Redox Titration – Potassium Permanganate with an Iron(II) Salt

Assay of ferrous sulfate

(FeSO4.7H2O)
 ferrous sulfate is the chemical compound with the
formula FeSO4.Its molecular weight 278.05,melting
point 329.9ºC. It has a pale green color as a powder,
and as crystals it has a bluish green color, freely soluble
in water.
 The medical uses:
• It is used medically to treat iron deficiency
• Together with other iron compounds, ferrous sulfate is used to
fortify foods and to treat iron-deficiency anemia.
 side effect of ferrous sulfate tablets:
Constipation is a frequent and uncomfortable side effect associated
with the administration of oral iron supplements. Stool softeners
often are prescribed to prevent constipation.

 Chemical principle:
In acidic solution, potassium permanganate rapidly and
quantitatively oxidizes iron(II) to iron(III), while itself being
reduced to manganese(II). The half reactions for the process are:
When these half-reactions are combined to give the overall balanced
chemical reaction equation, a factor of five must be used with the
iron half-reaction so that the number of electrons lost in the overall
oxidation will equal the number of electrons gained in the reduction

The complete molecular equation should be:

10FeSO4 + 2KMnO4 + 8H2SO4 5Fe2(SO4)3 + K2SO4 +
2MnSO4 + 8H2O
Procedure:
1. Carefully crush one tablet of ferrous sulfate (Use a mortar and
pestle ) transfer in a beaker , Add 15 ml of distilled water and stir
to dissolve the solid.
2. Add 8 ml of 3 N sulfuric acid, H2SO4 , to the sample and carefully
filter the sample
3. Titrate with Potassium Permanganate Solution to the endpoint. The
end point is the first appearance of a permanent, pale pink color.
Calculation:

1eq. S of KMnO4 ≡ 1eq. S of FeSO4

1L 1N KMnO4 ≡ ( Wt/eq.Wt.) .FeSO4
1L 1N KMnO4 ≡ 278.05 g/eq. FeSO4
1000 ml 1N KMnO4 ≡ 278.05 g/eq. FeSO4 1000
1ml 1N KMnO4 ≡ 0.27805 g/eq. FeSO4
 Notes:
 Potassium permanganate is one of the most commonly
used oxidizing agents because it is extremely powerful,
inexpensive, and readily available.
 Potassium permanganate is particularly useful among
titrants since it requires no indicator to signal the
endpoint of a titration.
 Potassium permanganate solutions–even at fairly dilute
concentrations–are intensely colored purple.
 The product of the permanganate reduction half-
reaction, manganese(II), in dilute solution shows almost
no color.
Questions for discussion:
1. How can you prevent side effect from using ferrous sulfate
tablets
2. Why we use the factor five with the iron- half reaction
3. Explain why: KMnO4 is the most commonly used oxidizing
agent
4. Explain why: no external indicator is required for this titration
5. Explain why the dark purple color of KMnO4 solution
disappears entirely during the titration
6. Explain why: Filtration in this experiment is very important
7. Explain why: When one drop excess of potassium
permanganate has been added to the sample, the sample will take
on a pale red/pink color?