6.8.1
Redox Titrations
Redox Titrations
Redox Titrations
Redox titrations use a redox reaction to measure the concentrations of unknown solutions. Like acid/base titrations, they require an indicator and use the same technique.


Common reagents
Common reagents
- A redox titration is a good way of determining the concentration of Fe2+ in a solution.
- Fe2+ is a reducing agent, so you can titrate it with an oxidising agent.
- A common oxidising agent to use is potassium permanganate, KMnO4.
- KMnO4 can only be reduced in acidic conditions, so you need to add an excess of sulfuric acid.


Doing a titration
Doing a titration
- First, fill the burette with KMnO4.
- Measure out a known volume of Fe2+ solution into a conical flask. Add an excess of sulfuric acid.
- Titrate the Fe2+ solution with the KMnO4 solution. When the colour turns slightly pink, your titration is complete.
- This is because the KMnO4 goes colourless when reduced, so when you see a colour change, all the reducing agent has reacted.


Concordant titrations
Concordant titrations
- There are a lot of places to make errors in titrations, so we need to be sure that our result is accurate.
- One way of doing this is to carry out titrations until we get the same result.
- Concordant titrations are titrations that give the same result, no more than 0.10cm3 apart.
- In practice, you repeat your titration until you get two values this far apart.
Balancing Half-Equations
Balancing Half-Equations
To do some calculations with your titration result, you need to know the equation for the reaction. We use redox half-equations to develop the full equation.


Oxidising Fe2+
Oxidising Fe2+
- We know that if we’re oxidising Fe2+, it’s gonna go to Fe3+ (we can’t take any more electrons off than that!)
- So the half-equation for the oxidation of Fe2+ is:
- Fe2+ → Fe3+ + e-
-min,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
-min,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Reducing KMnO4
Reducing KMnO4
- We know that the KMnO4 goes colourless, so which ion of manganese is colourless?
- Mn2+ is technically a pale pink, but unless it’s very concentrated, you can’t actually see that. This is what we’re reducing it to.
- So part of our half equation is: MnO4- + 5e- → Mn2+
- We now need to balance the number of oxygen atoms in this half equation.


Balancing oxygen and hydrogen
Balancing oxygen and hydrogen
- We’re in solution, so things that can get involved in the reaction are: H+, OH- and water.
- We added acid to the reaction flask, so we can’t have any OH- (it would react with the acid and give water).
- So what’s involved is acid on one side, and water on the other.
- This is a general rule - you can add acid or hydroxide to one side, and water to the other.
 Diagram 1.1.7b - Diffusion of potassium permanganate in water ,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
 Diagram 1.1.7b - Diffusion of potassium permanganate in water ,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
Applying this to KMnO4
Applying this to KMnO4
- For our half equation, we need to react four oxygen atoms from the KMnO4, so here we’re going to use 8H+ ions to make four water molecules.
- The eventual half-equation is:
- MnO4- + 5e- + 8H+ → Mn2+ + 4H2O


Working out the overall equation
Working out the overall equation
- As earlier, our two half equations are:
- MnO4- + 5e- + 8H+ → Mn2+ + 4H2O
- Fe2+ → Fe3+ + e-
- To combine them, just multiply one of the equations to make the number of electrons match.
- So we need 5Fe2+ → 5Fe3+ + 5e- to balance the electrons in the other equation.
- The overall equation is:
- MnO4- + 5Fe2+ + 8H+ → Mn2+ + 4H2O + 5Fe3+
1Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter
1.1Introduction to the Particulate Model of Matter
1.2The Nuclear Atom
1.3Electron Configuration
1.4Counting Particles by Mass: The Mole
1.6Elements, Compounds & Mixtures
1.7States of Matter & Changes of State
1.8Reacting Masses &. Volumes
1.9Solutions
2Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure
2.1The Ionic Model
2.2The Covalent Model
2.3Covalent Structures
2.4The Metallic Model
2.5From Models to Materials
2.6Valence Electrons & Ionic Compounds
2.7Molecular Shape
3Structure - Classification of Matter
3.1The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements
3.2Periodic Trends
3.3Group 1 Alkali Metals
3.4Halogens
3.5Noble gases, group 18
3.6Functional Groups: Classification of Organic
3.7Functional Group Chemistry
3.8Alkanes
3.9Alcohols
4Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?
4.1Endothermic & Exothermic Reactions
4.2Enthalpy of Reaction, Formation, & Hess' Law
5Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?
5.1Kinetics
5.2Rates of Reaction
5.3Stoichometry
5.4Le Châtelier’s Principle
5.5Introduction to Equilibrium
5.6Equilibrium Constant
5.7Reaction Quotient & Equilibrium Constant
6Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change
6.1Proton Transfer Reactions
6.2The pH Scale
6.3Strong & Weak Acids and Bases
6.4Acid Deposition
6.5Types of Organic Reactions
6.6Oxidation & Reduction
6.7Electrochemical Cells
6.9Acid-Base Titrations
6.9.1Titration Calculation Weak Acid & Strong Base
6.9.2Titration Experimental Detail
6.9.3Extended Response - Titration
6.9.4Titration Calculations
6.9.5Titration Curves
6.9.6Titration Calculation Strong Acid & Weak Base
6.9.7IB Multiple Choice - Titrations
6.9.8Polyprotic Acids
6.9.9Titration Calculations Strong Acid & Strong Base
6.9.10Titrations Curves 2
7Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis
7.1Uncertainties & Errors in Measurements & Results
7.2Graphical Techniques
7.3Spectroscopic Identification of Organic Compounds
7.4Infrared Spectroscpy
Jump to other topics
1Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter
1.1Introduction to the Particulate Model of Matter
1.2The Nuclear Atom
1.3Electron Configuration
1.4Counting Particles by Mass: The Mole
1.6Elements, Compounds & Mixtures
1.7States of Matter & Changes of State
1.8Reacting Masses &. Volumes
1.9Solutions
2Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure
2.1The Ionic Model
2.2The Covalent Model
2.3Covalent Structures
2.4The Metallic Model
2.5From Models to Materials
2.6Valence Electrons & Ionic Compounds
2.7Molecular Shape
3Structure - Classification of Matter
3.1The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements
3.2Periodic Trends
3.3Group 1 Alkali Metals
3.4Halogens
3.5Noble gases, group 18
3.6Functional Groups: Classification of Organic
3.7Functional Group Chemistry
3.8Alkanes
3.9Alcohols
4Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?
4.1Endothermic & Exothermic Reactions
4.2Enthalpy of Reaction, Formation, & Hess' Law
5Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?
5.1Kinetics
5.2Rates of Reaction
5.3Stoichometry
5.4Le Châtelier’s Principle
5.5Introduction to Equilibrium
5.6Equilibrium Constant
5.7Reaction Quotient & Equilibrium Constant
6Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change
6.1Proton Transfer Reactions
6.2The pH Scale
6.3Strong & Weak Acids and Bases
6.4Acid Deposition
6.5Types of Organic Reactions
6.6Oxidation & Reduction
6.7Electrochemical Cells
6.9Acid-Base Titrations
6.9.1Titration Calculation Weak Acid & Strong Base
6.9.2Titration Experimental Detail
6.9.3Extended Response - Titration
6.9.4Titration Calculations
6.9.5Titration Curves
6.9.6Titration Calculation Strong Acid & Weak Base
6.9.7IB Multiple Choice - Titrations
6.9.8Polyprotic Acids
6.9.9Titration Calculations Strong Acid & Strong Base
6.9.10Titrations Curves 2
7Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis
7.1Uncertainties & Errors in Measurements & Results
7.2Graphical Techniques
7.3Spectroscopic Identification of Organic Compounds
7.4Infrared Spectroscpy
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