REDOX EXERIMENTS

EXPERIMENT 1: CHANGE OF IRON (II) ION TO IRON (III) ION

AIM
MATERIALS

APPARATUS
PROCEDUR
E

To study the reaction in the change of iron(II) ion, Fe 2+ to iron (III) ion, Fe3+
Iron(II) sulphate solution, FeSO4; bromine water, Br2; sodium hydroxide
solution, NaOH, potassium hexacyanoferrate (II) solution, K 4Fe(CN)6; potassium
thiocyanate solution, KSCN
Test tubes, dropper, test tube holder

1. Pour 4cm3 of iron (II) sulphate solution into a test tube.

2. Add bromine water drop by drop into iron (II) sulphate while shaking the test
tube.
3. Record the observation on the solutions colour change.
4. Then, divide the resulting solution equally into 3 separate test tubes.
5. Test the solutions in each test tube with sodium hydroxide solution, NaOH,
potassium
hexacyanoferrate (II), K4Fe(CN)6 solution and potassium thiocyanate KSCN
solution
respectively.
6. Record your observation.
OBSERVATI
ON

Material
Bromine water is
added

Observation
The _________coloured
bromine water is __________.

Inference

The __________ solution

changes to
____________.

Discussion

Sodium hydroxide
solution, NaOH is
added to the
resulting solution
potassium
hexacyanoferrate
(II), K4Fe(CN)6 is
added to the
resulting solution
potassium
thiocyanate KSCN
is added to the
resulting solution
1. Write the half equation for oxidation.
2. Write the half equation for reduction.
3. Write the ionic equation for the redox reaction.
4. State the substance that is oxidised. Explain your answer in terms of

electron transfer and

changes in oxidation number.
5. State the substance that is reduced. Explain your answer in terms of
electron
transfer and changes in oxidation number.
6. State the (a) oxidizing agent and (b) reducing agent
7. State three other substances that can be used to replace bromine water.
Conclusion

Iron (II) ion can be _________________ to iron (III) ion by bromine water. At the
same time, bromine is ______________ to bromide ion.
EXPERIMENT 2: CHANGE OF IRON (III) ION TO IRON (II) ION
AIM
MATERIALS

APPARATU
S
PROCEDUR
E

To study the reaction in the change of iron(III) ion, Fe 3+ to iron (II)

ion, Fe2+
Iron(III) chloride solution, FeCl3; zinc powder, Zn; sodium
hydroxide solution, NaOH, potassium hexacyanoferrate (II)
solution, K4Fe(CN)6; potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) solution,
K3Fe(CN)6, filter paper
Boiling tube, dropper, test tube holder, Bunsen burner, spatula,
filter funnel

1. Pour 4cm3 of iron (III) chloride solution into a boiling tube.

2. Add half a spatula of zinc powder and warm the mixture gently.
3. Cool the mixture and the filter it.
4. Then, divide the filtrate equally into 3 separate test tubes.
5. Test the solutions in each test tube with sodium hydroxide
solution, NaOH,
potassium hexacyanoferrate (II), K4Fe(CN)6 and potassium
hexacyanoferrate (III),
K3Fe(CN)6 respectively.
6. Record your observation.
OBSERVATI
ON

Material
Zinc powder is
added and the
mixture is heated.

Observation
The zinc powder
_________.
The __________
solution changes to
____________.

Sodium hydroxide
solution, NaOH is
added to the
filtrate
potassium
hexacyanoferrate
(II), K4Fe(CN)6 is
added to the

Inference

Discussion

Conclusion

filtrate
potassium
hexacyanoferrate
(III), K3Fe(CN)6 is
added to the
filtrate
1. Write the half equation for oxidation.
2. Write the half equation for reduction.
3. Write the ionic equation for the redox reaction.
4. State the substance that is oxidised. Explain your answer in
terms of electron
transfer and changes in oxidation number.
5. State the substance that is reduced. Explain your answer in
terms of electron
transfer and changes in oxidation number.
6. State the (a) oxidizing agent and (b) reducing agent
7. State three other substances that can be used to replace zinc.
Iron (III) ion can be _________________ to iron (II) ion by zinc metal.
At the same time, zinc is ______________ to zinc ion.

EXPERIMENT 3: DISPLACEMENT OF METALS FROM THEIR SALT SOLUTIONS

AIM
PROBLEM
STATEMEN
T
HYPOTHESI
S

To investigate the displacement of metals from their salt solution

VARIABLES

MATERIALS
APPARATUS
PROCEDUR
E

0.5moldm-3 copper(II) sulphate , CuSO4 solution, 0.5moldm-3 silver

nitrate, AgNO3 solution, zinc strips, copper strips, iron strips
Test tubes, test tube rack

1. Label four test tubes A, B, C and D.

2. Pour 2cm3 of copper(II) sulphate, CuSO4 solution into test tube A.
3. Put a zinc strip into test tube A.
4. Record the observation.
5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the other test tubes using metals and
solutions as listed
in the table 3.3
OBSERVATI
ON

Tes
t
tub
e
A

Met
al

Solution

Observation

Zn

CuSO4

A _____________
forms.

Inference

The Zn piece
_________
The ___________
solution
____________.
B

Fe

CuSO4

Fe

AgNO3

Cu

AgNO3

Discussion

For each displacement reaction:

1. Name the substance that (a) loses electrons and (b) gains
electrons.
2. Describe the change in oxidation number of the substance that
was (a) oxidised
and (b) reduced.
3. Write the half equation for oxidation
4. Write the half equation for reduction.
5. Write the ionic equation for the redox reaction.
6. State (a) oxidising agent and (b) reducing agent.
7. State other substance that can be used to displace copper and
silver.
Conclusion A _________ electropositive metal can displace a __________
electropositive metal from its salt solution.
EXPERIMENT 4: DISPLACEMENT REACTION OF HALOGEN FROM ITS HALIDE
SOLUTION
AIM

To investigate the displacement of halogens from their halide

solutions

PROBLEM
STATEMEN
T
HYPOTHESI
S
VARIABLES

MATERIALS

APPARATUS
PROCEDUR
E

Chlorine water, Cl2(aq); bromine water, Br2(aq); potassium bromide,

KBr solution, potassium iodide, KI solution, 1, 1, 1-trichloroethane
(Caution! Vapour is poisonous)
Test tubes, test tube rack, dropper

1. Label four test tubes A, B and C.

2. Pour 1 cm3 of chlorine water, Cl2(aq) and 1 cm3 of potassium
bromide, KBr
solution into test tube A.
3. Add 8 drops of 1, 1, 1-trichloroethane to the mixture and shake
well.
4. Leave for one minute so that the mixture can separate into two
layers.
4. Record the observation.
5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the other test tubes using the halogen
and halide
solution as listed in table 3.4.
OBSERVATI
ON

Discussion

Conclusion

Tes
t
tub
e
A

Halog
en

Halide
Solution

Cl2

KBr

Cl2

KI

Br2

KI

Observation

Inference

For each displacement reaction:

1. State (a) oxidising agent and (b) reducing agent.
2. Arrange the halogens in order of increasing strength as oxidizing
agents.
3. Arrange the halide ions of increasing strength as reducing
agents.
4. Write the half equation for oxidation
5. Write the half equation for reduction.
6. Write the ionic equation for the redox reaction.
7. Describe each redox reaction in terms of : (a) transfer of
electrons and
(b) change in oxidation number
A _________ reactive halogen can displace a __________ reactive
halogen from its halide solution.

EXPERIMENT 5: ELECTRON TRANSFER AT A DISTANCE

AIM
MATERIALS

APPARATUS

To study the redox reaction in terms of electron transfer at a distance

Iron (II) sulphate solution, FeSO4; acidified potassium manganate (VII)
solution, KMnO4/H+,
2 moldm-3 sulphuric acid , potassium iodide solution, acidified potassium
dichromate(VI) solution, potassium thiocyanate solution, starch solution
U-tube, galvanometer, connecting wire, retort stand with clamp, rubber
stopper, carbon electrode, dropper

PROCEDUR
E

1. Fill the U-tube with dilute sulphuric acid and clamp it up vertically.
2. Using a dropper, fill one arm with iron(II) sulphate solution and the other
arm with acidified
potassium manganate(VII) solution.
3. Immerse the carbon electrodes into the solution and connect the
galvanometer connecting
wires to complete the circuit.
4. Observe the galvanometer pointer and the colour change of the solution.
5. Record the observation.
6. Repeat steps 1 to 5 using the solutions as listed in table 3.5. Test the
product with
suitable reagents.

OBSERVATI
ON

Rectant
s
FeSO4
and
KMnO4/
H+

Observation
The

deflection of the galvanometer pointer

showed
that the electrode placed in iron(II)
sulphate, FeSO4
solution acted as the __________ terminal
while the
electrode placed in acidified potassium
manganate(VII), KMn04 solution acted as
the
_________ terminal.
The ________ acidified potassium
manganate(VII),
KMn04 solution was ___________.
The _________ iron(II) sulphate, FeSO4,
turned _________. When a few drops of
potassium
thiocyanate, KSCN solution were added, a
_______
solution was formed.

Inference

KI and
K2Cr2O7/
H+

Discussion

For each redox reaction:

1. State the direction of electron flow .
2. What is the function of the dilute sulphuric acid?
3. Dilute sulphuric acid can also be replaced by dilute hydrochloric acid.
Give one reason for
this.
4. Name the substance that is (a) oxidised and (b) reduced.
5. Write the half equation for the reaction that occurred at each arm.
6. Write the ionic equation for the redox reaction.
7. Describe the change in oxidation number of the substance that is (a)
oxidised and (b)
reduced.
8. State the (a) oxidising agent and (b) reducing agent
9. Apart from using U-tube, draw the set up of apparatus that you can use in
this activity.
Comment on the time taken for the changes to occur.

Conclusion

When a reducing agent and oxidising agent are separated by an electrolyte

in a U-tube, a redox reaction takes place whereby electrons are transferred
through connecting wires from ________________agent to ________________
agent.

EXPERIMENT 6: ELECTROCHEMICAL CORROSION OF METALS

AIM
PROBLEM
STATEMEN
T
HYPOTHESI
S
VARIABLES

MATERIALS
APPARATUS
PROCEDUR
E

To study the effect on the rusting of iron nail when it comes into contact
with other metals.
What is the effect of other metals on the rusting of iron nail?

Manipulated:
Responding:
Constant:
Iron nails, magnesium ribbon, copper strip, agar solution (gelatin),
potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) solution, phenolphthalein indicator
Test tube, test tube rack, sandpaper

1. Clean the iron nail, magnesium ribbon and copper strip using the
sandpaper.
2. Put an iron nail into test tube A, an iron nail that is coiled with
magnesium ribbon into test
tube B, and an iron nail that is coiled with copper strip into test tube C.
3. Mix the hot agar solution with a few drops of potassium
hexacyanoferrate(III) solution and a
few drops of phenolphthalein indicator, and pour the mixture into test
tubes A, B and C.

4. Leave the test tubes in the test tube rack for three days.
5. Record and compare the observation on the colour change in each test
tube.
OBSERVATI
ON

Test
tube
A
B

Discussion

Conclusion

Pairs of metal

Observation

Inference

Iron nail only

Iron nail and
magnesium
ribbon
iron nail and
copper strip

1. Write the formula of the metal ion that is formed when the iron nail rusts.
2. Write the half-equation for the rusting of iron.
3. Name the reaction that occurs during the rusting of iron.
4. What is the function of potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) solution?
5. (a) Based on the observation, which test tube shows that rusting has not
occurred?
(b) Name the metal that can protect iron from being corroded. Explain
your answer.
6. Which metal facilitates the rusting of iron in this experiment? Give the
reason.
7. State the relationship between the intensity of colour of the dark blue
spot and the rusting
of iron.
8. Name the gas that is produced in this experiment.
9. Write the formula for the ion that causes pink colour to form in the
mixture.
10. Iron can be prevented from rusting by using a sacrificial metal. Give a
brief explanation on
how a large construction structures such as a bridge and iron pipe can
be prevented from
rusting by using the sacrificial metal.

EXERCISES

CORROSION OF METALS
Corrosion of metals occur when metals_____________spontaneously and is ____________to form
metal
Ions.
M M"+ + ne (oxidation)
Metals that are placed _______________ in the electrochemical series or are_______________ will
be
corroded more easily. This is because the metal has a greater tendency to____________ in
order to form
_____________. The corrosion of metals is a_________________ because this process involves
oxidation and reduction.
The corrosion of metals electrochemically is a process that occurs when two metals of
different electropositivity
________________with each other in an___________________; the metal that is more
electropositive will
________________electrons (undergoes _____________) and become corroded. The metal that is
more
electropositive will become corroded, while the metal that is less electropositive will be
protected from being
____________________.

RUSTING OF IRON