Iodine Clock Reaction

EXPLORATION

Rodrigo Canário | Chemistry HL | 29/11/2021

 1. Introduction
1.1 RESEARCH QUESTION
How does concentration (%/dm3) of hydrogen peroxide affect the time of reaction of the iodine clock?

1.2 INTRODUCTION
The iodine clock reaction consists of the reaction of iodide (I -) ions with hydrogen peroxide (H 2O2) to
produce iodine atoms (I2) which turn the solution dark blue in the presence of starch. What is special
about this reaction is that when iodide and hydrogen peroxide are mixed, there is a delay to the change of
colour, due to Vitamin C being added to the solution, which consumes iodine atoms before the solution
changes colour; only when all the vitamin C is used up does the change in colour occur.

2. Background
2.1 REACTIONS BEING STUDIED
−¿(aq) I 2 (aq)+2 H2 O (aq)¿
H 2 O 2( aq)+2 I →

and

2 S 2 O −2 −2
3 ( aq)+ I 2 (aq) S2 O 6 (aq)+2 I
−¿(aq)¿

2.2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The iodine clock reaction is famous due to the sudden change in colour after a certain amount of time
after the two reagents have been mixed together. It consists of two parts: Hydrogen Peroxide reacts with
Iodide ions to form Iodine atoms, which turn blue in the presence of starch; the catch is that before the
iodine reacts with the starch solution, it reacts with sodium thiosulfate which forms Iodide ions again.
The idea is that as these two reactions happen back and forth, the sodium thiosulfate is fully consumed,
allowing for the Iodine to react with the starch solution and turn dark blue. This experiment is amazing
to study the relationship between concentration of reagents on rate of reaction (kinetics). To study this
branch of chemistry, the collision theory provides us with a good insight of what is going on. The
collision theory states that when certain reagents collide in the right orientation, a reaction will take
place; having this in mind, we can deduce that having a higher concentration of a reagent increases rate
of reaction, since more particles result in more collisions and so the probability that a successful collision
takes place is increased.

2.3 HYPOTHESIS
According to the collision theory, higher concentration of reagents will cause an increase in rate of
reaction. An increased concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide will cause a quicker production of iodine
atoms, leaving more molecules to react with the sodium thiosulfate, meaning it will be consumed faster,

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allowing for the iodine atoms to react with the starch solution. In general, a higher concentration of
Hydrogen Peroxide will mean the solution will turn dark blue faster.

3. Methodology
3.1 VARIABLES
Independent variable: Concentration (g/dm3) of Hydrogen Peroxide. For each test, both solutions will
be 100mL of a mixture of reagents. The solution containing Hydrogen Peroxide will consist of: 10mL of
2M sulphuric acid, a varying volume of 3% hydrogen peroxide (10mL, 15mL, 20mL, 25mL and 3omL)
which is then diluted with distilled water until we are left with 100mL of solution.

Dependent variable: Time of reaction (s). After the preparation of the mixtures containing Hydrogen
Peroxide and Iodine, respectively, they will be poured into the same Erlenmeyer flask. As soon as the
solutions are in the same container, a stopwatch will be started, and it will be stopped as soon as the
colour change occurs. Human error may be a factor since we can’t start and stop the stopwatch at the
exact instant we’re supposed to.

Controlled variables:

Variable Motive How it was controlled

Higher temperatures increase
rate of reaction. Needs to be Temperature of solutions is
Temperature
kept constant throughout the monitored with a thermometer.
different tests.
If the mass of the reagents that
we are not studying is changed,
Mass of iodine it can affect the rate of reaction
due to a larger availability of
those substances.
When preparing each solution,
Physical state, more specifically
each reactant was in the
Physical state of reagents surface area, can increase or
aqueous state before being
decrease rate of reaction.
added to the container.

3.2 PROCEDURE
The experiment will be carried out by mixing two solutions. It will be repeated five separate times,
changing only the concentration of hydrogen peroxide.

Solution An, where n is the number of repetitions

Substance A1 A2 A3 A4 A5
3% Hydrogen 1omL 15mL 20mL 25mL 30mL

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 Peroxide
2M Sulphuric
10mL 10mL 10mL 10mL 10mL
Acid
Distilled
80mL 75mL 7omL 65mL 60mL
Water
Table 2.1.: Composition of solution An
Solution B:
− Solution of 0.04g of sodium thiosulfate in 20mL of water.

− Solution of 0.9g of potassium iodide in 5mL of water.

− 4mL of starch solution.

− 71mL of water.

Steps:
1. 10mL of 2M sulphuric acid and 10mL of 3% hydrogen peroxide were added to a 100mL measuring
cylinder.
2. Reagents were diluted by filling the measuring cylinder up to 100mL with distilled water (Solution A 1).
3. The solution was poured into a 250mL conical flask.
4. In a separate, 100mL measuring cylinder, a solution of 0.04g of sodium thiosulfate in 20mL of water, a
solution of 0.9g of potassium iodide in 5mL of water and 4mL of starch solution were added.
5. Reagents were diluted by filling the measuring cylinder up to 100mL with distilled water (Solution B.
6. The solution was poured into a separate, 250mL conical flask.
7. Solution B was poured into the conical flask containing solution A 1; a stopwatch was started
simultaneously.
8. The stopwatch is stopped as soon as the mixture of solution A1 and solution B changes colour.
9. Step 1 is repeated five times, adding 5mL of 3% hydrogen peroxide to the value of volume of the
previous repetition.

4. Safety considerations
Chemical Hazards/risks Risk prevention
Causes severe irritation when in
3% Hydrogen Wear protective gear. In case of spills or
contact with eyes, skin, and
peroxide leaks,
when inhaled
Burns when in contact with skin In the case of leaks or spills, soak up with
2M Sulphuric
and eyes. Can be deadly when inert absorbent material. Keep in suitable,
Acid
inhaled. closed containers for disposal.
Causes mild irritation when in
Potassium Wear protective gear for eyes and skin.
contact with skin or when
iodide Vacuum or sweep up in case of spill.
inhaled.
Causes mild irritation when in
Sodium Wear protective gear for eyes and skin.
contact with skin or when
thiosulfate Vacuum or sweep up in case of spill.
inhaled.

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5. Reference List
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[online] Available at: https://uwaterloo.ca/chem13-news-magazine/september-2015/activities/
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https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Inorganic_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_and_Web
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− Fisher Scientific (2009). SAFETY DATA SHEET SECTION 1: IDENTIFICATION OF THE

SUBSTANCE/MIXTURE AND OF THE COMPANY/UNDERTAKING 1.1. Product identifier. [online]
Fischersci.com. Available at: https://www.fishersci.se/chemicalProductData_uk/wercs?
itemCode=10558620&lang=EN [Accessed 1 Dec. 2021].

− Fisher Scientific (2019). Material Safety Data Sheet Potassium iodide. [online] Fishersci.com.
Available at: https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/19435.htm [Accessed 1 Dec. 2021].

− Fisher Scientific (2020a). Material Safety Data Sheet 3% Hydrogen Peroxide. [online]
Fishersci.com. Available at: https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/40069.htm [Accessed 1 Dec.
2021].

− Fisher Scientific (2020b). Material Safety Data Sheet Sodium Thiosulfate. [online] Fishersci.com.
Available at: https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/21710.htm [Accessed 1 Dec. 2021].

− Fsu.edu. (2019). Reaction Rates. [online] Available at:

https://chem.fsu.edu/chemlab/chm1046course/rates.html [Accessed 31 Nov. 2021].

− koen2all (2014). Chemistry experiment 28 - Iodine clock reaction. [online] www.youtube.com.

Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qhYDuJt8fI&t=10s [Accessed 1 Dec. 2021].

− The Science Codex. (2017). HL Chemistry IA (23/24). [online] Available at:

https://thesciencecodex.wordpress.com/hl-chemistry-internal-assessment/ [Accessed 31 Nov.
2021].

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