Volumetric analysis through oxidation and reduction, is based on reactions which involve the transfer of electrons from a molecule, atom or ion to another chemical species.
These are chemical reactions whereby a reducing agent oxidizes an oxidizing agent, which is itself then reduced. An example is that of the oxidation of iron (II) ions, with cerium (IV) ions. The reaction is described in the following equation:
Ce4+ + Fe2+ ↔ Ce3+ + Fe3+
The cerium removes electrons from the iron, and is termed the oxidizing agent as it is reduced in the process and its oxidation number decreases.
The iron, which donates electrons to the other chemical, is termed the reducing agent because it is oxidized, and thus loses electrons thereby increasing its oxidation number.
Thus we get the following definitions:
Oxidation: the loss of electrons from a molecule, atom or iron;
Reduction: the gain of electrons by a molecule, atom, or ion.
In oxidation reduction reactions, the titrant is usually a strong oxidant because if we use reducing agents there can be too much interference from the o2 present in the atmosphere.
In an oxidation reduction titration we need to know:
The Nernst equation expresses the electrode potential of a pair of electrodes, or of a semielement of a battery compared to standard electrode potential. In other words, the equation enables us to calculate electrode potential in non-standard conditions.
Where:
R is the universal constant of gases, equal to 8.314472 J K-1 mol-1 o 0.082057 L atm mol-1 K-1;
T is the absolute temperature;
a is the chemical activity;
F is Faraday’s constant equal to 9.6485309*104 C mol-1;
n is the number of electrons transferred in the half-reaction;
[red] is the concentration of the oxidizing agent (or reduced species)
[Ox] is the concentration of the reducing agent (or oxidized species). The concentration of the oxidized and reduced species is the equivalent of the activities in dilute solutions.
The titrant is chosen on the basis of its standard reduction potential E0 and in particular:
Titration curve for generic oxidation reduction titration. Source: ExpoMix Forum Italia
There is a redox system whereby the oxidized form (Ox) is a different colour from the reduced form (Red). As with acid-base indicators, the colour change occurs within a specific interval (turning interval).
In(Ox) + e- = In(Red)
The colour of In (Ox) dominates when [In(Ox)] / [In(Red)] >10
The colour of In (Red) dominates when [In(Ox)] / [In(Red)] <0.1 and it is only in this condition that the colour change can be noted.
Some reactives are highly coloured, so if they are used to excess, or if they disappear, there will be an obvious colour change. For example, the oxdized form of permanganate is an intensive violet (even for concentrations of < 10-5). I2 in the presence of a starch indicator turns an intense blue.
Permanganate is a strong oxidant, and this means that it should not be used in chemical analysis because its organic substrates are not only titrated but also degraded.
In an acid environment it is a strong oxidant
MnO4- + 8H+ +5e-→ Mn2+ + 4H2O E0= +1.51 volt
In a neutral or slightly alkaline environment it is an even stronger oxidant
MnO4- + 2H2O +3e- → MnO2 + 4OH- E0= +1.695 volt
In permanganometry no indicator is used. The end point of titration is clearly visible because the solution turns an intense purple colour when the permanganate is in excess.
2. The analytical chemistry laboratory
4. Inorganic qualitative analysis
9. Neutralisation titration - part two
10. Alkalimetry
11. Acidimetry
13. Mohr method
14. Vohlard method
16. Oxidation reduction titration
18. Instrumental Chemical Analysis
19. Optical methods of analysis
20. Chromatography
21. Potentiometry