Student worksheet

Activity 28: The estimation of the percentage of iron in iron tablets

Objective Equipment/materials
Be able to calculate the percentage of iron in an iron Iron tablet
tablet. 50cm3 4moldm3 sulfuric acid (corrosive)
Be able to perform a redox titration involving: 100cm3 0.005moldm3 potassium manganate(VII)
Fe2+(aq) and MnO4(aq). (low hazard)
Distilled/deionised water
Safety Pestle and mortar
Wear a lab coat and nitrile 100cm3 beaker
disposable gloves, tie long hair Two 250cm3 beakers
back. Corrosive 25cm3 measuring cylinder
Wear goggles when handling Glass rod
acid.
Spatula
100cm3 volumetric flask and stopper
Filter funnel and filter paper
Procedure Access to a balance and the apparatus necessary to
1. Crush the tablet using the pestle and mortar. perform a titration
2. Transfer the crushed tablet to a weighing boat and find Weighing boat
their combined mass. Record this mass. 250 cm3 conical flask
3. Empty the crushed tablet into the small beaker and re- White tile
weigh the weighing boat. Record its mass.
4. Add 50cm3 4moldm-3 of sulfuric acid. Stir to dissolve as Data/diagram
much of the tablet as possible
Fe = 55.8
5. Filter the solution (to remove any undissolved solids)
into the volumetric flask. Make up to the mark with
distilled/deionised water. Stopper and shake.
6. Pipette 25.0cm3 of this solution into the conical flask.
Analysis of results
7. Titrate the iron(II) solution with potassium
Balance the following equation using oxidation
manganate(VII) solution until the mixture has just
turned pink. [Note: on standing, the pink colour will numbers.
disappear because there is a secondary reaction Fe2+ + MnO4 + H+ Fe3+ + Mn2+ + H2O
between the KMnO4 and another ingredient in the Use the titration results to calculate the mass of iron
tablet.] Do not add any further KMnO4. in the tablet.
8. Record your results in an appropriate format. Determine the percentage of iron in the tablet.
9. Repeat the titration twice.

Questions
1. Make a list of any procedural errors and suggest
ways in which they may be overcome.
2. Make a list of any measurement errors.
From the examiner
3. How could you improve the reliability of the
Demonstrate skilful and safe practical techniques using experiment?
suitable quantitative methods.
4. Some iron tablets contain the iron in the form of
Make and record measurements to an appropriate iron(II) fumarate (trans-butenedioate) while others
precision and in a suitable format. have iron in the form of iron(II) sulfate but also
Analyse, interpret and evaluate experimentally-derived contain sorbic acid (2,4-hexadienoic acid). Which
results quantitatively to reach valid conclusions. functional group does the fumarate ion have in
common with sorbic acid?
5. What reaction will the manganate(VII) ion undergo
with the fumarate ion or the sorbic acid?

Practical activities have been checked for health and safety advice by CLEAPSS. All users will need to review the risk Pearson Education Ltd 2009
assessment information and may need to adapt it to local circumstances. This document may have been altered from the original 28/29
 Teacher worksheet

Activity 28: The estimation of the percentage of iron in iron tablets

Objective From the examiner

Be able to calculate the percentage of iron in an iron
tablet.
Be able to perform a redox titration involving:
Fe2+(aq) and MnO4(aq).
Safety
Wear a lab coat and nitrile
disposable gloves, tie long hair
back.
Wear goggles when handling
acid.
Concentrated sulfuric acid is
corrosive.
Notes on procedure
1. Crush the tablet using the pestle and mortar.
2. Transfer the crushed tablet to a weighing boat and find
their combined mass. Record this mass.
3. Empty the crushed tablet into the small beaker and re-
weigh the weighing boat. Record its mass.
4. Add 50cm3 4moldm3 of sulfuric acid. Stir to dissolve
as much of the tablet as possible
5. Filter the solution (to remove any undissolved solids)
into the volumetric flask. Make up to the mark with
distilled/deionised water. Stopper and shake.
6. Pipette 25.0cm3 of this solution into the conical flask.
7. Titrate the iron(II) solution with potassium
manganate(VII) solution until the mixture has just
turned pink. [Note: on standing, the pink colour will
disappear because there is a secondary reaction
between the KMnO4 and another ingredient in the
tablet.] Do not add any further KMnO4.
8. Record your results in an appropriate format.
9. Repeat the titration twice.
Demonstrate skilful and safe practical techniques
using suitable quantitative methods.
Make and record measurements to an appropriate
precision and in a suitable format.
Analyse, interpret and evaluate experimentally-
derived results quantitatively to reach valid
conclusions.
Corrosive
Analysis of results and answers
Fe: +2 to +3 = +1 (1)
Mn: +7 to +2 = 5 (2)
Multiply (1) x 5 and add the two equations together.
5Fe2+ + MnO4 + H+ 5Fe3+ + Mn2+ + H2O
Then balance the rest in the normal way.
5Fe2+ + MnO4 + 8H+ 5Fe3+ + Mn2+ + 4H2O
1. Procedural errors:
Stirring may not be sufficient to ensure all the iron
dissolves warming the solution may aid solution of
the iron.
Transfer of the solution and filtering ensure the
beaker and the filter paper are rinsed with water.
2. Measurement errors:
Pipette error will be marked on the pipette.
Burette 0.05/10 100 = 0.5%
Volumetric flask error will be marked on the flask.
3. The results are from one tablet only, so the reliability
could be improved by preparing more than one
solution or simply by comparing a class set of results.
4. The fumarate ion and sorbic acid both have alkene
groups.
5. The manganate ion will react with the alkene groups
in the presence of an acid to form diols (across the
double bonds).

Practical activities have been checked for health and safety advice by CLEAPSS. All users will need to review the risk Pearson Education Ltd 2009
assessment information and may need to adapt it to local circumstances. This document may have been altered from the original 28/29
 Technician worksheet

Activity 28: The estimation of the percentage of iron in iron tablets

Objective Safety
Be able to calculate the percentage of iron in an iron Wear a lab coat and nitrile disposable gloves, tie long
tablet. hair back.
Be able to perform a redox titration involving: Wear goggles when handling acid.
Fe2+(aq) and MnO4(aq).

Requirements per student*/group of students Notes

One iron tablet For the method given, the iron tablet should contain iron(II)
sulfate and can be purchased by asking a pharmacist for
this particular type. Iron tablets sold on the shelf usually
contain iron(II) fumarate (rather than iron(II) sulfate) and
these will only dissolve in conc. HCl.
50cm3 4moldm3 sulfuric acid Corrosive
100cm3 0.005moldm3 potassium manganate(VII) Low hazard
Distilled/deionised water
Pestle and mortar
100cm3 beaker
25cm3 measuring cylinder
Two 250cm3 beakers
100cm3 volumetric flask stoppered
Spatula, glass rod and dropping pipettes
Filter funnel and filter paper
50cm3 burette and burette stand
25cm3 pipette and pipette filler
250cm3 conical flask
White tile
Mass balance accurate to 0.01g and weighing boat

Notes
CLEAPSS Hazcards (81 and 98A) should be consulted and a risk assessment carried out using up-to-date information
before this practical is carried out.

Practical activities have been checked for health and safety advice by CLEAPSS. All users will need to review the risk Pearson Education Ltd 2009
assessment information and may need to adapt it to local circumstances. This document may have been altered from the original 28/29