Topic 2.

6 Redox Hazard Code A

Experiment to determine the number of waters of crystallisation in hydrated

copper(II) sulphate
Hydrated copper(II) sulphate has the formula CuSO4.xH2O. You are to determine the value of x by using the
copper(II) ions to oxidise iodide ions to iodine and then determining the number of moles of iodine formed by
carrying out a titration with sodium thiosulphate solution.

Requirements Procedure
3
a) Collect 80 cm of the of sodium thiosulphate solution in a small beaker
hydrated copper(II) sulphate crystals 3
and 100 cm of potassium iodide solution in a large beaker
0.100M sodium thiosulphate solution
b) Weigh out accurately 2.4-2.6g of hydrated copper(II) sulphate, transfer
0.1M potassium iodide solution
to a large beaker and reweigh the ‘empty’ weighing bottle
starch solution 3
c) Dissolve the solid in 100 cm of distilled water, then carefully transfer all
distilled water 3
3 of the solution (with rinsing) to a 250 cm volumetric flask
50 cm burette
3 d) Fill the flask up to the mark with distilled water, stopper and invert a few
25.0 cm volumetric pipette
3 times
250 cm volumetric flask and stopper
3 e) Rinse the burette with distilled water, then with a little sodium
25 cm measuring cylinder
3 thiosulphate solution, then fill with sodium thiosulphate solution and run
250 cm conical flask
3 a little of the solution through the tap and note the initial reading
2 x 250 cm beakers
3 f) Rinse a volumetric pipette with distilled water and then with a little of
1 x 100 cm beaker
the copper(II) sulphate solution
weighing bottle with lid glass 3
g) Use the volumetric pipette to transfer 25.0 cm of copper(II) sulphate
stirring rod
solution to a clean conical flask
safety pipette filler 3
h) Add about 25 cm (an excess) of potassium iodide solution to the flask
funnel
i) Add sodium thiosulphate solution from the burette to the flask with
white tile
swirling until the solution in the flask is a pale straw colour and then
3
add about 5 cm of starch solution
Safety
j) Continue titrating until the blue-black colour disappears and note your
Lab coats and safety glasses should
final burette reading
be worn
k) Rinse the flask with tap water and then with distilled water and then
repeat steps (g) to (j) until you have a reliable set of readings
Results
Mass of weighing bottle with hydrated copper(II) sulphate = g
Mass of ‘empty’ weighing bottle (after transfer) = g
∴ Mass of hydrated copper(II) sulphate = g

st nd rd
Titration Rough 1 accurate 2 accurate 3 accurate Average
3
Initial reading (cm )
3
Final reading (cm )
3
Volume added (cm )

Analysis
1. What do you observe when the potassium iodide solution is added to the copper(II) sulphate solution?

2. Write a balanced equation (with state symbols) for the conversion of iodide ions to iodine by copper(II) ions.

3. Show, using oxidation numbers, which species has been oxidised and which reduced.

4. Why is it not necessary to measure out the volume of potassium iodide solution precisely?

5. Write a balanced equation for the reduction of iodide ions by thiosulphate ions.

6. Use your data to calculate the number of moles of thiosulphate ions used in the titration.
2+
7. Determine the number of moles of Cu in the conical flask and hence in the volumetric flask.

8. Calculate the mass of anhydrous copper(II) sulphate in your weighed sample and hence the mass of water.

9. Calculate the mole ratio of copper(II) sulphate to water and hence the value of x.

Evaluation
10. Estimate the percentage uncertainty in your final answer

14/03/2010