EXPERIMENT – 2

Aim – To prepare M/20 solution of Mohr’s salt and using this solution find out molarity
and strength of the given potassium permanganate (KMnO 4) solution.
Theory – Potassium permanganate is a strong oxidant in the presence of sulfuric acid.
Mohr salt is a double salt forming a single crystalline structure having the formula
(NH4)2. FeSO4. 6H2O. The chemical name for Mohr’s salt is ferrous ammonium
sulfate.
In this titration Mohr salt acts as a reducing agent and potassium permanganate acts as
an oxidising agent. So, the reaction between Mohr’s salt and potassium permanganate
is a redox reaction. In this redox reaction, ferrous ion from Mohr’s salt gets oxidised and
pink coloured of manganese present in potassium permanganate, which is in the +7
oxidation state gets reduced to colourless Mn2+ state.
The chemical reaction and the molecular chemical equation is given below.
Reduction half reaction –
2KMnO4 + 3H2SO4 → K2SO4 + 2MnSO4 + 3H2O + 5[O]
Oxidation half reaction –
[2FeSO4(NH4)2SO4.6H2O + H2SO4 + [O] → Fe2(SO4)3 + 2(NH4)2SO4 + 13H2O] x 5
Overall reaction –
2KMnO4 + 10FeSO4(NH4)2SO4.6H2O+ 8H2SO4 → K2SO4+ 2MnSO4+ 5Fe2(SO4)3+
10(NH4)2SO4+ 68H2O
The ionic equation involved in the process is given below.
Oxidation half reaction – [Fe2+ → Fe3+ – e–] x 5
Reduction half reaction – MnO4– + 8H+ + 5e– → Mn2+ + 4H2O
Overall ionic equation – MnO4– + 8H+ + 5Fe2+ → Mn2+ + 5Fe3+ + 4H2O
This titration is based upon oxidation-reduction titrations. When ferrous ammonium
sulfate solution is titrated against potassium permanganate in the presence of acidic
medium by sulfuric acid. Acidic medium is necessary in order to prevent precipitation
of manganese oxide. Here KMnO4 acts as a self indicator and this titration is called
permanganate titration
Materials Required –
Apparatus Required – weighing bottle, weight box, volumetric flask, conical flask,
burette, pipette, clamp stand, chemical balance, beakers.
Chemicals Required – distilled water, dilute sulphuric acid, potassium
permanganate solution.
calculations involved

Preparation of 250ml of M/20 Solution of Mohr’s salt –

1. Molar mass of Mohr’s salt is 392gmol . -1

250cm of M/20 potassium permanganate require Mohr’s salt of =

3

= 4.9g

Observation Table:
Volume of Mohr’s salt solution taken – 20ml.

Burette Reading
S.No. Volume of KMnO used in ml 4

Initial Final
1.
2.
3.

Calculation:
N M V = N M V _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (1)
1 1 1 2 2 2

N = 5 (as MnO4– + 8H+ + 5e– → Mn2+ + 4H2O, gain of 5electrons)

1

V = Concordant value of KMnO obtained in the experiment. Suppose it’s ‘a’.

1 4

M =?
1

N = 1(as[Fe → Fe – e ]
2
2+ 3+ –

V = 20ml
2

M = 1/20M
2

Now putting the values of N , V , N , M ,V in equation (1)-

1 1 2 2 2

=
=
=
Strength of KMnO solution = Molarity * Molar mass
4

=
=
Result – Molarity of given KMnO solution ______mole/l4

Strength of given KMnO solution______g/l 4

Precautions –
1. Always rinse the burette and pipette before use.
2. Clean all the apparatus by distilled water before the experiment.
3. Always read upper meniscus in the burette as KMnO is dark in colour.
4

4. Use diluted sulfuric acid in the experiment.

5. Detect the end point when the solution gives permanent light pink colour.
Don’t keep adding the KMnO solution after it. Immediately note the
4

reading of burette.
6. Strength of KMnO solution should be taken up to three decimals.
4

7. Place white tile below the conical flask so that detection of the end point
will be easier.
8. Continue the titration at least until three concordant readings are obtained.