APPROVAL SHEET

Complete report of Inorganic Chemistry Experiment, which entitled

”Photochemistry Reduction of Iron (III) ions” arranged by :
name : Maipha Deapati Arief
group : Three (III)
class : Chemistry Education of ICP
it has been checked well by Assistant and Assistant Coordinator. So this report was accepted.

Makassar, April 2019

Assistant Coordinator Assistant

Ahmad Tita Marlina

Known by,
Responsilbility Lecturer

Diana Eka Pratiwi, S.Si, M.Si

ID. 19800614 2008 01 2 016
A. BACKGROUND
If we talking about Reaction of Redox it means in the complete reaction involves both
processes, we often call it oxidation and reduction. Oxidation means combination with more
electronegative element or the removal of the electrons. Reduction means combination with
less electronegative element or the adition of electrons. In complete redox reactions the
overall changes in oxidation state must balance. When reactions involve ions in water it is
convenient to split the overall reaction into two half reactions. To balance these it may also be
necessary to provide water and H+ or OH-. Redox reactions are used in the extraction of
nearly all elements from naturally occurring compounds. Carbon is used to reduce some metal
oxides, but many elements require stronger reducing agents, or stronger to the used of
electrolysis (Cox. 2004: 37).
In organic chemistry that is for inorganic reactions they require extension. It was soon
recognised that substances other than oxygen can behave as oxidising agents. The conversion
of aqueous sulphur dioxide solution to sulphuric acid, for example, can be accomplished using
iron (II) oxide or chlorine water, the equations being most simply represented as
2FeCl2 + Cl2  2FeCl3
can be described as an oxidation of iron(II) to iron(III). Since like many other inorganic
compounds the iron(II) and iron(III) chlorides form ions in solution, this oxidation could be
represented by the ionic equation
Fe2+(aq)  Fe3+(aq) + e-
The Agent of oxidizing was identified as an electron acceptor and the oxidation of iron (II) by
chlorine can be written as two half equation (Chambers and Holliday, 1975: 92).
Reduction can now be defined as a process in which electrons are acquired and
oxidation a process in which electrons are released. These definitions are often difficult to
remember and the following simplification may be helpful:
X3+  X2+  X+1  X0  X-1  X-2
The reducing agent causes reduction to take place, i.e. causes a reduction in the positive
charge; it must therefore supply electrons. It follows immediately that the oxidising agent
must accept electrons (
Photochemistry is the chemistry of the effects of light on chemical systems. It is
concerned with the interaction of visible and ultraviolet light with molecules. Absorption of
visible and/or ultraviolet light by a molecule introduces energy sufficient to break or
reorganize most covalent bonds. Photochemistry plays an important role in everyday life such
as in vision, photosynthesis, and the manufacture of many inorganic compounds. Also on
photography, modern printing technology, in phototeching used in electronic industry and in
the manufacture of integrated circuits used in electronic devices (Adeniran, 1971: 4).
The most important of all are the photochemical processes that capture the radiant
energy of the Sun. Some of these reactions lead to the heating of the atmosphere during the
daytime by absorption of ultraviolet radiation. Others include the absorption of visible
radiation during photosynthesis. Without photochemical processes, the Earth would be simply
a warm, sterile, rock (Atkins and Paula, 2006: 845).
Photochemistry was study embraces about all of the phenomena associated with the
absorption and emission of radiation by chemical systems. That It includes phenomena that
are mainly spectroscopic, such as fluorescence and phosphorescence, luminescent chemical
reactions, such a s flames and the gleam of the firefly; and photo stimulated reactions, such as
photographic and photolytic reactions of various kinds and there are any effect of the light
that can be produced only by light as absorbed by the system (Castellan, 1983: 889-890).
Photochemical reactions are chemical reactions that use light to decompose organic
pollutants in water by absorbing light to break the bonds of chemical compounds. Light can
be a wavelength and is a particle (particle like properties) where light is a combination of
electrical swings towards the direction of propagation of waves. According to the research
carried out in the discussion of this journal, the photochemical reaction that takes place on the
surface of the particle is very likely to be carried out. Photochemical semiconductors, for
example, can affect water containing metal oxides that absorb the wavelengths of solar light.
This is because semiconductor oxides are irradiated with light whose wavelength has an
energy greater than or equal to the energy of the "band gap" ( Yulianto, et al. 2014: 2).
When a photochemical experiment is conducted on detergent waste into the reactor and
TiO2 is added as a catalyst, the results show that the longer the irradiation time given the
decrease in concentration of diffraction is due to the TiO2 catalyst obtaining continuous
photon energy from light, meaning that time is directly proportional to decrease catalyst
caused by photon energy and inversely proportional to the weight of the given from the
catalyst (Santi, Sintha. 2015: 262-263).
In photochemical reactions, the destruction of molecules begins with photon absorption
(Larson et al. In Tedder and Pohland, 1990). When photons approach a molecule, there is an
interaction between the electromagnetic fields that accompany the molecule. The occurrence
of photochemical changes is caused by the energy absorbed changing the molecule in the
basic condition (ground state) into an unstable excited state (Ylianto, et al. 2014: 3).
 Much of what is called photochemistry is in fact concerned with the phenomena of
fluorescence and phosphorescence in systems that do not undergo any chemical change. We
will first describe these photophysical phenomena and later discuss photochemical processes.
Since all of the electrons are paired in the ground state of most molecules, the result of the
absorption of a quantum of radiation is to unpair two electrons and produce an excited
electronic state that is either a singlet or a triplet. The energy levels of the molecule then
divide, much like the levels of the alkaline earth atoms, into a system of singlet levels and a
system of triplet levels (Castellan, 1983: 891).
In addition to experimenting with several materials in nature, photochemistry also gives
the results of ozone reactions, where photochemistry gives a difference in the concentration of
ozone depending on the surface of the location when photochemistry is carried out. studied, in
the morning the value is lower than in Batununggal and during the day is higher than
Batununggal. This shows that the pollution level in Batununggal is higher than in Cisaranten,
because Batununggal is a densely populated residential area. This happens because in the
morning ozone formation is not maximum (Hidayati, et al. 2017: 60).
Iron is an essential nutrient required for phytoplankton photosynthesis in the ocean.
Low concentrations of iron (frequentlyb0.2 nM) are thus limiting primary productivity in
many parts of the ocean. Furthermore, speciation of iron influences iron acquisition by marine
organisms. In the Fe′ model of iron uptake by marine eukaryotic phytoplankton, inorganic
dissolved Fe (often denoted by a prime) is acquired via binding of Fe(III)′ or Fe(II)′ to a
surface ligand (Fan, Song, 2016: 158).
Furthermore, connecting between photochemical techniques with oxidation and
reduction reactions is carried out with iron atoms, iron which is a metal with a wide variety of
uses and abundant existence. Iron that can be consumed by humans is in the form of ions
which are Fe2 + and Fe3 + but, it must be known the levels of each iron needed by the body
so as not to cause diseases such as diabetes and liver damage. to find out the iron content, one
of the studies was carried out using photochemistry which of course needed help from other
compounds to reduce iron, and to determine the best reducing ability used to reduce Fe3 + to
Fe2 + a reduced comparison between potassium oxalate and sodium oxalate. From the results
obtained it can be seen that the reduction ability of sodium oxalate is better than reducing
potassium oxalate (Hapsoro and Sugiarso. 2014: 9-10).

B. OBJECTIVE OF EXPERIMENT
 To learn reduction of iron(III) ions by photochemistry and to learn the utilization of
blueprint.

C. APPARATUS AND CHEMICALS

1. Apparatus
a. Graduated cylinder 10 mL 1 Piece
b. Graduated cylinder 100 mL 1 Piece
c. Drop pipette 3 Pieces
d. Plate 6 Pieces
e. Stirrer 1 Piece
f. Pincers 2 Pieces
g. Glass clamp 4 Pieces
h. Glass plate 4 Pieces
i. Brush 1 Piece
2. Chemicals
a. Oxalic acid solution 0.5 M (H2C2O4)
b. Diammonium hydrophospat solution 0.5 M ((NH4)2 HPO4)
c. Iron(III) Chloride solution 0.5 M (FeCl3)
d. Hexasianoferrat(III) 0.1 M ([Fe(CN)6]3-)
e. Potassium dichromate solution 0.03 M (K2Cr2O7)
f. Hydrochloric acid solution 0.1 N (HCl)
g. Aquadest (H2O)
h. Kalkir paper
i. Filtrate paper
j. Cina ink

D. WORK PROCEDURE
1. Mixture solution was made from 50mL of FeCl3 0.5M and 10mL of (NH4)2 HPO4 and
poured into the plate
2. The mixture was put into the dark place (wardrobe)
3. Added 50mL of oxalic acid into the mixture solution and stirred in the dark place
4. Taking kalkir paper and filter paper and then plunged into the mixture solution
5. Dried the papee (as sensitive paper)
6. Put the ink into the kalkir paper and draw the object that would be printed (As objective
paper)
7. Put the object paper between glasses and then put the sensitive paper
8. The glasses was clamp and dried by using sunbeam as long as 10 minutes
9. Taked the sensitive paper and then plunged into the hexacianoferrat(III) solution in the
plate
10. Taked and plunged again into the K2Cr2O7 solution
11. Washed by using HCl and then water
12. Dried the sensitive paper, the paper becomes blue

E. OBSERVATION RESULT
No Activity Result
1 50mL of FeCl3 (yellow) + 10mL of Yellow solution
(NH4)2 HPO4
2 + 50mL of H2C2O4 Yellow solution
3 The kalkir paper was put into the Yellow paper
mixture solution and dried the
paper(sensitive paper)
4 Put the ink into the kalkir paper and Paper with object
draw the object that would be
printed (as object paper)
5 Put the paper between glasses then The paper become dry
put the sensitive paper and dried
with sunbeam as long as 10 minutes
6 Washed the sensitive paper by The paper changed color to blue
using [Fe(CN)6]3-
7 Washed by using K2Cr2O7 Blue paper
8 Washed by using HCl 0.1 N Blue paper
9 Rinsed with water and dried Blue paper (formed objective on
sensitive paper)
*For filter paper Formed not clearly object
*For kalkir paper Formed clearly object

F. DISCUSSION
 The objective of this experiment is to know reduction reaction of iron(III) ion by
photochemistry. Photochemical processes are initiated by the absorption of radiation by at
least one component of a reaction mixture (Atkins, 2006: 845). The basic principle of this
experiment is a process light adsorben by molecule from reactant to produced excitation
molecule that can react again. The work principles are lighting, adsorbed, washed and formed
blue print.
The main ingredient used in this experiment is the FeCl3 (iron (III) chloride) solution
which is useful as a provider of iron (III) ions which will be reduced photochemically by
H2C2O4. This solution is then mixed with a solution of diammonium hydrophosphate and
stored in a dark space. The function of adding the solution of diamonium hydrophosphate is to
slow down the Fe3 + reduction reaction to Fe2 +, the reaction occurring:
FeCl3 + (NH4)2HPO4 FePO4 + HCl + 2NH4Cl
(yellow) (colorless) (yellow)
After that the solution is added with oxalic acid which serves as a reducing agent which
will reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+, this process is done in dark space because Fe3+ to Fe2+ reduction will
be fast if reactant is exposed to light, Fe3+ reduction reaction equation is:
2FePO4 + H2C2O4 2FeC2O4 + 2H3PO4 + 2CO2
Reduction : Fe3+ + e Fe2+
Oksidation : C2O42- 2CO2 + 2e
: 2Fe3+ + 2e 2Fe2+
: C2O42- 2CO2 + 2e
2Fe3+ + C2O42- 2Fe2+ + 2 CO2
The complete reaction :
2 FePO4(aq) + H2C2O4(aq) 2FeC2O4 (aq) + 2H3PO4 (aq) + 2CO2 (aq)
The kalkir paper is then immersed in the solution until all the paper is submerged and
then paper is removed and placed between two common filter papers. This is done to speed up
the drying process because the filter paper has a larger pore so that the absorption is also
large, the drier the paper is sensitive then the printed results obtained better and clearer.
Drying should not be done in the sun because sunlight will accelerate the reduction of Fe3+ to
Fe2+ so it will be difficult to detect Fe2+ in the blueprint process. This sensitive paper contains
Fe2+ ions which are the result of the Fe3+ reduction process by oxalic acid. In addition, there
are also Fe3+ ions which have not reacted with oxalic acid which will then be reduced by the
aid of light to Fe2+ so that all Fe3+ ions are reduced and this is known from the maximum
blueprint.
 The making of the object is done on tracing paper using chinese ink. Chinese ink is used
because the ink has a high molecular density, the ink surface is thicker, black and viscous so
the written object can block the light in the irradiation process then the object mold on the
sensitive paper will be more obvious because the light can not penetrate the object so that Fe3+
ions on sensitive paper closed objects will not be reduced. The making of this object is dried
first so that the ink does not spread on sensitive paper.
After the object is dry, the object paper is placed on sensitive paper and pinches it using
a glass plate. Clear glass glue is used because of the nature of the glass being passed by the
light particles so that it does not block the photochemical process, and is clamped so that
between paper sensitive with paper the object stays tight during lighting. Further illuminated
by light so that the reduction reaction can take place perfectly. During irradiation there is
photochemical Fe3 + reduction because photon light (sunlight) will accelerate the course of
the reaction.
After lighting, the paper is then plunged in a solution of hexasianoferrate (III) ion which
serves to clarify the existing paper on sensitive paper forming a blue Fe3[Fe(CN)6]2 complex.
The amount of iron (III) ions reduced to iron (II) by the influence of light can be indicated by
the blue density (blue trunbull) on the sensitive paper. The formation of Fe3[Fe(CN)6]2 as a
reaction between iron (II) and Fe(CN)63- ions. The reaction is :
2FeC2O4 + 2K3[Fe(CN)6] Fe3[Fe(CN)6]2 + 3K2C2O4
Then the sensitive paper is washed with potassium dichromate which serves to bind the
impurities of the hexasianoferrate (III) ion and also binds the excess ion of hexasianoferrate
(III) which does not react with Fe2+. The equation of the reaction:
3K2Cr2O7 + 2[Fe(CN)6]3- 2K3[Fe(CN)6] + 3Cr2O72-
(yellow) (colorless) (blue)
Next washed again with HCl to bind the excess K2Cr2O7. The equation of the reaction:
H2O
2HCl + K2Cr2O7 H2Cr2O7 + 2KCl
After that, washed with tap water that serves to remove remaining impurities and excess
HCl. The paper is dried and the paper will be printed in accordance with the object. The
amount of Fe3+ ions reduced to Fe2+ by light is indicated by the blue density of the paper.
Theoretically, the result of this experiment is the color of tracing paper is blue that comes
from the Fe3 [Fe(CN)6]2 complex and the color of the writing is faded because the closed part
of the iron (III) object is not reduced. The results obtained on tracing paper as sensitive paper
show the results of the object mold more clearly than the filter paper as sensitive paper
because the trace paper has a higher light absorption power compared to the filter paper.
G. CONCLUSION
Based on the experiment, can be conclude that ion Fe3+ can be reduced to Fe2+ by
lighting sunbeam and this process called photochemistry. Reaction between iron(III) ion with
hexacianoferrat(III) produce blue color.

H. SUGGESTION
For the next apprentice should carefully to do this experiment, and should pay attention to
used ink and the sample must be saved from lighting.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Atkins, Peter and Paula, Julio de, 2006. Physical Chemistry For The Life Science. New York:
Oxford University Press.

Castellan, Gilbert W. 1983. Physical Chemistry Third Edition. California: Addison-Wesley

PC.

Fan, Song-Miao. 2008. Photochemical and Biochemical controls on reactive oxygen and iron
speciation in the pelagic surface ocean. ELSEVIER. Vol 109 no. 152-164.

Feng, wu and Nansheng, Deng. 2000. Photochemistry of hydrolytic iron(III) species and
photoinduced degradation of Organic compounds a mini review. CHEMOSPHERE. Vol
no. 1137-1147.