Experiment 2 Colorful Solutions of Iron

Color of Fe3+-complex & Fe2+-complex

cation: transition metal
anion: ligand

orbita
l
energy
(free

(spherical

(octahedral

ion)

field)

field)

crystal field stabilization energy ( o )

o energy is
moderated by
ligands.
o will
influence the
complex
absorb energy
from visible
light.
absorbed
versus color
observed. c

c: velocity of light
: wavelength of
light

Color Change of Fe2+(aq) Fe3+(aq)

Fe3+(aq)
A: KSCN(aq)
FeSCN2+(aq)
B: K4Fe(CN)6(aq) Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3(s)

Fe2+(aq)

K2Fe[Fe(CN)6](s)

C: K3Fe(CN)6(aq) Fe[Fe(CN)6](aq)

Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3(s)

D: BaCl2(aq)

FeCl3(aq)

FeCl2(aq) +
BaSO4(s)

E: tannic acid(aq)
F: oxalic acid(aq)

Fe3+-tannate(s)
Fe(C2O4)33(aq)

Fe2+-tannate(aq)
FeC2O4(s)

G: NaOH(aq)

Fe(OH)3(s)

Fe(OH)2(s)

H: Na2S(aq)

FeS(s)

FeS(s)

tin(II) chloride (SnCl2)

Reduction of Fe3+(aq) by Sn2+(aq)

Sn2+(aq) + 2Fe3+(aq) Sn4+(aq) + 2Fe2+(aq)
E = 0.632 V
ceric ammonium nitrate ((NH4)2Ce(NO3)6)

Oxidation of Fe2+(aq) by Ce4+(aq)

Ce4+(aq) + Fe2+(aq) Ce3+(aq) + Fe3+(aq)
E = 0.929 V

Acid-base reaction of bulk Iron

Fe(s) + NaOH(aq)
Fe(s) + H2SO4(aq)

Another test Fe2+(aq) + K3Fe(CN)6(aq)

Iron gall ink (Dark blue ink):

A purple-black or brown-black ink made from
Fe2+ solution and tannic acid.
Ink-bleaching reagent (Ink discoloring solution)
Oxalic acid has stronger interaction for binding
with Fe2+ ion than tannic acid. Oxalic acid can be
employed as ink discoloring solution to remove
the stain formed when iron contact with tannic
acid on the paper.

Apparatus & Materials

magnetic stirrer with heating function
electronic balance
test tubes
beaker (50 mL)
graduated cylinder (25 mL)
staple (bulk iron)
paper

Chemicals
potassium thiocyanate (KSCN)
potassium ferrocyanide (K4Fe(CN)6)
potassium ferricyanide (K3Fe(CN)6)
barium chloride (BaCl2)
tannic acid
oxalic acid
sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
sodium sulfide (Na2S)
ferric chloride (FeCl3)
tin(II) chloride (SnCl2)
sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
ceric ammonium nitrate ((NH4)2Ce(NO3)6)
ammonium iron(II) sulfate ((NH4)2Fe(SO4)6)

Colorful Solutions of Iron

1 drop of

A. Color
change of
Iron (III)
1 drop of

B. Color
change of
Iron (II)

2~3 drops of

10 drops of

(evenly
shake)
(observe
)

(observe
)

(evenly
shake)
(observe
)

(observe
)

2~3 drops of

(observe
)

10
drops of
ddH2O
(observe
)

staple (bulk iron)

10 drops of K3Fe(CN)6(aq)

C. Acid-base
reaction of bulk
Iron

5.0 mL H2SO4 5.0 mL NaOH

ddH2O

(observe
)

(heating to graduation
5)
ddH2O (stir for
3 drops of
Arabian gum(aq)

D. Iron gall
3 drops of
ink (Dark blue dilute H2SO4(aq)
ink)
0.6 g of tannic

Iron gall ink (Dark blue ink)

acid

E. Ink-bleaching reagent
(Ink discoloring

dissolving
)

(after dry)

oxalic acid
ddH O

Results
(A) Color change of Iron (III)
1. add FeCl3(aq), observe the change in test tubes, then record
the results
A:
B:
C:
D:
E:
F:
G:
H:

(A) Color change of Iron (III)

2. add SnCl2(aq), observe the change in test tubes, then record
the results
A:
B:
C:
D:
E:
F:
G:
H:

(B) Color change of Iron (II)

1. add (NH4)2Fe(SO4)2(aq), observe the change in test tubes,
then record the results
A:
B:
C:
D:
E:
F:
G:
H:

(B) Color change of Iron (II)

2. add (NH4)2Ce(NO3)6(aq), observe the change in test tubes,
then record the results
A:
B:
C:
D:
E:
F:
G:
H:

(C) Acid-base reaction of bulk Iron

1.
2.

(D) Iron gall ink

(E) Ink-bleaching reagent

The Experiment of Next week:

The Determination of Vitamin C in Juice
(Estimation of Vitamin C in juice by titration)
Remember to bring the scientific calculator
and the juice without pulp!
Suggestion: lemon juice, orange juice
Apple juice, grape juice and guava juice is not
suggested!