Lan Dau

CHEM120
September 27th 2017
Partner: Ashley Rochford

LAB 4 REPORT
I. Purpose:
1. Determine the qualitative characteristics of halogens.
2. Determine halogens and halides oxidizing/reducing power.

II. Materials:
1. Halogens: Cl2, Br2, I2
2. Halides in Na+ salt: NaCl, NaBr, NaI
3. Mineral Oil
4. 1M CuSO4; 0.01 KMnO4/1M H2SO4
5. Solid Cu tunings
6. Test tubes and parafilm

III. Procedure and Observation/Result:

Part I :

1. Prepare 2 test tubes for each sample of the halogens and halides.
2. Add 6 drops of each sample to the test tubes. Then add the same volume of solvent to the
test tubes (series 1: mineral oil; series 2: deionized water).
3. Seal each tube with parafilm
4. Invert the tubes several time
5. Wait 3-5 min for layers to separate, and observe color changes in aqueous and oil layers.

Observation:

Cl2 Br2 I2 NaCl NaBr NaI

Mineral oil Miscible 2 separate clear layers
Light grey Grey Pink
solution solution solution
Water Separates Separates Separates 1 clear solution
into 2 clear into 2 into 2
layers layers: layers:
Top: Clear Top: Clear
Bottom: Bottom:
Light Light
yellow orange-
brown
Conclusion:

Halogens are soluble in nonpolar solvent (mineral oil) because halogen molecules are nonpolar.

Halides are solute in polar solvent (H2O) because halides molecules are polar.

The halides solutions are clear, while halogens have distinct colors, which are accentuated in
mineral oil. This is because originally, the halogen molecules are too concentrated and absorb
more light. When mixed in mineral oil, the halogens are diluted and emit more light of their
distinct colors.

Part II Observation table 2:

A.
1. Prepare samples of Cl2, Br2, I2.
2. For each halogen, prepare 2 test tubes, each containing 6 drops of the other halide
samples.
3. Add 6 drops of the halogens to the test tubes.
4. Add 6 drops of mineral oil to the test tubes.
5. Cover the tubes and invert several times.
6. Wait 3-5 min for layers to separate. Since oil is lighter, it will separate into the top layer.
7. Observe changes:

Observation:

No Very light yellow No Light pink

Yes Orange No Light pink

Yes Magenta-pink Yes Pink

Conclusion:

Based on the reaction:

X2 + 2Y- -> 2X- + Y2

This only happens if X2 is more oxidizing than Y2.

Considering the reaction between Cl2 and Br-, we can conclude that Cl2 has more oxidizing
power than Br2.
Considering the reaction between Br2 and I- , we can conclude that Br2 has more oxidizing power
than I2.

Therefore, in term strength as oxidizing agents: I2 < Br2 < Cl2

B.
1. Prepare 3 test tubes.
2. Add a small amount of solid Cu turning into the test tubes.
3. Add the halogens to the test tubes, filling the entire Cu tunings volume.
4. Wait for 1 hour and observe:

Observation:

Cl2 Br2 I2
Rxn Observation Rxn Observation Rxn Observation
Copper (Cu) Yes Solution turned Yes Possible The surface of
into a green Copper the copper
color, copper dissolve very tunings lost its
tunings slowly. shine
dissolved

Conclusion:

1. Reactions:
Cu + Cl2 -> Cu2+ + 2 Cl-
Cu + Br2 -> Cu2+ + 2 Br-
Cu + I2 -> Cu+ + I-
Cu is oxidized, the halogens are reduced
2. Based on the speed of reaction changes, Cl2 is a relatively strong oxidizing agent, while
Br2 is average and I2 is weak.
Based on the degrees of physical change in reactions, we can conclude that in term of
oxidizing power: Cl2 > Br2 > I2
 Part III Observation table 3:

1. Prepare 2 test tubes for each sample of the halides: one containing 6 drops of
KMnO4/H2SO4 solution, the other containing 6 drops of CuSO4 solution.
2. Add 6 drops of the halide sample to the test tubes.
3. Add a few drops of the mineral oil.
4. Cover the tubes and invert several times.
5. Wait 3-5 min for layers to separate. Since oil is lighter, it will separate into the top layer.
6. Observe changes:

Observation:

NaCl NaBr NaI

Rxn Change Change in Rxn Change Change Rxn Change Change
in oil aqueous in oil in in oil in
layer solution layer aqueous layer aqueous
solution solution
CuSO4 No Yes Color Blue Yes Color The
becomes color became solution
light lightens pink lost its
grey but blue color
remains
KMnO4/ Yes Not Purple Yes Color Color Yes Color Color
H2SO4 visible color becomes became became became
lighten but light light light light
remains grey yellow pink orange
Conclusion:

Copper and permanganate ions are wise choice to serve as oxidizing agents because:

-They both differ in oxidizing strength: Cu 2+ has average oxidizing strength; MnO4- has very high
oxidizing strength. Based on the reactions, we can determine where the halogens are in term of reducing
agents.
-Cu2+ and MnO4- give very clear indication of reaction. If reduced, Cu 2+ will form Cu, which is a
precipitation, and the solution will also lose its blue color. If reduced, the purple color of MnO4- solution
will disappear.

All halides are oxidized by MnO4-. However, the degree of color change indicates that Cl- was
oxidized least (the solutions color became lighter but remained purple), while in Br- and I-
solution, MnO4-s purple color completely disappeared. No change happened when CuSO4 and
NaCl are mixed, indicating that Cu2+ was not able to oxidize Cl-. This means Cl- is weakest in
reducing power. Similarly, Cu2+ color became lighter when reacted with Br- but remained. In test
tube with I-, Cu2+ completely lost it color and the mineral oil layer became visibly magenta, the
distinct color of I2 found in part 1 of the experiment.
Therefore, we can conclude that in term of reducing strength: Cl2 < Br2 < I2

Redox reactions in the experiment can be summarized through these equations (X is the halogens
that partook in the reaction)

MnO4- + 4H+ + 6X- -> MnO2 + 1 X2 + H2O

Mn is reduced (oxidization number drop from +7 to +4)

X- is oxidized (oxidization number increase from -1 to 0)

Cu2+ + 2X- -> CuX + X2

Cu2+ is reduced (oxidization number drop from +2 to +1)

As2O4 + 7H2O + 4H+ + 4NO3- -> 2H3AsO4 + 4NO

Summary:

As we go down the periodic table, the halogens atom electronegativity decreases, causing them
to be increasingly easier to lose electron and therefore have a higher reducing strength. Vice
versa, the higher the halogen in the periodic table, the easier for it to gain electron, making it
higher in term of oxidizing power.