Expt.

No: 5

Determination of Strength of Iron and the number of Water molecules of Crystallization in Mohrs salt using Standard Potassium Dichromate solution

Aim To determine the strength of iron and the number of water molecules of crystallization in Mohrs salt provided standard potassium dichromate solution (N/20), using diphenyl amine as internal indicator. Theory Mohrs salt is ferrous ammonium sulphate [FeSO4.(NH4)2SO4.6H2O]. For determination of the amount of iron in the given solution of Mohrs salt, a known volume of this solution is titrated with standard potassium dichromate solution (K2Cr2O7) in a medium acidified with

dilute sulphuric acid. Potassium dichromate oxidises ferrous sulphate (FeSO4) present in Mohrs salt into ferric sulphate [Fe2(SO4)3]. +
+ + + : + + + +

For finding out the end point, internal indicator diphenyl amine is used. At the end point, all the ferrous ions present in the solution get completely oxidised to ferric ions by chromate ions and as soon as a slight excess of potassium dichromate solution is added. It leads to the oxidation of diphenyl amine which results in the formation of a blue coloured complex. This indicates the end point of the titration.

Oxidation Blue Coloured complex with K 2Cr2O 7

N H

Diphenyl amine

The number of water of water molecules of crystallization in Mohrs salt can be calculated from the following equation, + =
1

Observations and Calculations: Volume of given S.No solution of Mohrs salt in ml 1 2 3 4 Concordant Volume of K2Cr2O7 solution, V1 =ml = . ml .....ml Burette Readings in ml Initial Final

Volume of K2Cr2O7 solution in ml

Normality of standard K2Cr2O7 solution, N1 Volume of standard K2Cr2O7 solution, V1 Volume of given solution of Mohrs salt, V2

= = =

Normality of given solution of Mohrs salt, N2 can be calculated from the normality formula, i.e., N1 x V1 = N2 x V2 Normality of given solution of Mohrs salt, N2 = = The strength of iron in the given sample of = Mohrs salt = The strength of anhydrated Mohrs salt = = The strength of hydrated Mohrs salt Strength of hydrated salt 20 g/Lit = Strength of anhydrated salt . g/Lit The number of water molecules of crystallization in Mohrs salt, x = = = ..N . = . g/Lit g/Lit . = g/Lit .. g/Lit 20 g/Lit + ..

Apparatus: Burette, Conical flask, Pipette, Measuring flask Reagents: Standard potassium dichromate solution , dilute sulphuric acid, 1:1 phosphoric acid,

Indicator diphenyl amine Procedure: Pipette out 20 ml of given solution of Mohrs salt into a conical flask, add 5 ml of dilute sulphuric acid, 2-3 ml of 1:1 phosphoric acid and then two drops of diphenyl amine to this solution. Run the potassium dichromate solution in small lots from the burette, shaking the conical flask after each addition and also stirred at regular intervals. At the end point, the colourless solution becomes deep blue. Note down the volume of the titrant used. The titration is repeated until a concordant volume is obtained. Result: (i) The strength of iron in the given sample of Mohrs salt is.g/Lit (ii) The number of water molecules of crystallization in Mohrs salt.