A to Q for Experiment 8

1. For the standardization of thiosulfate, KIO 3 was the primary standard used. KI and H 2SO4 were
later added. The solution was then titrated with Na 2S2O3 with starch as the indicator.
IO3- + H+ O2 + HIO
IO3- + 5I- + 6H+ 3I2 + 3H2O
I2 + H2O H+ + I- + HIO
I2 + 2S2O32- 2I- + S4O622. H2SO4 and excess KI were added to make the reaction shift towards production of I 2. It is
important to note however that the acid must be added first to ensure that forward reaction is
prevented due to the common ion effect.
3. For the sample analysis, MnSO4 solution and NaOH with KI and NaN 3 were added to the water
sample. After shaking, concentrated H 3PO4 was added. After standing for 10 minutes, it was
titrated with the standard Na2S2O3 using starch as the indicator.
MnSO4 Mn2+ + SO42Mn2+ + 2OH- Mn(OH)2
Mn(OH)2 + 2H2O + 2O2 4Mn(OH)3 OR 4Mn(OH)2 + O2 4MnO(OH) + 2H2O
6H+ + MnO(OH) + 2I- 2Mn2+ + I2 + 4H2O
4. In the analysis, manganous ion reacts with the dissolved oxygen present in the alkaline solution to
form a manganese (IV) oxide hydroxide flocculent. Azide is then added to suppress interference
from any nitrite, which would react with the iodide. The solution is then acidified and the
manganese (IV) floc is reduced by iodide to produce free iodine as I 3- in proportion to the oxygen
concentration.
5. Starch was the indicator used basically because it does not dissolve in the solutions. It exists as a
colloid and is only suspended in the analyte. Starch should also be added towards the end of the
titration to prevent formation of iodine-starch complex. Starch may hydrolyze and interfere with
the reaction in acidic solutions.
6. When an analyte that is a reducing agent is titrated directly with a standard iodine solution, the
method is called "iodimetry". When an analyte that is an oxidizing agent is added to excess iodide
to produce iodine, and the iodine produced is determined by titration with sodium thiosulfate, the
method is called "iodometry".
7. The calculated ppm O2 is 3.1 which means that the source of water sample is highly polluted.
Low dissolved oxygen signifies that the source cannot sustain much aquatic life because the
minimum concentration for warm water fish is 5.5 mg/L while the minimum concentration for
coldwater fish is 6.5 mg/L.
8. a. increase in the DO content
b. increase in the DO content

9. Possible sources of errors include mixing of atmospheric oxygen to the water sample while doing
all the steps in the procedure which will increase the DO content of the sample. Titration errors
may also alter the supposed DO content of the sample.

References:
Skoog, Douglas A.. Fundamentals of analytical chemistry. 9th ed., [International ed. Belmont,
CA.: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, 2014.
"Dissolved Oxygen." Utah State University Extension. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2014.
<http://extension.usu.edu/waterquality/htm/whats-in-your-water/do>.
"The Winkler Method - Measuring Dissolved Oxygen." Dissolved Oxygen by the Winkler
Method.
N.p.,
n.d.
Web.
2
Feb.
2014.
<http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/research_methods/environ_sampling/oxygen.html>