1. What is redox titration?

Redox titration is a volumetric method based on an oxidation-reduction reaction between an

oxidizing agent and a reducing agent. It is used to determine the concentration of oxidizable or
reducible substances.

2. What is standardization?

Standardization is the process of determining the exact concentration (molarity or normality) of

a solution by titrating it against a primary standard. It ensures accurate analytical results.

3. What do you know about starch indicator?

Starch is an indicator used in iodine titrations. It forms a deep blue-black complex with iodine,
making the endpoint easy to detect.

4. Tell one primary standard oxidizing agent and one reducing agent.

Oxidizing agent: Potassium dichromate

Reducing agent: Sodium oxalate

5. What is the color of potassium dichromate in oxidized and reduced form?

Oxidized form (Cr₂O₇²⁻): Orange

Reduced form (Cr³⁺): Green

6. What is redox potential?

Redox potential (E°) is the tendency of a substance to gain or lose electrons. A higher redox
potential means a stronger oxidizing agent.

7. Difference between assay and % purity.

Assay: Measures the amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in a sample.

% Purity: Measures the percentage of the sample that is free from impurities.

8. What was the color of the starch solution?

Freshly prepared starch solution is milky white or colorless. It turns blue-black only when iodine
is present.

9. Why do we place the flask in the dark during standardization of sodium thiosulfate?

Light decomposes iodine, causing iodine to evaporate or react further. Keeping the flask in the
dark prevents iodine loss and improves accuracy.
10. The oxidation number of chromium in reduced form.

In the reduced form (Cr³⁺), the oxidation number of chromium is +3.

11. Tell about redox indicators.

Redox indicators are substances that change color at a specific oxidation-reduction potential.
They indicate the endpoint in redox titrations.

12. Why do we add starch at the end during standardization of sodium thiosulfate?

Starch is added near the endpoint because high iodine concentration forms a very stable starch-
iodine complex. Adding it late gives a sharp and accurate endpoint.

13. Tell about iodometry and iodimetry titration.

Iodimetry: Uses standard iodine solution to titrate reducing agents directly.

Iodometry: An oxidizing agent liberates iodine from KI, and the released iodine is titrated with
sodium thiosulfate.

14. Why do we always take titrant as an oxidizing agent?

In many redox titrations, oxidizing agents are more stable and produce clearer endpoints.
However, this is not always true—the titrant can also be a reducing agent depending on the
method.

15. If the titrant is a reducing agent, what will we do?

The analyte should be an oxidizing agent so it can react with the reducing titrant. An
appropriate redox indicator or method is selected to detect the endpoint.

16. Purpose of KI and NaHCO₃.

KI (Potassium iodide): Supplies iodide ions that are oxidized to iodine in iodometric titrations.

NaHCO₃ (Sodium bicarbonate): Maintains a slightly alkaline medium and prevents

decomposition of sodium thiosulfate during titration.

Here are short, viva-style answers (2–3 lines each):

1. What are oxidizing agents?

Oxidizing agents are substances that accept electrons from another substance and cause its
oxidation. During the reaction, the oxidizing agent itself is reduced. Example: Potassium
dichromate, Potassium permanganate.

2. What are reducing agents?

Reducing agents are substances that donate electrons to another substance and cause its
reduction. During the reaction, the reducing agent itself is oxidized. Example: Sodium
thiosulfate.

3. What is redox potential? Give an example of an oxidizing agent.

Redox potential (E°) is the tendency of a substance to gain or lose electrons. A higher positive
redox potential indicates a stronger oxidizing agent. Example: Potassium dichromate.

4. Give an example of a reducing agent.

Examples of reducing agents include sodium thiosulfate (Na₂S₂O₃) and sodium oxalate
(Na₂C₂O₄). They donate electrons and become oxidized.

5. Why do we usually pour the oxidizing agent into the burette and not the reducing agent?

Oxidizing agents such as potassium dichromate are more stable and maintain a constant
concentration. Many reducing agents, like sodium thiosulfate, can decompose on storage, so
they are commonly placed in the flask instead.

6. Difference between iodometry and iodimetry.

Iodimetry: A direct titration in which standard iodine solution is used to determine a reducing
agent.

Iodometry: An indirect titration in which an oxidizing agent liberates iodine from KI, and the
released iodine is titrated with sodium thiosulfate.

7. What is direct and indirect titration?

Direct titration: The analyte reacts directly with the standard solution (e.g., iodimetry).

Indirect titration: The analyte first produces another substance, which is then titrated (e.g.,
iodometry).

8. What is an example of a primary reducing agent?

A common primary standard reducing agent is sodium oxalate (Na₂C₂O₄). It is pure, stable, and
has a known composition.

9. Why do we use potassium iodide (KI)?

KI provides iodide ions (I⁻), which are oxidized to iodine (I₂) by an oxidizing agent. The liberated
iodine is then titrated with sodium thiosulfate.

10. Why do we use sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)?

Sodium bicarbonate maintains a slightly alkaline medium, helping to stabilize sodium thiosulfate
and prevent its decomposition during titration.

11. Why do we add HCl as an acidic medium?

HCl provides the acidic medium required for potassium dichromate to act as a strong oxidizing
agent. Acid is essential for the redox reaction to proceed properly.

12. What is the color of the chromium solution prepared in the lab?

After potassium dichromate is reduced, Cr³⁺ ions are formed, and the solution becomes green.
The original potassium dichromate solution is orange.

Important viva point: If your examiner asks, "What is the oxidation state of chromium in
potassium dichromate and after reduction?"

In K₂Cr₂O₇ (orange): Chromium = +6

After reduction to Cr³⁺ (green): Chromium = +3

Redox Titrations:

STANDARDIZATION OF SODIUM THIOSULPHATE:

1. Why we rinse, cover the flask? Also what are the uses of comp?

During procedure :

• sodium bicarbonate (gives alkaline medium)

•HCL (gives acidic medium)

•we cover the flask bcz iodine can be liberated

• we rinse mouth of flask bcz Iodine is volatile it'll try to escape from mouth and get stick to
the mouth, so when we rinse, it'll go again in the flask.

2. Why we place our flask in the dark? Because Iodine is sensitive to light

3. End point color of this experiment? Dark blue to Green due to presence of chromium salt/

chromium chloride.

4. What are steps for Assay of Ascorbic acid? First perform standardization of Sodium

thiosulphate then standardization of iodine then perform assay.

5. Why we add hcl? To provide acidic medium

6. Why we add NahCo3? As it provides alkaline medium that prevents the decomposition of

sodium thiosulphate.

STANDARDIZATION OF IODINE AND ASSAY OF ASCORBIC ACID:

1. Why we perform redox titration here instead of back or neutralization? Because oxidation
and

reduction reactions are taking place. Ascorbic acid is a reducing agent, so iodometric titration is

selected because it specifically involves a redox reaction between ascorbic acid and iodine,

making it suitable for the assay of ascorbic acid.

2. Redox reactions can be? Iodimetric(direct) and iodometric(indirect) in Assay we performed

iodometric titration.

4. What is Ascorbic acid? Weak acid, reducing agent, primary standard.

5. Why iodometric titration is also called indirect titration? Iodometric titration is sometimes

referred to as an indirect titration because the

analyte (ascorbic acid) is not directly titrated with the titrant (iodine solution). Instead, the

titrant generates an intermediate species (iodine) through a separate reaction, and this

intermediate species then reacts with the analyte to produce the endpoint. So, the titration is

"indirect" because it involves two consecutive reactions: the generation of iodine

followed by its reaction with the analyte.

6. Nature of compounds

Sodium thio sulphate (reducing agent + secondary standard + analyte)

Potasium dichromate ( oxidizing agent + prim standard + titrant)

Iodine ( oxidizing agent, thermolabile, photolabile, secondary standard)

KI (reducing agent)

7. Why nascent halogen are always reducing agent? Nascent halogens are reducing agents.

They readily accept electrons during reactions, leading to the reduction of other species. Their

oxidizing ability decreases as we move down the halogen group.

8. Why there is need to maintain acidic environment? Acorbic acid is acidic, but in redox

reactions, it's necessary to maintain

an acidic environment for the reaction to proceed effectively. Adding HCl ensures the acidic

conditions required for the redox reaction with iodine. We can't provide a basic

medium because it would hinder the redox reaction between ascorbic acid and iodine.

9. How it would hinder? In the context of the redox reaction between ascorbic acid and iodine,

maintaining an acidic environment is crucial because the presence of hydroxide ions (OH⁻) from

a basic medium would interfere with the reaction. Hydroxide ions can react with iodine, forming

iodide ions and iodate ions, which would disrupt the desired redox reaction between ascorbic

acid and iodine. Therefore, to ensure the reaction proceeds efficiently, an acidic medium is

necessary to prevent unwanted side reactions.

9. what is oxidation and reduction?

Oxidation: Reduction:

Removal of H Addition of H

Loss of e- Gain of e-

Addition of Oxygen Removal of Oxygen

20. How does an external indicator differ from an internal indicator? External indicators are

separate substances added to the reaction mixture, while internal indicators are already present
in the reaction mixture. External indicators undergo a color change when a specific condition is

reached, whereas internal indicators react directly with the analyte or titrant to produce a color

change.

21. Why sodium thiosulphate is secondary standard? Because Efflurescence in water

(efflorescence in water refers to the phenomenon where soluble salts dissolve in water, then

crystallize out as the water evaporates, forming a white powdery deposit) & and other reason is

that sulphur is good diet for bacteria (bacteria Thiobacillus thioparus).

22. Why starch is not a true indicator? Because it does not undergo a color change directly

due to the reaction endpoint. Instead, it forms a complex with certain ions, like iodine in

iodometric titrations, leading to a color change that indicates the endpoint.

23. Why freshly boiled d.w is used? Distilled means free from Oxygen now In redox titrations

specifically, freshly boiled and distilled water is used to remove any dissolved gases, such as

oxygen, which could Interfere with the redox reaction between the analyte and the titrant.

Oxygen, for example, can act as an oxidizing agent and react with certain reagents, affecting

the accuracy of the titration results. Therefore, using freshly boiled and distilled water helps