An Equilibrium Constant

Lab Report
Professor Davis
By Jacquelin Sanchez
June 28, 2012

Abstract
The purpose of this experiment was to find equilibrium constant by first finding the
absorbance of the standard solution using a spectrophotometer. Then calculating the equilibrium
molar concentration and find out the equilibrium constant by using the following equation:
=

[ ]
[+ ][ ]

The constant was 247.38 determined by the chart given by the instructor and the actual constant
was 271.49 determined by the equation above. The data was graphed and evaluated to determine
the equilibrium constant for a soluble equilibrium.

Purpose
The equilibrium constant of a chemical system will be determine by using a
spectrophotometer. A spectrophotometer is a piece of equipment used to measuring the intensity
of light in a part of the spectrum, esp. as transmitted or emitted by particular substances. Use
graphing techniques, data analysis to evaluate data, and determine the equilibrium constant for a
soluble equilibrium.

Introduction
A laboratory instrument that is

visible EM radiation.

The wavelength

commonly used in modern chemistry labs

where the absorbing ions or a molecule has a

today is the Spectrophotometer.

This

maximum absorption of visible radiation is

instrument measures the amount of light

determined and set on the spectrophotometer

transmitted

for the analysis.

through

spectrophotometer,

sample.

more

The

specifically

measures transmitted light intensities with a

photosensitive detector at specific visible
wavelengths.

Interactions

of

electromagnetic (EM) radiation with matter

are

taken

place

when

using

spectrophotometric method of analysis.

Ultraviolet, visible, and infrared regions are
most commonly used for the EM spectrum
with the visible region being the most
familiar which has wavelengths that range

The EM radiation or light energy has

many factors that control what the sample
absorbs,

these

factors

include

the

concentration of the absorbing substance,

the thickness of the sample containing the
absorbing substance which is determined by
the width of the cuvet, and the probability of
light absorption by the absorbing substance
which is called the molar absorptivity
coefficient or extinction coefficient.

from 400 to 700 nm. Ions and molecules of

The transmittance, T, is the ratio of

the visible spectra in a solution arise from

the intensity of the transmitted light, I, to

electronic transitions within their respective

that of the incident light Io.

structures. The greater the concentration of

the absorbing ions and molecules in the
solution, the greater the absorption of the

= %

which is a percent transmittance of light

scale. The %T is linear and easy to read and
interpolate

but

chemist

often

perform

calculations based on the amount of light

absorbed by the sample rather than the
amount

of

light

transmitted

because

absorption is directly proportional to the

Absorbance, A

Most spectrophotometers have a %T

Molar concentration, C

concentration of the absorbing substance.

The absorbance (A), of the substance is
related to the intensity of the incident and
transmitted light by the equations:

The magnitude of an equilibrium

constant, Kc, expresses the equilibrium
position for a chemical system. The reaction,

A = log = log = log

=axbxc

The molar absorption coefficient, a,

is a constant at any given wavelength for a

aA + bB cC + dD , the mass expression

(equation below) is equals the equilibrium
constant Kc, when equilibrium has been
established by both reactant and product.

particular absorption substance, b, is the

thickness of the absorbing substance in
centimeters and c, is the molar concentration
of the absorbing substance. A plot of
absorption versus concentration data is
linear; a calculated slope and absorbance

This experiment determines Kc, for a

data can be used to determine the molar

chemical system in wich all species are

concentration of the same absorption species

soluble. The chemical system involves the

in a solution of unknown concentration from

equilibrium between iron (III) ion, Fe3+,

the linear relationship. The magnitude of the

thiocyanate ion SCN, and thiocyanatoiron

equilibrium constant indicates the principle

(III) ion, FeNCS2+:

species, products or reactants that exist in

[Fe(H2O)6]3(aq)

the chemical system at equilibrium.

[Fe(H2O)5NCS]2(aq) + H2O (l)

SCN(aq)

Because the concentration of water is

essentially

constant

in

dilute

aqueous

solution, we omit the water of hydrogen and

molar concentration into the equation of the

mass action expression to find the value of
the equlibrium constant, K.

the equation is written as:

Procedue
Fe3 (aq) + SCN (aq) FeNCS2 (aq)

Part A:

The equilibrium constant is

Kc=

Step 1. Prepare a set of standard solutions.

[]
[][]

Six clean 25ml voltrimetric flasks will be

needed and labled from 0 through 5. Then

In part A you will prepare a set of six

place 0ml, 1ml, 2ml, 3ml, 4ml, and 5ml of

standard solutions of FeNCS2 ion. FeNCS2

0.001M NaSCN in voltrimetric flask labled

has absorption of 447nm for each solution

with the same number of the milileters of

plotted versus the molar concentration of

NaSCN. In each voltrimetric flask put in

FeNCS2. When preparing the standard

10.0ml of 0.2M Fe(NO3)2. Use a graduated

solution of FeNCS2 you will have more Fe3

cylinder to measure the pricise mesurments

then

the

needed. Last pipet quantitatively dilute 25ml

equilibrium to shift right, consuming nearly

of 0.1M HNO to the mark on the

all of SCN forming FeNCS.

voltrimetric flask and agitate each solution

SCN

concentration

causing

In part B you will have a similar amount of

Fe3 and SCN ions, as a result you will have

thoroughly to ensure that equlibrium has

been establised.

a similar amount of each species after the

Step 2. Prepare the blank solution. Before

equilibriom is establised.

using the spectrophotometer turn it on and

Since the total volume of the mixed

solution is mesured pricies, the initial mole
of Fe3 and SCN- and the equilibrium moles
of FeNCS2 are calculated from know molar
concentration.

The

concentration

of

equilibrium
FeNCS2

from

molar
the

calibration curve, you subsatued the three

let is set for 10 minutes and set the

wavelength scale has been set to 447nm,
meanwhile transfer each solution to a clean
cuvet. Handle the cuvet with the cloudy side
and make sure before placing the cuvet into
the spectrophotometer that the two clear
sides are well cleaned with a kimwipe

removing any fingerprints etc. that might

measure the pricise mesurments needed.

interfere with the reading. Before placing

Last pipet quantitatively dilute 0.1M HNO

the cuvet make sure the meter on the

to the mark on the voltrimetric flask and

spectohotometer

agitate each solution thoroughly to ensure

is

set

to

read

zero

absorbance. Then place the cuvet in the

spectophotometer to where the two clear
sides has light passing through it.

that equlibrium has been establised.

Step 2. Recalibrate the spectophotometer.

Transfer each solution to a clean cuvet.

Step 3. Recording the absorption of the

Handle the cuvet with the cloudy side and

standard solutions and graph the data. After

make sure before placing the cuvet into the

placing the cuvet in the spectophotometer

spectrophotometer that the two clear sides

wait a few seconds and then record the

are well cleaned with a kimwipe removing

absorbance and repeat for 2,3,4, and 5. Now

any fingerprints etc. that might interfere

that all the absorbtion are abtained go to

with the reading. Before placing the cuvet

Experiment 34- An Equilibrium Constant-

make sure to set the meter on the

Microsoft Execl given by the instructor and

spectohotometer to read zero absorbance.

type

Then

in

the

automatically

recording
make

and
gragh

it

will

of

the

recordings.

Part B.
Step 1. Prepare a set of standard solutions.
Obtain six clean 10ml voltrimetric flasks
and lable them 0 through 5. Then place 0ml,
1ml, 2ml, 3ml, 4ml, and 5ml of 0.002M
NaSCN in voltrimetric flask labled with the
same number of the milileters of NaSCN. In
each voltrimetric flask put in 5ml of 0.002M
Fe(NO3)2. Use a graduated cylinder to

place

the

cuvet

spectophotometer to where the

in

the

two clear

sides has light passing through it.

Step 3. Recording the absorption of the
standard solutions. After placing the cuvet in
the spectophotometer wait a few seconds
and then record the absorbance and repeat
for 2,3,4, and 5. From the calibration curve,
use the recorded absorbance value for each
test solution to determine the equilibrium
molar concentration of FeNCS2.

Experimental Data

A. Standard Solutions to Establish Calibration Curve

[Fe(NO3)3]

0.200

[NaSCN]

0.001

Blank

Vol. NaSCN (mL)

Mol. SCN- (mol)

0.000001

0.000002

0.000003

0.000004

0.000005

[SCN-] (25.0 mL)

0.00004

0.00008

0.00012

0.00016

0.0002

[FeSCN2+]

0.00004

0.00008

0.00012

0.00016

0.0002

Absorbance (AU)

0.097

0.221

0.351

0.462

0.606

mx =

3039.300

b=

-0.014

y=

B. Absorbance for Test Solutions

[Fe(NO3)3]

0.002

[NaSCN]

0.002

Vol. Fe(NO3)3 (mL)

Mol Fe3+, initial (mol)
Vol. NaSCN (mL)
Mol SCN-, initial (mol)

10

0.00001

0.00001

0.00001

0.00001

0.00001

0.000002

0.000004

0.000006

0.000008

0.00001

Absorbance (AU)

0.096

0.201

0.324

0.422

0.526

10

C. Calculation of Kc

[FeSCN2+]eq (mol/L)

3.63242E-05

7.08716E-05 0.000111341 0.000143586 0.000177804

Mol. FeSCN2+eq (mol)

3.63242E-07

7.08716E-07 1.11341E-06 1.43586E-06 1.77804E-06

Mol. Fe3+, reacted (mol)

3.63242E-07

7.08716E-07 1.11341E-06 1.43586E-06 1.77804E-06

Mol. Fe3+eq (mol)

9.63676E-06

9.29128E-06 8.88659E-06 8.56414E-06 8.22196E-06

[Fe3+]eq (10 mL)

0.000963676 0.000929128 0.000888659 0.000856414 0.000822196

Mol. SCN-, reacted (mol)

3.63242E-07

7.08716E-07 1.11341E-06 1.43586E-06 1.77804E-06

Mol. SCN-eq (mol)

1.63676E-06

3.29128E-06 4.88659E-06 6.56414E-06 8.22196E-06

[SCN-]eq (10 mL)

0.000163676 0.000329128 0.000488659 0.000656414 0.000822196

[FeSCN 2+ ]
Kc =
[Fe 3+ ][SCN ]

230.292574

231.7560091 256.3990002 255.4166597 263.0214431

Average Kc

247.3771372

Std. Dev. Kc

15.22066183

Absorbance vs. [FeSCN2+]

Absorbance, AU

0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3

y = 3039.3x - 0.0144
R = 0.9976

0.2
0.1
0
-0.1

0.00005

0.0001
[

0.00015

0.0002

0.00025

FeSCN2+], M

Calculations
A. Standard Solutions to Establish Calibration Curve.
Given: 0.2M [Fe(NO3)3] ,0.001M [NaSCN] and Vol. NaSCN (mL)
001M

= 1 10

In order to find moles of SCN- divide

[SCN-] (25.0 mL) 4 10 first convert 25ml to L then divide

1000ml

110
.025

Absorbance (AU) .097 the absorbance rate was obtained by using the

spectrophotometer.

B. Absorbance for Test Solutions

Given: .002M[Fe(NO3)3], .002M[NaSCN], Vol. Fe(NO3)3 (5mL), and Vol.

Mol Fe3+, initial (mol)=.00001mol

Mol SCN-, initial (mol)= 0.000002 mol

NaSCN (mL).

Absorbance .096 (AU) = the absorbance rate was obtained by using the
spectrophotometer.

C. Calculation of Kc

[FeSCN2+]eq (mol/L= [.096=3039.30x-.014 (solve for x)]= )= 3.63*10^-5

Mol. FeSCN2+eq (mol) = [3.63*10^-5 *.01L]= 3.63*10^-7

Mol. Fe3+, reacted (mol)= [3.63*10^-5*.01L]= 3.63*10^-7

Mol. Fe3+eq (mol)=9.6367*10^-6

[Fe3+]eq (10 mL)=

Mol. SCN-eq (mol)=1.6367*10^-6

9.6367106 3.63107
.01

=.00096367

Mol. SCN-, reacted (mol) =[3.63 105 .01]=3.63*10^-7

1.6367106 3.63107

[SCN-]eq (10 mL)=

Kc =

[FeSCN 2+ ]
[Fe 3+ ][SCN ] =

.01

=.00016367

3.63105

9.6367104 1.63104

Average Kc=

= 230.292574

(230.292574+ 231.7560091+ 256.3990002+ 255.4166597+ 263.0214431)

=247.3771372

Results and Discussion

After conducting the experiment, the results

reading of 247 from the equilibrium

suggest that the equilibrium constant that

constant, which varied from the 271 from

was contained was different from the actual

the actual constant value of the standard

constant. Data was attained showing a

solution. Several factors could have

contributed to the different readings. There

air particles. There is also the possibility of

is a chance that inaccurate measurements of

one solution being added more or less than

the solutions were attained when mixed or

the other. Lastly, rounding errors of the

small debris in the cuvets could have

calculations could have contributed to this

distorted the readings of the

difference in the constants.

spectrophotometer such as finger prints or

Conclusion
In this experiment the equilibrium constant of the chemical system between the Iron(III)
ion, Fe3, Thiocyanate ion SCN-, and Thiocyanatoiron(III) ion, FeNCS2 has been determined .
First the absorbance of the standard solution was found by using a spectrophotometer. Then the
equilibrium molar concentration was calculated in order to find out the equilibrium constant by
using the following equation:

Kc=

[]
[][]

As a result the reading of 247 from the equilibrium constant varied from the 271 from the actual
constant value of the standard solution. In conclusion, this suggest that outside factors that were
above mentioned contributed to the inconsistency of the results.