CHEM 1070 EXPERIMENT 2

DETERMINATION OF THE CONCENTRATION OF IRON (III) IONS IN A SAMPLE

OF WATER USING UV/VIS SPECTROSCOPY
NAME:(Yours)_____________________________________(Partner’s)____________________________________

DATE: _____________________ Lab Day________________________ DEMONSTRATOR ___________________

View the RSC video on UV-Visible spectroscopy using the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O39avevqndU
PRE-LAB EXCERCISES

1. State the Beer Lambert law and state what each term in the expression represents. [4 marks]

2. Explain what is meant by the term calibration curve or standard curve. [2 marks]

3. What components make up the blank sample in this particular experiment? [2 marks]

4. Write a balanced equation for the reaction between Fe2(SO4)3 and KSCN. [2 marks]

[TOTAL MARK 100] 1

 5. Draw a simplified block diagram of the components of a single beam uv-vis spectrophotometer. [6 marks]

DATA ANALYSIS
Fe3+ Calibration Standards
Concentration of stock solution of Fe2(SO4)3.5H2O in g L-1

Concentration of stock solution of KSCN in g L-1

Data Tables
Table 1 Concentrations of Fe3+ Solution Standards A-F Prepared Using Stock Solution of Fe2(SO4)3.5H2O

Standard A B C D E F
Volume of
Stock Fe3+
(mL)
Conc. of
Fe3+ in Std.
(mol L-1)

[5 marks]

Table 2 Concentration and Absorbances of 25 mL Diluted Fe3+ Solution Standards G-L Prepared from Standards A-F

Standard Blank G H I J K L
Volume of
Diluted Fe3+
(mL)
Conc. of
Fe3+ in
Diluted Std.
(mol L-1)
Absorbance
(A)
Corrected A
[17 marks]

[TOTAL MARK 100] 2

Table 3 Absorbances of Blank Solution and Unknown Water Sample Replicates

Water Water Water Water

Blank Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4
Sample 1
Volume of Water sample (mL)

Volume of KSCN (mL)

Absorbance (A)

Corrected A

[6 marks]

NOTE: In all calculations write your answer to the correct number of significant figures.
Calculations
1. (a) Calculate the concentration (mol L-1) of Fe3+ ions in the stock Fe2(SO4)3.5H2O used. [2 marks]

(b) Calculate the concentration (mol L-1) of Fe3+ ions in the standard solution A prepared. [4 marks]
Show the full working of your calculation. Complete Table 1 above by entering calculated concentrations
for solutions B-F above. You may use Microsoft Excel to do the calculations if you have access to a
laptop.

(c) Calculate the concentration (mol L-1) of NCS- ions in the stock KSCN used. [2 marks]

[TOTAL MARK 100] 3

 (d) Calculate the concentration (mol L-1) of NCS- ions in the standard solution A prepared. [4 marks]
Show the full working of your calculation.

2. Calculate the concentration of Fe3+ ions in the standard solution G prepared. [4 marks]
Show the full working of your calculation. Complete Table 2 above by entering calculated concentrations
for solutions H-L. You may use Microsoft Excel to do the calculations if you have access to a laptop.

3. Using graph paper or Microsoft Excel (if you have access to a laptop and printer) construct a properly
labelled calibration curve by plotting Absorbance versus concentration of Fe3+ in standards G-L. Attach
your plot to your report sheet. [5 marks]

4. Determine the concentration of Fe3+ ions in the unknown water sample. Clearly show on your plot how
you arrived at your answer. [5 marks]

[TOTAL MARK 100] 4

EXERCISES

1. Which reagent is in excess in standard solutions A-F prepared? Give one reason why the reagent you
identified was used in excess in this experiment? [4 marks]

2. Determine ɛ for the complex ion formed in this experiment. Clearly show how you obtained your answer
and indicate the units of ɛ. Write your answer to the correct number of significant figures.
[4 marks]

3. Enter the class data for the Fe3+ concentration in the water sample in Table 4 below and calculate the
mean and the standard deviation s of the concentration of Fe3+ ions and express the Fe3+ concentration
as the mean value ± s. [8 marks]
Table 4

GROUP Fe3+ concentration in the Standard Deviation (s)

-1
water sample (mol L )
1
2
3
4 mean value ± s
5
6
Mean

OVERALL CONCLUSIONS / ANY OTHER COMMENTS [2 marks]

Accuracy of Fe3+ concentration in water sample for individual groups [12 marks]
[TOTAL MARK 100] 5