PAG 12.

1: investigating iron tablets

Background information:
 Iron tablets contain ferrous sulphate.1 Ferrous sulphate
is a hydrated form of iron (II) sulphate. Iron tablets are
used to treat and prevent iron deficiency anaemia
 Iron is used in the body for growth and development.
The iron is used to make haemoglobin which is a protein
found in red blood cells which carries oxygen from the
lungs to the rest of the body. Iron is also used make
hormones in the body.2
 People who take iron tablets are either anaemia or at
risk of developing anaemia. This is because iron store
are low in the body.3
 In every capsule of an iron tablets, there is 14mg of iron
in a capsule. Adults, pregnant women, and children over
the age of 12 only take 1 capsule daily. So that is 14mg
of iron an individual digests.4
 To find the concentration of iron ions by titrations with
potassium manganate (VII) in the presence of dilute
sulphuric acid. The potassium solution is run from a
burette. At first it turns colourless when it reacts with
the iron solution. The end point is the first trace of
permanent pink in the solution showing tiny excess of

1
NHS website, medicines A to Z [online] Last accessed 14 September 2023
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/#nhsuk-nav-a-z
2
National institutes of health, Iron consumer [online] Last accessed 14 September 2023
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-Consumer/3
3
The blood safety and conservation team (June 2015), taking iron supplements information for patients
[online] last accessed 14 September 2023 https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/leaflets/files/11903Piron.pdf
4
Active iron, iron tablets supplements [online] last accessed 14 September 2023
https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/active-iron-capsules-60017341
 magnate (VII) ions. The magnate ions oxidises iron (II) to
iron (III) ions. The half equation: Fe^2+ —-> Fe^3+ + e-5

Planning of experiment:

Equipment needed:
 Weighing boat
 Balance
 Five iron tablets
 Pestle and mortar
 150 cm3 (1 mol dm-3) sulphuric acid
 Distilled water
 100 cm3 graduated volumetric flask
 Stand and clamp
 Burette
 25 cm3 volumetric pipette
 Filter funnel and paper
 150 cm3 (0.005 mol dm-3) of potassium magnate
solution
 100 cm3 conical flask to mix iron tablets and water
 250 cm3 conical flask to conduct titration

Procedure:
1. Crush the 5 iron tablets using a pestle and mortar into
fine powder
2. Transfer the crushed iron tablets to a weighing boat and
measure the combined masses accurately .
3. Add crushed iron tablets into 100cm3 conical flask and
reweigh weighing boat – record the difference in mass

5
Jim Clark (2003), IRON, [online] last acceded 14 September 2023
https://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/transition/iron.html
4. Add 50 cm3 of 1 mol dm-3 of sulfuric acid into conical
flask with the crushed tablets. Stir to dissolve as much of
the tablets as possible.
5. Without disturbing the residue, filter the solution into
volumetric flask (to remove any solids). Rinse the conical
flask with remaining 100cm3 of sulfuric acid and add the
washings to the volumetric flask. Make up to the mark
with distilled water in the countrified flask. Add stopper
and shake until everything is combined – this is a
solutions of acidified iron (II) sulfate
6. Place 25 cm3 of solution into 250cm3 conical flask
7. Titrate the iron(II) solution with 15pcm3 0.005 mol dm-3
of potassium manganate(VII) solution from a burette
until the mixture has just turned pink ( we are using a
concentration of 0.005 as we are aiming for titre
between 20cm3 – 27cm3). On standing, the pink colour
will disappear because there is a secondary reaction
between the KMnO4 and another ingredient in the
tablet. Do not add any more KMnO4.
8. Repeat titration until concordant values are obtained
and record results in an appropriate format.

5Fe?+ + MnO4 + 8H+ -› 5Fe3+ + Mn?+ + 4H20

mols of MnO4-
22.5/1000= 0.0225
0.005 x 0.0225 = 1.125x10-4 mols
 Mols of Fe2+
1.125x10-4 x 5 = 5.625x10-4

Risk assessment:
Iron tablets Low hazard (skin When handling
and eye irritation) must always wear
gloves and goggles
Sulfuric acid Irritant (skin and Wear goggles and
eyes protective gloves
and use required
amount
Potassium Low hazard but Wear eye
manganate may stain if split protection and
hands or clothing avoid skin contact