SKU3013 : Chemistry I

D20152072027

DILUTION
Objective :
To determine the concentration of colored solution such as FeCl 3 by using dilution and color
differentiating (colorimetric) techniques.
Concept :
1. To understand molarity, normality and mole concept.
2. To learn dilution technique.
3. To learn the way to use M1V2 = M2V2 equation in dilute liquid calculation.
Introduction:
Concentration can be expressed in many different ways such as percentage volume and
percentage weight etc. In laboratory, normally concentrations were expressed as molarity and
normality.
Molarity is the mole of material in 1000 mL (1 liter or 1 dm3) of solution, as shown as followed
equation:
Molarity ( M )=

Mole
3
Volume(1 liter/dm )
M=n/V

Stock solution is the solution with known concentration. When the solution was diluted, only the
concentrations will change while the mole number is remain the same. Based on this principle,
the concentration of dilute solution can be determined by using followed equation:
M1V1 = M2V2
Where M1 = concentration of concentrated solution (mol dm3)
V1 = volume of concentrated solution (dm3)
M2 = concentration of dilute solution
V2 = volume of dilute solution

SKU3013 : Chemistry I

D20152072027

Apparatus :
Burette

1 x 50 mL

Pipette

l x 5 mL

Test tube

Materials :
0.10 M FeCl3 solution
0.10 M KCNS solution
FeCl3 solution (B)
Procedures :
1. Based on given equation, the following solution is calculated and prepared from standard
solution of 0.10 M FeCl3 by using pipette.
a. 10 mL FeCl3 solution (5.0 x 10-2 M)
b. 10 mL FeCl3 solution (1.0 x 10-2 M)
c. 10 mL FeCl3 solution (5.0 x 10-3 M)
d. 10 mL FeCl3 solution (1.0 x 10-3 M)
e. 10 mL FeCl3 solution (5.0 x 10-4 M)
The volume of solution used is recorded.
2. 5 mL of prepared solution is transferred into 5 test tubes and 2 drops of KCNS (potassium
thiocyanate) is added to each test tube. The test tubes were shaken until homogen and the
color changed.
3. 5 mL of solution B is transferred into another test tube and 2 drops of KCNS solution is
added. The test tube was shaken and the color of the solution is compared with the series of
solution that have prepared previously (2). The concentration of solution B is determined.

Data :
2

SKU3013 : Chemistry I

Test
tube
A
B
C
D
E

D20152072027

Solution
25 mL FeCl3 solution (5.0 10-2 M)
25 mL FeCl3 solution (1.0 10-2 M)
25 mL FeCl3 solution (5.0 10-3 M)
25 mL FeCl3 solution (1.0 10-3 M)
25 mL FeCl3 solution (5.0 10-4 M)

Volume of
FeCl3 (mL)
12.5
5
12.5
5
12.5

Calculation :
We calculate the following solution by using formula M1V1 = M2V2.
a) 25 mL FeCl3 solution (5.0 10-2 M)
M1V1 = M2V2
(0.10 M) V1 = (5.0 10-2 M) (25.0 mL)
V1 = 12.5 mL
b) 25 mL FeCl3 solution (1.0 10-2 M)
M1V1 = M2V2
(0.10 M) V1 = (1.0 10-2 M) (25.0 mL)
V1 = 5.0 mL
c) 25 mL FeCl3 solution (5.0 10-3 M)
M1V1 = M2V2
(0.10 M) V1 = (5.0 10-3 M) (25.0 mL)
V1 = 12.5 mL
d) 25 mL FeCl3 solution (1.0 10-3 M)
M1V1 = M2V2
(0.10 M) V1 = (1.0 10-3 M) (25.0 mL)
V1 = 5.0 mL
e) 25 mL FeCl3 solution (5.0 10-4 M)
M1V1 = M2V2
3

Color after add

KCNS
Blood red
Dark brown
Brown
Light brown
Light peach

SKU3013 : Chemistry I

D20152072027

(0.10 M) V1 = (5.0 10-4 M) (25.0 mL)

V1 = 12.5 mL
Discussion :
In chemistry, molar concentration also called molarity. Molarity is a measure of the concentration
of a solute in a solution. The equation of the molarity is :

Molarity ( M )=

Mole
Volume(1 liter/dm 3 )
M=n/V

Normality is measure of concentrations. It is equal to number of gram equivalents of a

solute per liter of solution. Equation of normality is :

Normality=

Weight of solute grams

Volumelitre
Gram equivalent weight

In chemistry, concentration is the measure of how much of a given substance there is

mixed with another substance. This can apply to any sort of chemical mixture, but most
frequently the concept is limited to homogeneous solutions, where it refers to the amount
of solute in the solvent. Dilution in chemistry is process reducing the concentration of a solute in
solution, usually simply by mixing with more solvent. Colorimetric techniques are used to
identify colored solutions and to measure their concentration. Colorimetry relies on colored
solutions absorbing light of a particular wavelength. However the technique can also be used to
analyze colorless substances if they react with a dye.

In this experiment, before during the dilution process, the volume of the FeCl 3 is calculated using
the formula M1V1=M2V2. M1 is concentration of concentrated solution and V1 is the volume
of the solution. M2 is the concentration of dilute solution and V2 is volume of dilute solution.
4

SKU3013 : Chemistry I

D20152072027

After the volume of the dilute solution already calculate, the dilution process. In these
experiment five dilute solutions is prepared. We can determine the concentration of thesolution
according to the color concentration of the solution after added the KCNS solutions the indicator.
After the KCNS is dropped into all dilute solution the color of dilute solution is change.

Figure 1 : After drop KCNS

From the observation, the dilution solution in test tube A change to blood red color. Dilute
solution of test tube B change to dark brown, the dilution solution in test tube C change to
brown, while dilute solution of test tube D change to light brown and the dilution solution of test
tube E change to light peach. The darkest color of the solution in the test tube determine as
higher concentration.
This experiment, we compared the solution B that have been prepared with the five solutions, we
compared based on the color of the solution B that have been prepared with the all five solution.
From the observation, we can see that the color solution of B same the color solution of dilute
solution that we have prepared. So, we decided that the concentration of solution B is the same.
So based on the result we know that, the concentration of solution B is 5.0 10-3 M.
The precaution during doing this experiment is we must clean the all apparatus by distilled water
before use. Besides that, we must measure the volume the solution with properly and use the
right apparatus.
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SKU3013 : Chemistry I

D20152072027

Conclusion :
From this experiment we can know about the molarity, normality and mole concept. We also
learn dilution process and use the equation.
Reference :
1. Brown, T. L. (2014). Chemistry : The Central Science (3rd ed.). Pearson Australia Group Pty
Ltd.
2.

SKU3013 Chemistry I, Laboratory Manual.