SYNTHESIS OF MOHR SALT

May 19, 2015

A. Objective
Study the Mohr salt from the reaction between the iron with sulfuric acid and
ammonia solution.
B. Theory
Elemental iron (Fe) in a periodic system of elements (SPU) belongs to the class of
VIII. Iron can be made from iron ore in the furnace heat. Customarily iron containing
Fe2O3 were marred by sand (SiO2) of about 10 %, as well as a bit of sulfur compounds,
phosphorus, aluminum, and manganese. Iron can also be in the magnet. (Shukri, 1993)
Salts of iron triad elements usually crystallized from solution as hydrates, if placed
in atmospheric moisture, depending on the partial pressure of H 2O. Hydrate may occur in
color - different colors. In dry air, water and solid hydrate off gradually changed to pink.
The compound of iron (II) produces a blue precipitate turnbull, when reacted with
heksasioferrat (III). (Harjadi, 1989)
Iron salts formed two important series. Salts of iron (II) or derived from ferric iron
(II) oxide, FeO. In these salts solution containing Fe

2+

cations and slightly green color.

Ions and complex join old colored complex is also common. Iron (II) can be easily
oxidized to iron (III) it is a strong reducing agent, the less acidic the solution, the more
obvious this effect. In neutral or alkaline atmosphere even oxygen from the atmosphere
will oxidize iron (II). Then a solution of iron (II) should be slightly acidic when it wants to
be stored for a long time. (Svehla, 1985)
Iron (II) can be easily oxidized to Fe (III), it is a strong reducing agent. The less
acidic the solution, the more obvious this effect; in neutral or alkaline atmosphere even
oxygen from the atmosphere will oxidize iron (II). Salts of iron (III) derived from ferric
iron oxide (III), Fe2O3.They are more stable than the salt of iron (II). In the solution, there
are Fe3+ cations are pale yellow; if the solution containing chloride, the color becomes
stronger. Reducing agents convert iron (III) to iron (II).Ferrous ion [Fe(H2O)6]

2+

give

crystalline salt . (Svehla, 1985)

Salts of iron (II) sulfate can join sulfate salts of alkali salts, forming a double salt
with a general formula that can be described as M2Fe (SO4) 6.H2O , where M is a symbol
of metals, such as K, Rb ,Cs and NH 4 . This formula is a combination of two salts with
anions similar or identical to that M2SO4FeSO4.6H2O. For double salt with M is NH4,
which made the number of moles of iron (II) sulfate and ammonium sulfate same, then the
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result is known as Mohr salt. Mohr salt was prepared by mixing both sulfate salts of iron
(II) and ammonium, wherein each salt is dissolved to saturation and the iron (II) added a
little sour. At the time of cooling results in both salt mixture above will be obtained Green
crystal with monoclinic form. Mohr salt is nothing but a double salt of iron ( II )
ammonium sulfate with molecular formula FeSO4 .(NH4)2SO4.6H2O or
(NH4)2Fe(SO4)2.6H2O. (Aziz, 2007)
Mohr salt is a double salt which has the chemical formula FeSO 4.(NH4)2SO4.6H2O.
The physical form of salt Mohr is greenish crystals. The green color is caused by the
presence of Fe (II) .Compound is one of the complex salt-forming compounds or double
salt Mohr. Fe compounds in the form of Mohr salt or K4Fe(CN)6 potential as a reducing
agent in the reaction of iodate reduction in salt . Mohr salt or iron (II) ammonium sulfate
(FeSO4.(NH4)2SO4.6H2O) can be used to study the reactions that occur in the Fe (II) .
(Wulandari, 2012)
Mohr salt sufficiently stable to air and to the loss of water and generally made to
create a standard solution of Fe2+ for volumetric analysis and as a lawyer calibration
substance in magnetic measurements. Most FeSO4.7H2O slowly decaying and turns
yellow brown if left in the air. The addition of HCO3 or sh to the solution of Fe 2+ aqua row
FeCO3 and FeS precipitate. Fe 2+ is oxidized in acidic solutions by air to Fe 3 + . With ligand
- ligand in addition to the existing water, a real change in the potential may occur.
(Shukri,1993)
Mohr salt preferably of the iron (II) sulfate to the Mohr titration because salt is not
by free oxygen in the air or not easily oxidized by free air than iron (II) sulfat . Oxidation
solution of iron (II) is highly dependent pH, occurs much more easily at high pH.
Ammonium ions make Mohr salt solution slightly acidic, which slows down the oxidation
process. Sulfuric acid is generally added to the solution to reduce the oxidation of iron.
Mohr salt has many functions, but Mohr salt is usually used to create a standard
solution of Fe2+ for volumetric analysis, a calibration substance in magnetic
measurements, to predict the order of oxidizing power oxidize K 2Cr2O7 , KMnO4 and
KBrO3 ( with the same concentration of ~ 0.1 N ) to Fe2 + .

C. Equipment and material

1. Equipment
2

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

Evaporating Dish
Round Bottom Flask
Analytical balance
Burner methylated
Watch glasses
Beaker glass

2. Materials
a. 20% of sulfuric acid
b. Iron Power
c. 25% of solution ammonia
D. Procedure

25ml 20% of
H2SO4 + 20ml
25% NH3
solution

Evaporate
(NH4)2SO4 until
saturated

50ml 20% of
H2SO4 + 3,5gr
Fe powder in
beaker glass,
heating and
stirring

Mix the crystal

with solution
from
neutralization
in hot condition

evaporate in
evaporating
dish until form
crystal

filter in hot
condition

Refrigerate the
mixture until
form crystal
(light green
color)

purified with
little hot water

E. Observation Data and Calculation

1. Color and structure (solid, liquid, gas) of H2SO4: colorless, liquid
2. Color and structure (solid, liquid, gas) of iron powder: grey, solid
3. Color and structure (solid, liquid, gas) of NH3 : colorless, liquid
4. Reactions occured in the experiment :
Solution B
Fe(s) + H2SO4(aq)
FeSO4(aq) + H2(g)
Solution A
3

H2SO4(aq) + 2NH3(aq)
(NH4)2SO4(aq)
Mohr Salt
FeSO4(aq) + (NH4)2SO4(aq) + 6 H2O(l)

(NH4)2Fe(SO4)2.6H2O(s)

The calculation of the theoretical weight of Mohr salt:

Mass of the theoretical mohr

mass of Fe
56

3,573 grams
56

x Mr. Mohr salt

x 392 grams/mmol

= 25,011 grams
5. Weigh of Mohr salt (as a product) : 18,060 grams
6. Color and structure crystal of Mohr salt : green crystal
7. Purity of Mohr salt :
salt of experiment result

Purity
x 100%
theoretical salt

18,060 grams
25,011 grams

x 100%

72,208

F. Discussion
The objectives of this experiment is to study the mohr salt from the reaction
between the iron with sulphuric acid and ammonia solution. Because, Mohr salt is used as
a substance for calibration (standard substance) in magnetic measurements. So, we must
study it. The first step of this experiment is make solution A (sulfuric acid + ammonia)
and solution B (iron powder + sulfuric acid).
Solution A must be neutral conditions, so we can check the pH of this mixture
solution with universal pH indicator paper. And then this solution was evaporated until
unsaturated by heating (to evaporating NH3 too). This evaporating until the volume of
solution decrease 50% from beginning. Ammonia is used because ammonia is ligand that
have an orbital with unpair electron for interaction with metal (Fe), and can make a
complex coordination compound. The mixture solution is colorless. The reaction that
occcur is:
H2SO4(aq) + 2NH3(aq)

(NH4)2SO4(aq)

Solution B making from 3,5 g of iron powder and 50 ml of 20% sulfuric acid. The
function of Sulfuric acid to oxidazing metal Fe to Fe2+. Sulfuric acid is a soluble that
containing proton which can ionization and kind of strong or weak acid. Colored of this
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solution is grey and dissolve by heating and stirring. The heating and stirring is used to
accelerate of soluble iron powder to sulfuric acid. So, we can say that heating and stirring
is a catalyst. The heating is used to released H2 and accelerate to produce ion Fe2+ that
look as produce of hablur. The reaction that occured is:
Fe(s) + H2SO4(aq)

FeSO4(aq) + H2(g)

Then, the solution B is filtering in hot condition (high temperature). This step to
separated the solution from that filtrate. And the hot condition (high temperature) used to
avoid produced a crystal in low temperature. The filtrate of this solution then evaporate in
evaporating dish to decrease water molecule in the solution. Evaporate process until
produce hablur. Salt Fe (II) decline from Fe(II) Oxide, this salt containing cation Fe2+, so
the color of solution is green and there is a hablur.
After solution a decrease to 50% from beginning and solution B produce hablur,
we should mixture that solution in hot condition (high temperature). This condition used
to avoid produce salt be sides mohr salt. Then we wait the temperature of solution until
same with the room temperature in order to no problem at entered in the refrigerator. The
reaction that occures:
FeSO4(aq) + (NH4)2SO4(aq) + 6 H2O(l)

(NH4)2Fe(SO4)2.6H2O(s)

Formed process in the refrigerator on going during 3 days. This process produce a
crystal of mohr salt that colored green. The crystal must be purified by recrystallization
process with a little hot water. The function of purified with a little hot water in order to
impurity is soluble in the hot water. The weigh of mohr salt that produce used to
determine yield of mohr salt.
Based on analysis data, the result mass of mohr salt is 18,060 grams meanwhile
the theoretical mass of mohr salt is 25,011 grams. The calculation on the analysis data
show that purified of mohr salt is 72,208 %. This results exactly fine, and the color of
mohr salt that produce is green.
G. Conclussion
1. Mohr salt is a Fe complex compound with a ligan ammonium and sulphat. The
molecular function is (NH4)2Fe(SO4)2.6H2O.
2. Produced of mohr salt doing by crystallization step. That is via evaporated, cooling off
and purified.
3. Mohr salt that produce is 18,060 grams with purified of mohr salt is 72,208 %
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H. Suggestion
1. Practican must understand ways of working or step by step what we must do.
2. Practican should do the experiment quietly, and carefully when doing titration.
3. Practican have to manage time as well as possible
4. We should use safety equipment when we are doing experiment.
I. Daftar Pustaka
Aziz, T. 2007. Penuntun Praktikum Kimia Anorganik Jurusan Kimia. Kendari.
Universitas Haluoleo
Harjadi, W. 1989. Ilmu Kimia Analitik Dasar.. Jakarta: Erlangga
Shukri. 1993. Kimia Dasar 3. Bandung: ITB
Svehla, G. 1985. Vogel Buku Teks Analisis Anorganik Kualitatif Makro dan Semimikro.
Bagian I Edisi ke lima. Jakarta: PT. Kalman Media Pustaka