1

Dr. Geoffrey Neuss, InThinking

www.chemistry-inthinking.co.uk

REDOX TITRATION WITH POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE
The amount of Fe
2+
in a sample can be determined by titrating with a standard acidified solution of
potassium manganate(VII), KMnO
4
. An acidified solution of manganate(VII) ions, (or permanganate
ions as they are commonly called) is a strong oxidizing agent. It is particularly useful for titrations as it
acts as its own indicator. The end-point can be taken when one drop just causes the purple colour
due to the MnO
4
-
(aq) ions to disappear. It will be used in this practical to determine the percentage of
iron(II) ions in a sample of ammonium iron(II) sulfate. The two half-equations are:
MnO
4
-
(aq) + 8H
+
(aq) + 5e
-
Mn
2
+
(aq) + 4H
2
O(l)
(purple) (colourless)
Fe
2
+
(aq) Fe
3
+
(aq) + e
-

(pale green) (pale yellow)
Mn
2+
(aq) ions are in fact a very pale pink but in the concentrations used here they appear colourless.
Similarly Fe
3+
(aq) can be a yellow-brown colour in higher concentrations but under these conditions
the final solution will be pale yellow.

ENVIRONMENTAL CARE: To save on chemicals this analysis has been scaled down and 10 cm
3

pipettes and 100 cm
3
volumetric flasks are used instead of the more normal 25 cm
3
pipettes and 250
cm
3
flasks. Manganese and iron, although essential minerals, are heavy metals and all residues
containing them should be placed in the container in the fume cupboard marked 'Heavy Metal Waste'.
SAFETY: It is not advisable to get manganate(VII) ions on the skin as they stain, however apart from
the presence of dilute sulfuric acid there are no particular hazards associated with this practical.
ASSESSMENT: This practical may be assessed formally for Conclusion and evaluation (CE) and
Manipulative skills (MS).

PROCEDURE
Weigh out accurately about 2.5 grams of AR (analytical reagent) ammonium iron(II) sulfate crystals
and dissolve them in about 40 cm
3
of approximately 1 mol dm
-3
sulfuric acid solution. It is important
that you do not heat the solution to assist dissolving. Make up to 100 cm
3
with distilled water in a
volumetric flask and thoroughly mix the solution. Pipette 10 cm
3
of this solution into a conical flask,
add about an equal volume of distilled water and titrate with 0.0200 mol dm
-3
potassium
manganate(VII) solution to a faint pink colour. Repeat the titration at least twice for accuracy,
recording all your results.

Use your results to determine the percentage of iron(II) ions in ammonium iron(II) sulfate crystals and
evaluate your experiment in the correct way.