Calculation for weight of oxalic acid:

.
Molarity=
( )

M= Í Í1000
( )

0.05 = Í Í1000

.
=

= 0.63 g

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 Experiment – 3
KMnO4 Vs. Oxalic Acid

Aim: To determine volumetrically, the molarity and strength of the given solution of KMnO 4
using solution of oxalic acid.

Materials required: Burette, pipette, measuring cylinder, measuring flask, beaker, watch
glass, spatula, digital balance, conical flask.

Chemical required: KMnO4 solution, Oxalic acid, distilled water, dilute H2SO4.
Theory: This is a redox titration.

Chemical Equation: 2 MnO4- + 16H+ + 5C2O42- à 2Mn+2 +8H2O + 10CO2

Indicator: KMnO4 acts as a self-indicator.

End point: Colourless to permanent pink.

Solution in Burette: KMnO4 solution

Solution in conical flask: oxalic acid solution

Procedure: (i) Preparation of Oxalic acid solution

1. Weighed the clean and dry watch glass and recorded its weight in the note book.
2. Weighed accurately 0.63 g of Oxalic acid crystals on the watch glass.
3. Transferred carefully the weighed Oxalic acid from the watch glass into a clean 100
ml measuring flask using a funnel and a spatula.
4. Washed the watch glass thoroughly with distilled water.
5. Shook the measuring flask gently to dissolve the salt.
6. Added enough distilled water to the measuring flask carefully upto just below the
etched mark on its neck with the help of a wash bottle.
7. Added the last few drops of distilled water with a pipette until the lower level of the
meniscus just touches the mark on the measuring flask.
8. Stoppered the measuring flask and shook it gently to make the solution
homogeneous (i.e. uniform throughout) and labelled it as oxalic acid solution.
(ii) Estimation of molarity of given solution:
1. Rinsed and filled the burette with the given KMnO4 solution and noted the initial
reading of the burette.
2. Rinsed the pipette with the oxalic acid solution and pipetted out 20 ml of it in a
washed titration flask.
3. Added test tube (20 ml) full of dilute H2SO4 to the titration flask.
4. Heated the flask to 600C -700C and added KMnO4 solution from the burette till a
permanent pink colour was imparted to the solution in the titration flask on addition
of a last single drop of KMnO4 solution.
5. Noted the final reading of the burette.
6. Repeated the above steps to get a set of two concordant reading.

Result: The molarity of the given KMnO4 solution is ____ M

The strength of the given KMnO4 solution is ____ g/L
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Observation Table:

S.No. Volume of oxalic acid Burette Reading Volume of

solution (ml Initial Final KMnO4 used
(ml)
1. 20
2. 20
3. 20

Concordant reading: ml

Calculations:

.
=

= ____________ M

Strength of KMnO4 solution = Molarity ÍMolar mass

= _____ M Í 158 g
= _____ g/L

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Precautions:
1. Do not heat beyond 700C, as oxalic acid is decomposed.
2. Read the upper meniscus while taking the burette reading with KMnO 4 solution.
3. Check the state of the balance before weighing.
4. In case, on addition of KMnO4 a brown precipitate is obtained, this shows that either
H2SO4 has not been added or has been added in insufficient amount. In such a case,
throw away the solution and titrate again.
5. Do not hold pipette from its bulb to avoid errors.
6. Last drop of solution in the pipette should not be blown out.
7. Burette should be filled till its nozzle tip.

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