 0.013 × 55.85
= 0.74𝑔

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝐹𝑒
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑢𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑟𝑒 = × 100%
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑟𝑒
0.74
= × 100
1.00
= 74%

2. Explain why no indicator is needed in this experiment.

In this experiment, no indicator is needed because the end point is easily observed. The
colour of the permanganate ion is purple whereas the manganate ion is nearly colourless.
One drop excess of permanganate will affects the colour of persistence pink of the
solution.
 3. Typically, a solid iron ore is dried in an oven before analysis. How would the
percentage of Fe determined be affected if the ore had not been dried?

Percentage of Fe determined will be affected if the ore is not completely dried because
the presence of water makes the ore is not a pure iron. Hence the percentage that we got
from the experiment will be denied because it concludes the mass of water in calculation.

Conclusion

The potassium permanganate solution had been standardize and the composition of metal is
determined by titration method.

Reference

Sharipah, Kamariah, Nesamalar. (2015). Exploring Chemistry Laboratory Experiments for

General Chemistry. Shah Alam: UiTM.