Title: Determination of Hypochlorite Content of Bleach

Aim: To determine the Hypochlorite Content of Bleach

Reagents: Bleach, Sodium thiosulfate solution, acidified potassium iodide solution, 10%
Sulphuric acid solution, starch indicator, solid potassium iodide and distilled water.
Procedure:
A. STANDARDIZATION OF SODIUM THIOSUPLHATE
1. The burette was rinsed with a small amount of sodium thiosulfate and filled to the
zero mark.
2. 0.7g of potassium iodate was weighed out on a filter paper. This was then carefully
transferred to a 100ml volumetric flask with the aid of a filter funnel and the solution
was then brought to the mark by the addition of distilled water.
3. Afterward, 25ml of the potassium iodate solution was pipetted and transferred into a
conical flask and 10ml of the 10% sulphuric acid solution was added along with 2g of
solid potassium iodide.
4. This was then titrated with thiosulphate solution until the brown colour of the solution
becomes pale yellow.
5. Starch indicator (2 drops) was added, and titration continued until a colourless
endpoint is achieved.
6. The burette reading was recorded and steps c – e was repeated until two concordant
values were obtained.

B. HYPOCHLORITE CONTENT OF BLEACH

1. The burette was rinsed with a small amount of sodium thiosulfate and filled to the
zero mark. 
2. 10ml of the bleach provided was pipetted and transferred into a 100ml volumetric
flask. The solution was then brought up to the mark by the addition of distilled water.
3. 25ml of the bleach solution prepared in (b) above was pipetted and transferred to a
conical flask. 
4. 50ml of the acidified potassium iodide provided was measured and added to the
conical flask. 
5. Afterward, this was titrated with the thiosulphate in the burette until the solution in
the flask became pale yellow.
6. 2 drops of the starch indicator were then added and titration continued until a
colourless endpoint is achieved.
7. The burette reading was recorded and steps c – f was repeated until two concordant
values were obtained.
Results:
a. STANDARDIZATION OF SODIUM THIOSUPLHATE
Titration 1 Titration 2
Initial Burette Reading/cm3 0 25
Final Burette Reading/cm3 24.8 49.9
 Volume of S2O32/cm3 24.8 24.9
Initial Volume of S2O32 24.8 42.2
Final Volume Upon Adding Starch Indicator 25 42.9
Volume Used After Adding Starch Indicator 0.2 0.1
TABLE SHOWING THE STANDARDIZATION OF SODIUM THIOSUPLHATE
TITRATION

Equations For (A): 

(i) IO3- + 8I- + 6H+ → 3I3- + 3H2O 
(ii) 2S2O32- + I3- → S4O62- + 3I-

b. HYPOCHLORITE CONTENT OF BLEACH

Rough 1 2
Initial Burette Reading/cm3 0 18.2 34.2

Final Burette Reading/cm3 18.2 34.2 51.2

Volume of Na2S2O3/cm3 18.2 16 17

TABLE SHOWING THE HYPOCHLORITE CONTENT OF BLEACH TITRATION

Equations For (B): 

(iii) ClO- + 3I- + 2H+→ Cl- + I3- + H2O 
(iv) 2S2O32- + I3- → S4O62- + 3I-

Calculations:
A. STANDARDIZATION OF SODIUM THIOSULPHATE
a. Determine the molar concentration of potassium iodate prepared (0.7g of potassium
iodate salt in a 100 cm3 volumetric flask).

0.7
Mol of KIO3 = 
RMM of KIO 3
0.7
= 
(39+127+ 48)
0.7
=
214
= 0.00327mol 
0.00327
Molar Concentration of KIO3 =
100 cm3
0.00327
= (100/1000)
 0.00327
= 0.1
= 0.0327moldm-3

b. Using your answer to (a) above, determine the moles of iodate in the 25cm3 of
solution.

# of mol IO3 in 25cm3 = 25cm3 × 0.0327moldm-3 

25
= × 0.0327 
1000
= 0.025 × 0.0327 
= 0.0008175mol

c. Using equations (i) and (ii), determine the mole ratio of iodate to thiosulphate.

Equations: (i) IO3- + 8I- + 6H+ → 3I3- + 3H2O 

(ii) 2S2O32- + I3- → S4O62- + 3I- 

Hence, (i) [IO3- + 8I- + 6H+ → 3I3- + 3H2O] × 1 

(ii) [2S2O32- + I3- → S4O62- + 3I-] × 3 
(2ii) 6S2O32- + 3I3- → 3S4O62- + 9I- 
Added balanced equation: = IO3- + 8I- + 6H++ 6S2O32-→ 3H2O + 3S4O62- + 9I-
Mole ratio of IO3to S2O32- = 1:6

d. Using the mole ratio from (c) above, determine the moles of thiosulphate which will
react with 25cm3 of the iodate solution.
Since the mole ratio of IO3: S2O32-is 1:6, then, the # of mol S2O32-reacted with 25cm3of the
iodate solution: 
= 6 * (# of moles of IO3) 
= 6 * 0.0008175mol 
= 0.004905mol S2O32-
e. Determine the average titre volume of thiosulphate used in the titration.
Average volume of S2O32- = (24.8 + 24.9) / 2 
= 49.7 / 2 
= 24.85cm3

f. Determine the molar concentration of sodium thiosulphate used.

0.004905 mol
M of Na2S2O3 =  
24.85 cm3
 0.004905
=
(24.85/1000)
0.004905
=
0.02485
= 0.2moldm-3 

B. TITRATION OF BLEACH SOLUTION

a. Using two concordant values, determine the average titre volume of thiosulphate used
in the titrations.

(17+16)
Avg. volume =  
2
33
=  2
= 16.5cm3
b. Determine the moles of thiosulphate present in the average titre volume.

# of mol S O = 0.2moldm-3 × 16.5cm3 

2 3
2-

16.5
= 0.2 ×  1000
= 0.2 × 0.0165 
= 0.0033mol
c.  Using equations (iii) and (iv), determine the mole ratio of thiosulphate to
hypochlorite.

Equations: (iii) ClO + 3I + 2H → Cl + I + H O 

- - + -
3
-
2

(iv) 2S O + I → S O + 3I  
2 3
2-
3
-
4 6
2- -

Added equation: ClO + 2H + 2S O → S O + Cl + H O Mole ratio of

- +-
2 3
2-
4 6
2- -
2

thiosulphate to hypochlorite = 1 : 2

d. Using your answer above, determine the moles of hypochlorite in 25cm3of the diluted
bleach solution.

Since the mole ratio of ClO : S O is 1 : 2, then, the # of mol S O reacted

-
2 3
2-
2 3
2-

with 25cm of the iodate solution: 

3

¿ of mol S 2O 3 2
= 2
0.0033 mol
=  2
= 0.00165mol ClO -
 e. Determine the molar concentration of hypochlorite in the diluted bleach
solution.

M of ClO in diluted bleach solution:

-

¿
= 0.00165 mol ClO− 25 cm 3 ¿

0.00165
= ( 25 )
1000
0.00165
=  0.025
= 0.066moldm-3 

f. Giving consideration to how the diluted bleach solution was prepared,

determine the molar concentration of the original bleach sample.

Vol . of Solution
Dilution Factor =  Vol . of Stock
250 cm3
=  25 cm3
= 10 

M of original bleach sample = 0.066moldm-3 × 10 

= 0.66moldm-3

g. Using the molar mass of sodium hypochlorite, determine the mass

concentration of sodium hypochlorite in the original bleach.

Mass Concentration of NaClO = RMM of NaClO 0.66moldm-3

= (23 + 35.5 + 16) × 0.66 

= 74.5 × 0.66 
= 49.17gdm-3
 h. Assuming that the density of bleach is 1.08gcm-3, determine the mass of
1000cm (1 dm ) of bleach.
3 3

Mass of 1000cm3 (1 dm3) of bleach =

=1.08gcm03 × 1000cm3
= 1.08 × 1000
= 1080gcm-3

i. Using your answers to (g) and (h) above, determine the percentage by
weight of sodium hypochlorite in the bleach.

Mass of NaClO of bleach

% Hypochlorite by weight: = [ Mass of 1 dm 3 of bleach ] × 100
49.17
= [ 1080 ] × 100 

= 0.0455 × 100 
= 4.5%

Conclusion:
The hypochlorite content of bleach was determined to be 0.066moldm-3