Written Report

In
Technical Analysis
(IODOMETRY)

ALEXIE B. BALLETA
BS-CHEMISTRY IV

MA. LOURDES C. ALVAREZ, PhD.

Professor
 IODOMETRY
Iodometry is the process of titration which involves iodine in the solution. The term
iodometry describes the type of titration that uses a standardized sodium thiosulfate as the
titrant. Sodium thiosulfate is one of the few stable reducing agents where oxidization of air is
concerned.

Objectives
 To define what is iodometry.
 To know the oxidation of iodide in performing iodometric titration.
 To know the important considerations in performing iodometric titration.
 To know the sources of error in iodometric titration.

Iodometry is a quantitative analysis of a solution of an oxidizing agent by adding an

iodide which reacts to form iodine. Iodometry is also known as iodometric titration. Is a
method of volumetric analysis, a redox titration where the appearance or disappearance of
elementary iodine indicates the endpoint. In iodometry, it involves an indirect titration of iodine
liberated by reaction with the analyte where as, in iodimetry it involves a direct titration using
iodine as the titrant.

Oxidation of Iodide

In performing the iodometric titration, the oxidation of iodide is done in two steps;

First step
The first step is done by the reaction between the oxidizing agents (KMnO 4, K2Cr2O7,
CuSO4, peroxides, etc.) and KI (excess) in a neutral or in a weak acidic medium. Thus the iodine
is quickly liberated.
KI + Oxidizing Agent  I2

K2Cr2O7 + 6KI + 7H2SO4 Cr2 (SO4)3 + 4K2SO4 + 7H2O + 3I2

Second step
In this step, the liberated iodine (in the first step) is titrated with standard solution of
sodium thiosulfate. Starch is used as indicator. At the end point, the blue or violet color of
starch indicator disappears due to the change of iodine to iodide.

I2 + 2Na2S2O32-  Na2S4O62- + 2NaI-

So the titration in which the liberated iodine (from potassium iodide) is titrated with a
standard solution of sodium thiosulfate is known as “iodometric titration”.
Important Considerations

Iodometric titration needs to be done in a weak acid environment which is why we need
to remember the following;

1. The iodine solution used in the titration needs to be at pH < 8.5. Because at a base pH iodine
disproportionate – a particular kind of oxidoreduction reaction where one substance partly
oxidizes and partly reduces.

2. Sodium thiosulfate needs a neutral or weak acid environment. Because, in a strong acid
environment the thiosulfate decomposes to S2.

3. In acid environments the iodide is oxidized to iodine.

Sources of Error

1. Loss of iodine by evaporation from the solution. This can be minimized by having a large
excess of iodide in order to keep the iodine tied up as tri-iodide ion. It should also be apparent
that the titrations involving iodine must be made in cold solutions in order to minimize loss
through evaporation.

2. Starch solutions that are no longer fresh or improperly prepared. The indicator will then not
behave properly at the endpoint and a quantitative determination is not possible.

Application

• Food Industry – in food industry the iodometry is widely used to determine the concentration
of hydroperoxides in any given lipid matrix (oils and fats for human consumption).

• Wine Industry – it is used for determining sulphur dioxide in wine. Because sulphur
dioxide has a several important functions such as; it regulates the fermentation of alcohol, it
acts as an antioxidant and purifier, it aids in the extraction of polyphenolic substances and it
lowers the fermentation temperature.

• Determination of elements such as;

*Copper *Iron *Zinc
*Nickel *Cobalt *Silver
Other metals such as;
*Arsenic *Iodide
*Bromide *Sulphide
Conclusion

Iodometry is also known as iodometric titration. Is a quantitative analysis that involves

iodine in the solution and uses a standardized sodium thiosulfate as the titrant. Sodium
thiosulfate is one of the few stable reducing agents where oxidization of air is concerned. In
iodometry, it involves an indirect titration of liberated iodine using standard solution of
thiosulfate and can be used to quantify oxidizing agents while in iodimetry it involves a direct
titration using iodine as the titrant and can be used to quantify reducing agents.

In performing the iodometric titration, the oxidation of iodide is done in two steps; the
first step is done by the reaction between the oxidizing agents and KI (excess) in a neutral or in
a weak acidic medium and second the liberated iodine is titrated with standard solution of
sodium thiosulfate. Starch solution is used as indicator. At the end point, the blue or violet color
of starch indicator disappears.

Iodometry has many uses it can be used in determining elements and metals, it also
used in food and wine industry. In food industry it is used to determine the concentration of
hydroperoxides in any given lipids for the human consumption. While in wine industry it is
used for determining sulphur dioxide in wine.

References

“Iodometric Determination of Cu in Brass – Chemistry Libre Texts”

https://chem.libretexts.org/Ancillary_Materials/LaboratoryExperiments/Wet_Lab_Experiments
/Analytical_Chemistry_Labs/Iodometric_Determination_of_Cu_in_Brass. Retrieved on April
10,2019.

http://chemonline24.blogspot.com/2016/12/iodometric-titration. Retrieved on April 02, 2019.

www.federica.unina.it/agraria/analytical-chemistry/iodometry/. Retrieved on April 03, 2019.

www.titrations.info/iodometric-titration. Retrieved on April 03, 2019.