TITLE

REDOX TITRATION

METHODS
1. A clean burette was rinsed and filled with potassium permanganate solution.The air
bubble was removed from a nozzle of burette by releasing some of the solutions.
2. 0.3g to 0.4g of dried sodium oxalate was weighed accurately. The mass of sodium
oxalate was recorded and transferred into a conical flask.
3. 40mL of 1.0M sulphuric acid was added into a conical flask and heated gently to 60
degree celsius.
4. Without delay, the solution was titrated with potassium permanganate solution until the
first persistent pink colour. Temperature should be maintained at 55-57 degree celsius.
5. The titration was repeated to obtain 2 acceptable results and the data was recorded.

RESULTS
REFER TO DATASHEET

QUESTIONS
1. Write the overall chemical equation for the redox reaction between potassium
permanganate and sodium oxalate.
2KMnO4 + 8H2SO4 + 5Na2C2O4 → 2MnSO4 + 8H2O + 10CO2 + 5Na2SO4 + K2SO4

2. Calculate the actual molarity of potassium permanganate solution.

TRIAL 1 5 Mol Na2C2O4 ≡ 2 Mol KMnO4

Mol Na2C2O4 =
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠(𝑔) 0.00246 mol Na2C2O4 ≡ 0.000984 mol KMnO4
−
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 (𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 )
0.3297
= 134 Mol KMnO4 = MV
= 0.00246 mol 0.000984 mol = M (0.0094)
M = 0.105 M

TRIAL 2 5 Mol Na2C2O4 ≡ 2 Mol KMnO4

Mol Na2C2O4 =
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠(𝑔) 0.00226 mol Na2C2O4 ≡ 0.000904 mol KMnO4
−
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 (𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 )
0.3026
= 134 Mol KMnO4 = MV
= 0.00226 mol 0.000904 mol = M (0.0086)
M = 0.105 M
 TRIAL 3 5 Mol Na2C2O4 ≡ 2 Mol KMnO4
Mol Na2C2O4 =
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠(𝑔) 0.00237 mol Na2C2O4 ≡ 0.000948 mol KMnO4
−
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 (𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 )
0.3177
= 134 Mol KMnO4 = MV
0.000948 mol = M (0.009)
= 0.00237 mol
M = 0.105 M

𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 1 + 𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 2 + 𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 3

Average molarity of KMnO4 =
3
0.105 + 0.105 + 0..105
= 3
=0.105 M

3. Explain why no indicator is needed in this experiment.

The function of the indicator is to help indicate the colour changes in a colourless
solution. Some redox titrations do not require an indicator, due to the intense color of the
constituents. For instance, in permanganometry a slight persisting pink color signals the
endpoint of the titration because of the color of the excess oxidizing agent potassium
permanganate.

4. Explain why heating is necessary in the standardization of potassium permanganate.

This is because increasing the temperature increases the Kinetic energy, and hence more
molecules would have energy greater than the activation energy resulting in increased rate
and completion of the reaction. Hence oxalic acid should be heated in redox titration
againsts 𝐾𝑀𝑛𝑂 .
4

DISCUSSION

Redox or oxidation-reduction reactions are considered electron-transfer reactions. It occur

simultaneously. Redox reaction involves changes in oxidation number of elements in reactant
and product. The term oxidation reaction refers to the half-reaction that involves loss of
electrons. A reduction reaction is half-reaction that involves gain of electrons. Redox is used in
standardizing solutions and determining an element in reactants.

2KMnO4 + 8H2SO4 + 5Na2C2O4 → 2MnSO4 + 8H2O + 10CO2 + 5Na2SO4 + K2SO4

Standardization is very important. It used to determine their exact concentration of a solution.

In this experiment, sodium oxalate (Na2C2O4) is used to standardize potassium permanganate
(KMnO4 Na2C2O4 acts as a reducing reagent by losing electrons to MnO4- meanwhile KMnO4
acts as oxidizing agent due to the gain of electrons from Na2C2O4.

From the data obtained, we can calculate the mol of sodium oxalate used in the experiment for
all 3 trials which is 0.00246 mol, 0.00226 mol and 0.00237 mol respectively. Based on the
equation, we can obtain the mol of potassium permanganate which is 0.000984 mol, 0.000904
mol and 0.000948 mol for trial 1, trial 2 and trial 3. The volume of KMnO4 used for trial 1 is
9.40mL, 8.60mL for trial 2 and 9.00mL for trial 3. From this, we can obtain the molarity of
KMnO4 by using formula :
Mol of KMnO4 = MV
Thus, the average molarity of KMnO4 is 0.105M.

To get reliable results, there are a few safety precautions that must be taken. To acquire an
accurate reading from the burette, the air gaps must be taken out, and the funnel must always
be removed before documenting the burette's initial reading.

CONCLUSION
From this experiment, the potassium permanganate can be standardized by titration method.
The molarity of KMnO4 can also be determined. Based on the calculations, the molarity
for KMnO4 obtained using the experimental result is 0.105 M. The process in this reaction is a
redox that shows the solution can change its colour from colourless to pale pink.

The equation is :
2KMnO4 + 8H2SO4 + 5Na2C2O4 → 2MnSO4 + 8H2O + 10CO2 + 5Na2SO4 + K2SO4
KMnO4 is an oxidizing agent which undergoes reduction and transfers the electrons to 10H+ to
form water and convert into 2MnO2+. Solution containing MnO4- ions are purple in colour and the
solution containing Mn2+ ions are colourless and hence, the permanganate solution is
decolourised when added to a solution of a reducing agent.

REFERENCES
Doubtnut. (n.d.). Answer the following : Why do we heat the solution of oxalic acid i. Doubtnut.
https://www.doubtnut.com/qna/181254212

2-Oxidation reduction (Redox) titration. (n.d.).

https://www.du.edu.eg/upFilesCenter/sci/1584999689.pdf