BANGLADESH UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TEHCNOLOGY
LAB REPORT
Name of the Experiment:
Standardization of Sodium Thiosulphate solution with Standard Potassium
Dichromate solution
Experiment Number : 4
Course : CHEM 114
Submitted by : Sheikh Mahir Abrar
ID : 2008045
Date of Performance : 19-2-22
Date of Submission : 26-2-22
Submitted to : Dr. Chanchal Kumar Roy, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, BUET
OBJECTIVE:
The main intention of this experiment is to standardize Sodium Thiosulphate (Na2S2O3) with a
standard Potassium Dichromate (K2Cr2O7) solution. This experiment will also help us
understand the concept of redox and iodometric titrations.
THEORY:
In this experiment, the concentration or strength of Na2S2O3 can be determined in two methods
using a primary standard substance K2Cr2O7. These two ways are iodometry and iodimetry.
Iodimetry: The process of titration where an analyte (oxidizing agent) is added to I2 directly to
continue the titration that is called Iodimetry.
Iodometry: The process of titration where an analyte is not added directly to I2, instead I2 is
produced from any other substances (like KI) and then the produced I2 is used in the titration is
called Iodometry.
As this experiment contains a titration process involving redox reactions, we need to use redox
indicators.
Redox Indicator: A redox indicator is a type of indicator which undergoes a definite color
change at specific electric potential. Unlike pH indicators, these chemicals work in the basis of
change in electric potential in any redox reaction, not in the basis of pH change. This is the basic
difference between acid base indicator and redox indicator.
Redox titrations involve the flow of electrons. Electrical potential of the solution varies during
the process.
In an iodometric titration, a starch solution is utilized as an indicator as it can absorb the I2 that
is released. This will in fact cause the solution to change its color from deep blue to light blue or
green when titrated with thiosulphate solution.
In order to release I2 from KI, we use NaHCO3 with K2Cr2O7, which is not present in the main
reaction because NaHCO3 doesn’t participate in the main redox reaction. But it still plays a very
significant role. Besides this, we use HCl to make the solution acidic as K2Cr2O7 works best as an
oxidizing agent in an acidic medium. Thus, including HCl can also incur the following reaction in
presence of sunlight:
KI + HCL → HI + KCl
O2
HI I2 + H2O
UV
To avoid these unwanted reactions, NaHCO3 is used in the solution,
NaHCO3 + HCl → NaCl + CO2 + H2O
This CO2 is heavier than O2. So, it removes O2 from conical flask to prevent the above reactions,
Again, we need to make the reaction take place in a dark area as light rays can cause the
unwanted reaction of I2 production. We also cannot use too strong of a base as the solution
become basic or neutral instead of acidic. So, NaHCO3 is the best substance to keep the solution
acidic and produce CO2.
After adding NaHCO3, the reaction starts successfully. As a result, I2 production begins. Here, I2
is volatile, So, we cover the conical flask and add extra KI in the solution. Because excess I-
creates I3- with I2 which is not volatile.
I2 + I- → I3-
This I3- gets stuck in the chain of starch which creates starch-I3- and forms dark blue/black color.
After adding Na2S2O3, I3- starts to get free and reacts followingly:
I3- → I2 + I-
2Na2S2O3 + I2 → Na2S4O6 + 2NaI
As we continue adding Na2S2O3, I3- in starch-I3- indicator starts to gets split into I2 and I-. As a
result, after the end point, there is no I3- left to create starch-I3- which brings the light blue/
light green color. Hence, it will be brown. If we add starch at the beginning of the reaction, I3-
will start to get enclosed from the very beginning and will reach the center of the complex
compound. As a result, it will be tough to find the end point. That’s the reason it is important to
add starch at the end of the titration. Here, K2Cr2O7 and anhydrous NaHCO3 both are primary
standard substance. But KI isn’t a good primary standard substance. It reacts with O2 and slowly
creates I2
4KI + O2 → 2K2O + 2I2
Half reactions:
1. In I2 release,
Reduction of half reaction: Cr2O72- + 14H+ + 6e- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O
Oxidation half reaction: 2I- → I2 + 2e-
Cr2O72- + 14H+ + 6I- → 2Cr3+ + 3I2 + 7H2O
Therefore, K2Cr2O7 + 14HCl + 6KI → 2CrCl3 + 3I2 + 7H2O + 8KCl
2. Titration of I2 with Na2S2O3,
Reduction half reaction: I2 + 2e- → 2I-
Oxidation half reaction: 2S2O32- - 2e- → S4O62-
2S2O32- + I2 → 2I- + S4O62-
Therefore, 6Na2S2O3 + 3I2 → 6NaI + 3Na2S4O6
Overall reaction,
K2Cr2O7 + 6KI + 14HCl + 6Na2S2O3 → 2CrCl3 + 8KCl + 6NaI + 3Na2S4O6 + 7H2O
NAME OF THE APPARATUS:
1. Conical flask
2. Volumetric flask
3. Pipette filler
4. Burette stand
5. Pipette
6. Burette
7. Wash bottle
8. Funnel
NAME OF THE CHEMICALS:
1. Na2S2O3
2. K2Cr2O7
3. NaHCO3
4. HCl (conc.)
5. KI
6. Starch
7. Distilled water
DATA TABLE:
Observation Volume of Burette reading Difference Required
No. K2Cr2O7 Na2S2O3 (mL) (mL) volume of
solution (mL) Initial Final Na2S2O3
solution (mL)
1 5.3 15.6 10.2
2 10 15.7 25.8 10.1 10.1
3 25.8 35.9 10.1
CALCULATION:
To prepare 0.017 M 100mL K2Cr2O7 solution the mass of K2Cr2O7 we need
100
= 0.017 × 1000 × 294 g = 0.5 g
For the concentration of Na2S2O3, volume of K2Cr2O7 = 10 mL = 10-2 L
Concentration of K2Cr2O7 = 0.017 M
Therefore, Number of moles of K2Cr2O7 = 0.017 × 10-2 = 1.7 × 10-4 mol
According to the equation, 1 mol of K2Cr2O7 reacts with 6 mol of Na2S2O3.
So, 1.7 × 10-4 mol of K2Cr2O7 will react with 6 × 1.7 × 10-4 = 1.02 × 10-3 mol of Na2S2O3
Volume of required Na2S2O3 = 10.1 mL = 10.1 × 10-3 L
1.02 × 10−3
Therefore, Concentration of Na2S2O3 = 10.1× 10−3
= 0.101 M
RESULT:
The strength of Na2S2O3 = 0.102 M
DISCUSSION:
To acquire better accuracy, we have to take the burette reading from the lower meniscus of the
burette. While working with I2, we have to make sure that the flask is covered and in a dark
surrounding to prevent the aforementioned unwanted reactions from happening. In our
conducted experiment however, we can claim that the result of the experiment is quite
accurate.
QUESTION ANSWERS
1. What is oxidizing and reducing agent?
Ans: Oxidizing agent is a substance that tends to bring about oxidation by being reduced and
gaining electrons. On the other hand, reducing agent is a substance that tends to bring about
reduction by begin reduced and losing electrons.
2. Categorize potassium dichromate and sodium thiosulphate as oxidizing agent and reducing
agent.
Ans: Here, in a acidic medium, K2Cr2O7 is an oxidizing agent and Na2S2O3 is a reducing agent.
3. Why sodium thiosulphate is a secondary standard substance?
Ans: The reason is that it’s concentration easily changes due to reaction with the H2O in its
surrounding area.
4. What is the difference between acid-base titration and a redox titration?
Ans: Redox titrations involve the flow of electrons. Electrical potential of the solution varies
during the process. While on the other hand acid-base titrations are dependent on the pH of
the solutions.
5. What is iodometric titration and Iodimetric titration?
Ans: Iodimetry: The process of titration where an analyte (oxidizing agent) is added to I2 directly
to continue the titration that is called Iodimetry.
Iodometry: The process of titration where an analyte is not added directly to I2, instead I2 is
produced from any other substances (like KI) and then the produced I2 is used in the titration is
called Iodometry.
6. Why iodometric titration has been used for the standardization of thiosulphate by potassium
dichromate?
Ans: Iodometric titration has been used for the benefit of Iodine absorption onto I- ion. This
phenomenon prevents I2 from exiting the solution.
7. Calculate the oxidation number of Cr in potassium dichromate.
Ans: K2Cr2O7 → 2*1 + a *2 – 7 *2 = 0
➢ a=+6
8. Calculate the oxidation number of S in sodium thiosulphate.
Ans: Na2S2O3 → 2*1 + a * 2 – 2 * 3 = 0
➢ a=+2
9. Write down the balanced chemical reaction of potassium dichromate and potassium iodide.
Ans: K2Cr2O7 + 14HCl + 6KI → 2CrCl3 + 3I2 + 7H2O + 8KCl
10. Write down the balance chemical reaction between iodine and sodium thiosulphate.
Ans: 6Na2S2O3 + 3I2 → 6NaI + 3Na2S4O6
11. Write down the overall iodometric reaction of potassium dichromate and sodium
thiosulphate.
Ans: K2Cr2O7 + 6KI + 14HCl + 6Na2S2O3 → 2CrCl3 + 8KCl + 6NaI + 3Na2S4O6 + 7H2O
12. What is the function of starch and why is it necessary to add starch just before the end
point of the titration?
Ans: Starch acts as an indicator for this redox titration analysis. It is necessary to add starch just
before the end point of the titration to indicate the point where there is no more Sodium
thiosulphate left in the solution i.e. the end point of the analysis.
13. Why NaHCO3 is added in iodometric titration?
Ans: To avoid these unwanted reactions, NaHCO3 is used in the solution,
NaHCO3 + HCl → NaCl + CO2 + H2O
This CO2 is heavier than O2. So, it removes O2 from conical flask to prevent the above reactions,
Again, we need to make the reaction take place in a dark area as light rays can cause the
unwanted reaction of I2 production. We also cannot use too strong of a base as the solution
become basic or neutral instead of acidic. So, NaHCO3 is the best substance to keep the solution
acidic and produce CO2.
14. Why is it necessary to keep your experimental solution in the dark?
Ans: It is necessary to keep the solution in the dark to prevent this reaction from happening:
15. Why you should cover the conical flask after adding NaHCO3?
Ans: After adding NaHCO3, the first reaction starts successfully. As a result, I2 production begins.
Here, I2 is volatile, So, we cover the conical flask and add extra KI in the solution. Because
excess I- creates I3- with I2 which is not volatile.