QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF OXALATE BY

PERMANGANATE TITRATION

K. SALVADOR
1Instituteof Chemistry, College of Science
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
Date Submitted: 21 November 2023
Date Performed: 9 November 2023

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

1. Discuss KMnO4 as a self-indicating titrant. Support your answer with a chemical

equation. Explain why the following precautions are taken in the preparation of KMnO4 in
aqueous media.
KMnO4 is called a self-indicator as it doesn’t require an indicator as its properties in acidic
medium is enough to be able to detect color change that marks the endpoint. It undergoes a distinct
color change when it is reduced. In acidic solutions, permanganate ions (MnO4-) have a deep purple
color. When KMnO4 is used as a titrant, it is reduced to manganous ions (Mn2+), which are colorless.
MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e- → Mn2+ + 4H2O. Certain precautions were also taken in the experiment, first is the
non-exposure of KMnO4 in sunlight which is because it is photosensitive compound that is susceptible
to photodegradation in the presence of 'high energy' light, decomposing to form MnO 2 and
Potassium Manganate. Another is boiling the titrant, boiling was done to hasten the reaction and it
also removes impurities in the distilled water. Lastly is the filtration of the titrant, this is done in
order to remove the precipitated MnO2 which could have also been from the decomposition due to
sunlight.

2. Why is it necessary to perform blank titration in permanganometric titrations?

Blank titration is titration without the analyte. This is done in order to get the difference
between the equivalence point and the end point which is to be subtracted from the result in order
to remove titration error.

3. What is the purpose of heating the oxalate mixture to 70-80°C before titrating it with
KMnO4?
Heating the oxalate mixture to around 70-80°C was done in order to increase the rate of
reaction since the reaction would be slow which could result to over titration. This is also done in
order to detect color change easier.

4. Explain the rationale behind using H2SO4 to acidify the analyte mixture instead of HCl.
Sulfuric acid was used to acidify the mixture instead of HCl because when HCl mixes with
permanganate, a reaction occurs which involves the formation of chlorine which will affect the
results. This is unlike H2SO4 which doesn’t react with permanganate which makes it a good reagent
to acidify the mixture.

5. Discuss the possible sources of errors and their effect on calculated parameters.
One potential cause of inaccuracy could be over titration or incorrect volume reading within
the burette. The computed percentage of Na2C2O4 would increase if the volume was more than what
was actually present.
REFERENCES

[1] Patil, M. Why KMNO4 Is a Self Indicator. https://chrominfo.blogspot.com/2022/06/why

kmno4-is-self-indicator.html#google_vignette (accessed 2023-11-20).

[2] Vogel, Arthur Israel, G. H Jeffery, and Arthur Israel Vogel. Vogel's Textbook Of Quantitative
Chemical Analysis. 4th ed. Harlow, Essex, England: Longman Scientific &
Technical, 1978.

[3] Harris, D. Quantitative Chemical Analysis. https://archive.org/details/daniel-c.-harris

quantitative-chemical-analysis-8th-edition-w.-h.-freeman-2010-3 (accessed
2023-11-20).