Estimating the Oxidation State of Iron Using

Stoichiometry in a Reaction With Copper (II) Sulfate

Pentahydrate

Group Partner: Collin K.

John Fraser Secondary School

SCH3U0

Dr. McNally

Dec 11, 2023

INTRODUCTION

This experiment dives into a chemical reaction involving iron and copper (II) sulfate

pentahydrate (CuSO₄· 5H₂O). This reaction (single displacement) reacts solid iron that

replaces the copper in the copper sulfate solution which yields copper precipitating as solid

copper in the coffee filter. Because of the multivalence of the iron, it can either form iron

(II) sulfate (FeSO4) or form iron (III) sulfate (Fe₂(SO₄)₃) (Asselin, E. (2020).)

Reaction with iron (II):

Fe(s)+CuSO4(aq) ->Cu(s)+FeSO4(aq)

Reaction with iron (III):

2Fe(s)+3CuSO4(aq) ->3Cu(s)+Fe2(SO4)3(aq)

(Zumdahl & Zumdahl, 2014).

Because of the difference of the reactions between iron (II) and iron (III) the mass of the

product would be different depending on the reaction.Single displacement reactions are

one of the most complex reactions which use parts of trends and findings to show the

outcome of a certain reaction. Single displacement reactions are the interaction between

two reactants,(one being an element and the other being a compound) where the element

displaces another element inside of the compound. (Nelson, 2011) In order for one

element to displace another it must be higher on the reactivity series of ions. In this

experiment solid iron replaces the copper from the copper sulfate which yields the copper

dust in the coffee filter. Grandinetti, C. (n.d.). Stoichiometry is a technique to find the

proportions of elements and compounds inside of a reaction. (Libretexts, 2013) This

technique is usually used to predict the yield of a chemical reaction, as it allows for the

calculation of very precise measurements (Haberer, S. et al, 2011). During this experiment

stoichiometry allowed us to find the proportions of iron and copper, to let us find what

pathway is more likely to happen. Limiting reagent is when the reactant reacts fully and

does not have any left over. (OpenTextbookBC. 2013)In most cases the limiting reagent is

made out to be the element that is usually harder to obtain. In our experiment iron is the

limiting reagent. In this experiment, the excess reagent will be the copper (II) sulfate

pentahydrate, as it can create a result that is more accurate to the calculations. To make sure that

all of the iron in the experiment reacted with the copper (II) sulfate solution. Overall, the

focus remained on copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate and the properties when it reacts with

iron. In this experiment, the main goal was to find a precise chemical equation, showing the

reaction between iron and copper (II) sulfate. With the use of a methodic procedure,

observations, and analysis we can see the changes that go through when iron exchanges

with copper (II) sulfate, and identify the details of the iron element. We are supposed to

identify the balanced chemical equation using the bass before and after the reaction has

happened.

Purpose

Finding the chemical equation for the reaction between iron and copper (II) sulfate is the

aim of this experiment.

Equipment and Materials :

 - Safety goggles

- Scoopula

- 50 mL graduated cylinder

- Stirring rod

- 2 250 mL beakers

- Retort stand

- Ring clamp

- Funnel

- Filter paper

- Plastic material holders

- Drying oven

- Copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4•5H2O)

- Warm distilled water

- Iron filings (Fe)

- Balance

Methods and Procedures :

1. Calculated the stoichiometric amounts of iron filings needed for it to be the limiting

reagent.

2. Personal protective equipment put on, equipment was prepared

3. The workspace was cleared wiped down for any cross contamination

4. Iron filings were measured with the same number as my stoichiometric calculations done

before the lab.

5. 4.00g of Copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate was collected, measured, and placed in a folded

piece of paper to move to our station.

6. 50 mL of distilled water was measured in the graduated cylinder and poured into the

250mL beaker.

7. 4 grams of copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate was dissolved in water and stirred to ensure

all of it was dissolved and to make the collisions more likely to happen.

8. Filter paper was labeled with the members of the group.

9. Weight of the coffee filter paper was measured and written down

10. Measure 0.40 grams of iron fillings

11. Add the iron fillings into the copper (II) sulphate solution while stirring with a stirring

rod.

12. Wait for the iron to completely dissolve

13. Filter the solution through the funnel and the filter paper

14. The residue from the first beaker is then washed with water into the filter allowing all

solids to be collected by the filter.

15. After the liquid has filtered through place the filter into the drying oven to make sure that

it is dry.
 16. The liquid in the second beaker can be disposed into the chemical waste bin.

17. Then once the filter has completely dried, the mass is taken and recorded as the mass of

the copper by subtracting the mass of the filter paper.

Results:

Values

Material Mass

Copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate powder 4.00g

Iron filings 0.4g

Filter paper 1.03g

Copper metal and filter paper combined 1.43g

Mass of copper 0.4g

(Mass of copper and filter paper - mass of
filter paper)

Observations:

Step Observations

Copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate was The compound dissolved fairly easily, with
dissolved in water a bright blue colour.
 Iron was mixed and reacted The grey iron slowly disappeared,which
then was replaced by orange copper.
Solution stayed mainly blue.

Resulting copper was dried The copper became a copper silt, and
dulled in colour down to more of a brown.

Discussion

a) You deliberately selected the limiting reagent in this investigation. What visual

observations confirm that this was indeed the limiting reagent?

When you have selected the limiting reagent and gone through the experiment, the

other reactant doesn’t react fully and will likely have left over. The possible yields of the

reaction could have been, iron (II) sulfate that has a green tint to it, and the other possible

product is iron (III) sulfate which is colorless while the reactant of copper (II) sulfate turns

blue. Moreover, the solid precipitate of copper, was a pinkish orange, which means that the

iron was replaced by the copper.

 b) What was the solid product that was formed during the reaction?

The reaction that took place was using either iron with a 2 or 3 plus charge. Each

resulted in a different equation. Although, in both equations, iron displaces copper

in the solution which results in a copper powder formed in the coffee filter.

c) Predict the mass of solid product that should form for each of the two possible

reactions.

Equation of Iron(II) Sulfate

𝐹𝑒(𝑠) + 𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂4(𝑎𝑞) −> 𝐶𝑢(𝑠) + 𝐹𝑒𝑆𝑂4(𝑎𝑞)

0.4g Fe, 4.0g CuSO4

Moles of Fe:

0.4𝑔 −3
55.845𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙
= 7. 163 × 10 𝑚𝑜𝑙

Ratio:
−3
𝐹𝑒 1 7.163×10 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝐶𝑢
= 1
= 𝑥

−3
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑢 = 7. 163 × 10 𝑚𝑜𝑙

−3
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝐶𝑢 = 7. 163 × 10 𝑚𝑜𝑙 * 63. 546 𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙 = 0. 455𝑔
Equation of Iron(III) Sulfate

2𝐹𝑒(𝑠) + 3𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂4(𝑎𝑞) −> 3𝐶𝑢(𝑠) + 𝐹𝑒2(𝑆𝑂4)3(𝑎𝑞)

Ratio:
−3
𝐹𝑒 2 7.163×10 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝐶𝑢
= 3
= 𝑥

−2
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑢 = 1. 075 × 10 𝑚𝑜𝑙

−2
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝐶𝑢 = 1. 075 × 10 𝑚𝑜𝑙 * 63. 546 𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙 = 0. 683𝑔

d) Based on the evidence. Which of the two possible reactions occurred? Explain your

answer.

The metal that reacted with the copper sulfate was iron (III). The T.Y. of iron (II) was

calculated as .455g. While the theoretical yield of iron (III) was calculated as .683g.

Since our experiment resulted in a mass of 0.4g the theoretical yield cant be less

than the actual yield so it must be iron (III)

e) If the copper residue is heated strongly in the drying process, copper (II) oxide,

CuO(s), may form. What effect would this reaction have on the mass of the copper

residue you collected?

The effect would be that there would be an increase in the mass of the copper

residue. This is because the copper (II) oxide involved with the addition of oxygen to

the copper would result in a compound that is heavier than the original copper

metal. We can tell that CuO also has a greater molar mass than copper (II) due to the

addition of the oxygen because the extra mass would heat up which would then

cause greater mass than the initial mass.

f) Suggest a plan for conducting the investigation so that the other reactant is the

limiting reagent.

If copper (II) sulfate is the limiting reagent, then it would have to be added to a

certain weight of iron dust rather than the vice versa. The lab would be very similar

but the beaker would contain too much iron filings. Then the copper (II) sulfate

would then be added to the filings, which would then react. The mixture would
 conclude by draining & drying it which would result in a mix of both solid iron and

copper.

What reactant masses do you recommend using for this alternative investigation?

For the different reaction, the copper (II) sulfate is the limiting reactant; the mass would

depend on other variables like the iron fillings. For reaction #1 Fe(s) +

CuSo4(aq)->Cu(s)+FeSo4(aq), a good ratio would be 1 gram of the iron fillings.

Reaction with iron (II):

Fe(s)+CuSO4(aq) ->Cu(s)+FeSO4(aq)

Ratio:

FeCuSO4=11=7.16310-2molx

moles of CuSO45H2O=1.79110-2 mol

mass CuSO45H2O=1.79110-2 mol*249.685 g/mol=4.47g

Reaction with iron (III)

2Fe(s)+3CuSO4(aq) ->3Cu(s)+Fe2(SO4)3(aq)

Ratio: FeCuSO4=23=0.01791x

moles of CuSO45H2O=2.68710-2 mol

mass CuSO45H2O=2.68710-2 mol*249.685 g/mol=6.71g

 g) What problem will arise when you attempt to collect copper residue?

There could be a problem if the end product will have a mix of unwanted compounds in

the copper. Both of these metals will be in a solid form, which would be hard to separate

from each other because of how fine they are. A method to separate copper and iron

could be to use a certain magnet. Iron is magnetic and copper is not (Britannica, Dec 18

2023) by using a magnet you can magnetize the iron to the magnet and separate them by

moving the iron to a different flask or container.

References:

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Magnet." Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Dec. 2023,

https://www.britannica.com/science/magnet . Accessed 11 December 2023.

Grandinetti, C. (n.d.). Activity series. Retrieved December 11, 2023, from

https://www.grandinetti.org/activity-series

Asselin, M. (2023). [Researcher profile]. Retrieved from

https://www.grad.ubc.ca/researcher/15243-asselin

Haberer, S., DiGiuseppe, M., Salciccioli, K. & Sanader, M. (2011). Nelson Chemistry 11. Nelson

Education.

Smith, R. (2023). Introductory chemistry. OpenTextBC.

https://opentextbc.ca/introductorychemistry/chapter/limiting-reagents/