Analysis of Hydrogen Peroxide

A Redox Titration

Introduction
Hydrogen peroxide is regarded as an "environmentally friendly" alternative to chlorine for water
purification and wastewater treatment. Because hydrogen peroxide decomposes in the presence
of heat, light, or other catalysts, the quality of a hydrogen peroxide solution must be checked
regularly to maintain its effectiveness. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide can be analyzed
by redox titration with potassium permanganate.

Background-Titration is a method of volumetric analysis-the use of volume measurements to

analyze the concentration of an unknown. The most common types of titrations are acid-base
titrations, in which a solution of an acid, for example, is analyzed by measuring the amount of a
standard base solution required to neutralize a known amount of the acid. A similar principle
applies to redox titrations. If a solution contains a substance that can be oxidized, then the
concentration of that substance can be analyzed by titrating it with a standard solution of a strong
oxidizing agent.

The equation for an oxidation-reduction reaction can be balanced by assuming that it occurs via
two separate half-reactions. In this experiment, potassium permanganate will be used as the
titrant to analyze the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in a commercial antiseptic solution.
The permanganate ion acts as an oxidizing agent--it causes the oxidation of hydrogen peroxide.
The oxidation half-reaction shows that two electrons are lost per molecule of hydrogen peroxide
that is oxidized to oxygen gas (Equation 1). The permanganate ion, in turn, is reduced from the
+7 oxidation state in MnO4- to the +2 oxidation state in Mn2+. The reduction half-reaction
shows a gain of five electrons (Equation 2).

H2O2(aq) → O2(g) + 2H+(aq) + 2e– Equation 1

MnO4–(aq) + 8H+(aq) + 5e– → Mn2+(aq) + 4H2O(l) Equation 2 Purple

Experiment Overview
The purpose of this experiment is to analyze the percent hydrogen peroxide in a common
"drugstore" solution by titrating it with potassium permanganate. Standard potassium
permanganate solution will be added via buret to the hydrogen peroxide solution. As the dark
purple solution is added, it will react with the hydrogen peroxide and the color will fade. When
all of the hydrogen peroxide has been used up, the "last drop" of potassium permanganate that
is added will keep its color. The endpoint of the titration is the point at which the last drop of
potassium permanganate added to the solution causes it to turn pink.
Materials
Distilled or deionized water, 100 mL
Hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, commercial antiseptic solution, 3 mL
Potassium permanganate solution, KMnO4, 0.025 M, 75 mL
Sulfuric acid solution, H2SO4 6 M, 15 mL
Beaker, 100- or 150-mL Buret, 50-mL, and buret clamp Erlenmeyer flasks, 125-mL, 2
Graduated cylinder, 10- or 25-mL Labels and/or markers Pipet, volumetric or serological,
I-mL Pipet bulb Ring stand
Wash bottle Waste disposal beaker, 250 mL

MSDS

Chemical Name Melting/Boiling Pt Potential Hazards

Safety Precautions
Sulfuric acid solution is severely corrosive to eyes, skin, and other body tissues. Always add
acid to water, never the reverse. Notify your teacher and clean up all acid spills immediately.
Potassium permanganate solution is a skin and eye irritant and a strong stain-it will stain skin
and clothing. Avoid contact of all chemicals with eyes and skin. Wear chemical splash goggles,
chemical-resistant gloves, and a chemical-resistant apron. Wash hands thoroughly with soap
and water before leaving the lab.
 Analysis of Hydrogen Peroxide
A Redox Titration – Report Sheet

Pre-Lab Questions
1. Combine the oxidation and reduction half-reactions for hydrogen peroxide and permanganate
ion, respectively, and write the balanced chemical equation for the overall reaction between
H2O2 and MnO4– in acid solution. Hint: The number of electrons transferred must "cancel
out."

2. What is the mole ratio of hydrogen peroxide to permanganate ion in the balanced chemical
equation determined in Question #1? How many moles of hydrogen peroxide will be
oxidized by 0.0045 moles of potassium permanganate in acidic solution?

3. Review the procedure. Is it necessary to know the exact volume of: (a) Hydrogen peroxide
solution added to the flask in step 7? (b) Water added to the flask in step 8? Why or why
not?
Procedure
1. Obtain about 75 mL of potassium permanganate standard solution in a small beaker. Record
the precise molarity of the solution in the data table.

2. Clamp the buret to a ring stand using a buret clamp and place a waste beaker
under the buret.

3. Rinse a clean 50-mL buret first with dH2O, then with two 5-mL portions of
potassium permanganate solution.

4. Fill the buret with potassium permanganate solution until the liquid level is around the
zero mark.

5. Open the stopcock on the buret to allow any air bubbles to escape from the tip. Close the
stopcock when the liquid level in the buret is between the 0- and 5-mL mark.

6. Record the precise level of the solution in the buret. This is the initial volume of the potassium
permanganate solution for Trial 1. Note: Volumes are read from the top down in a buret.
Always read from the bottom of the meniscus and remember to include the appropriate
number of significant figures.

7. Using a volumetric or serological pipet, transfer 1.00 mL of the commercial hydrogen

peroxide solution into a 125-mL Erlenmeyer flask.

8. Add about 25 mL of distilled or deionized water to the flask.

9. Measure 5 mL of 6M sulfuric acid into a graduated cylinder and carefully add the acid to the
solution in the Erlenmeyer flask. Gently swirl the flask to mix the solution.
10. Position the flask under the buret so that the tip of the buret is within the flask but at least 2
cm above the liquid surface. Place a piece of white paper under the flask to make it easier
to detect the endpoint.

11. Open the buret stopcock and allow the potassium permanganate solution to flow into the
flask. Swirl the flask and observe the color changes in the solution.

12. Continue to add the potassium permanganate solution slowly, drop-by-drop, while swirling
the flask. Use a wash bottle to rinse the sides of the flask with distilled water during the
titration to ensure that all of the reactants mix thoroughly.

13. When a light pink color persists in the titrated solution while swirling the flask, the endpoint
has been reached. Close the stopcock and record the final volume of the permanganate
solution in the data table (Trial 1).
14. Subtract the initial volume of the permanganate solution from the final volume to obtain
the volume of KMnO4 added. Enter the answer in the data table.

15. Pour the titrated solution into a waste disposal beaker and rinse the flask with distilled water.

16. Repeat the titration (steps 6-15) two more times (Trials 2 and 3). Record all data in the data
table.

17. Dispose of the solution in the waste beaker as directed by your instructor.

Data Table
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Molarity of KMnO4

Initial Volume KMnO4 solution (mL)

Final Volume KMnO4 solution (mL)

Volume of KMnO4 solution used (mL)

Observations
Calculations
1. Calculate the average volume of permanganate ion used.

2. Calculate the moles of permanganate ion used.

3. Calculate the number of moles hydrogen peroxide titrated.

4. Calculate the number of grams of hydrogen peroxide titrated.

5. Assuming the density of the hydrogen peroxide solution to be 1.00 g/mL, calculate the
percent hydrogen peroxide by mass in the solution.

Analysis
1. Compare the value you calculated with the value given on the side of the bottle. (Include a
%error to support your claim)

2. If an insufficient amount of acid is added in step nine, some of the permanganate ions will be
reduced to MnO2 instead of Mn2+.
a. How would this change the mole ratio for the calculations in the titration reaction?
b. How would this affect the volume of the Potassium permanganate needed to reach the end
point?

c. If reduction to Mn were occurring but not reflected in the calculations, would the
calculated percent hydrogen peroxide be too high or too low as a result of this error?

Conclusions