FeSCN2+ Lab

Nick Schwarze
Per. 4 2/16/11
Purpose: To calculate the equilibrium constant for the reaction of iron (III) ions with
thiocynate ions.

Procedure:
1. get ten 50 ml beakers or large test tubes
2. Prepare five reference solution test tubes listed in the table below. Use a separate
pipet for each volume and mix solution with stirring rod. Label the test tubes with
the corresponding reference solution number.
3. Using a separate pipet for each regent to be added, combine following reagents to
prepare the solutions.
4. Mix each solution with stirring rod measure the temperature of one of the
solutions and record. Use for all solutions.
5. Turn on spectrophotometer and let warm up for fifteen minutes then set to 450 nm
by using a beaker filled with distilled water
6. Measure the absorbance of each reference solution at 450nm, using distilled water
as the zero absorbance reference. Absorbance= -log T, where t is transmittance as
a decimal and record
7. Repeat step 6 for all test solutions
Data table 1: Reference Solutions
Temperature (oC) 19.2
Sample (Reference) [FeSCN2+] (M) Absorbance (nm)
Solution #1 4.0 x 10-5 .090
Solution #2 6.0 x 10-5 .138
Solution #3 8.0 x 10-5 .196
Solution #4 1.0 x 10-4 .261
Solution #5 1.2 x 10-4 .289

Data table 2: Test Solutions

Temperature (oC) 19.7
Sample (Test) [Fe3+] (M) [SCN-] (M) Absorbance (nm)
Solution #6 .0010 2.0 x 10-4 .0367
Solution #7 .0010 4.0 x 10-4 .0701
Solution #8 .0010 6.0 x 10-4 .0969
Solution #9 .0010 8.0 x 10-4 .126
Solution #10 .0010 1.0 x 10-3 .137

Analysis table: Results

Sample [FeSCN2+]eq [Fe3+]eq (M) [SCN-]eq (M) Keq
(M)
Test Solution #6 1.9 x 10-5 9.8 x 10-4 1.8 x 10-4 110
Test Solution #7 3.2 x 10-5 9.7 x 10-4 3.7 x 10-4 89
Test Solution #8 4.5 x 10-5 9.6 x 10-4 5.5 x 10-4 80.
Test Solution #9 5.4 x 10-5 9.5 x 10-4 7.5 x 10-4 76
Test Solution #10 5.8 x 10-5 9.4 x 10-4 9.4 x 10-4 66
Average value 84
Average deviation 19
Discussion:

1. In this reaction, iron (III) ions and thiocyanate ions react to form iron
thiocyanate ions which forms a blood red solution. This can be seen and
measured through the absorbing of light. The first part of the reaction uses
a large number of iron (III) irons to react all of the thiocyanate ions
present in the solution. When the reaction reaches equilibrium, both the
FeSCN2+ and reactants are reacting at the same rate so the reaction is
essentially at a stand still.

2. Though fairly precise in the collection of the constant, this lab had several
significant errors which could have caused data to vary. First, is that the
concentration of the solutions are difficult to obtain so this minor deviance
from the said concentration can cause a deviation in the precision of the
lab. Also, since the measured solutions were at a very dilute concentration
with a very small volume, the expected constant could be off since such
small amounts of solution are difficult to accurately measure. Another
factor would be that a fingerprint on the test tubes would absorb some of
the light which is shown through the spectrophotometer, causing the
absorbance to drifty. Other than these minor variances, the constant would
be very precise.