CHM171L Physical Chemistry 2 Laboratory

4th Quarter AY 2015-2016

Photochemistry
Ricky Jay C. Gomez1
1Students, Mapúa Institute of Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry

ABSTRACT

The experiment was all about photochemistry or underlying capabilities of light in various chemical reaction. The
objectives were to perform a 2D printing of an image using filter paper and a piece of printed image on an acetate.
Using ferric chloride and oxalic acid mixed solutions, a chemical reaction was done in a dark and low light area. And
by subjecting the immersed image in the solution, it was subjected to a area where there is a presence of strong light.
As the whole exposed image turns into blue, it proves that a chemical reaction/photochemistry occurred.

Keywords: Photochemistry, light, ferric chloride, oxalic acid

INTRODUCTION
Photochemistry studies the interaction between
atoms, molecules and light or electromagnetic
radiation. It is also the study of chemical reactions
induced by direct or indirect light. At some situation,
thermal reaction which takes place in the dark
normally obtain the activation energy of the photon
absorption of light by molecules, Possible outcome of
this reaction yields to a high selectivity, which means
that for a particular reaction the energy of quantum of
light is appropriate. The amount of energy Ep of a
photon is determined by the frequency of the
oscillation of the electromagnetic field of which the
equation is made:
Ep=hv=hc/λ
where h is the Planck’s constant, λ is the wavelength
and c is the velocity of light.
Photochemical reaction is a chemical reaction caused
by light or ultraviolet radiation. Interaction of light
with matter can be reflected, scattered, refracted,
transmitted or absorbed. The first step in
photochemistry is the absorption of light. Only the
absorbed light can induce photochemical change.
However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will result
in any photochemical event. It is only the absorption
of light that initiates chemical event. Thus, an
important rule in photochemistry.
potassium ferricyanide as reagents. The mixture of
reagents which will coat the paper is sensitive to light.
The objective of the experiments is to visualize the
effect of light on chemical reactions.
The modern era of organic photochemistry began in
1866, when Russian chemist Carl Julius von Fritzche
discovered that a concentrated anthracene solution
exposed to UV radiation would fall from the solution
as a precipitate. This precipitation happens because
the anthracene molecules join together in pairs, or
dimers, which are no longer soluble.
Photochemical reactions and the properties of excited
states are also critical in many commercial processes
and devices. Photography and xerography are both
based upon photochemical processes, while the
manufacture of semiconductor chips or the
preparation of masks for printing newspapers relies
on UV light to destroy molecules in selected regions of
polymer masks.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
The experiment was done using a cardboard, glass,
filter paper soaked with solution of Ferric Chloride
(FeCl3), Oxalic Acid (H2C2O4), Potassium Ferrycyanide
(K3(FeCN)6), and distilled water, and also by a acetate
paper with the desired design (shown in Figure 1), and
more importantly the presence of sunlight.

For the experiment, a blueprint process was

performed with ferric chloride, oxalic acid and

EXPERIMENT 07 | GROUP 05 | MAY 18, 2016 1

 Turnbull’s blue were immediately oxidized by the
neighboring ions (ferrous).

Once the acetate film was subjected to the filter paper

submerged in the mixed solution and exposed to UV
light, ferric oxalate gets reduced to ferrous oxalate
with the release of carbon dioxide. After the blue color
dominated the setup, the filter paper was washed
carefully with water, and the part covered with a dark
color or not exposed crucially in the sunlight was
observed to have less blue color or no blue color at all.
The finished design is shown in Figure 2.

FIGURE 1: Design printed in acetate as a trace used in

the experiment.

Prepare a solution of ferric chloride and oxalic acid by

dissolving 1g of both in a 50 mL distilled water placed
in a beaker. Prepare another solution of potassium
ferryicyanide by dissolving 1g of it in a 50mL water
placed in a beaker. After preparing the two solutions,
ready the acetate paper with design, filter paper,
cardboard, glass, tray, and the two solutions in an area
where light is reduced. Mix the two solutions prepared
in the tray two create a uniform solution. After that,
make sure to soak the whole filter paper in the
uniform solution. Remove the excess solution, and
immediately withdraw the paper. Still, while in the
area where light is reduced, mount the soaked filter FIGURE 2: Finished design of traced paper.
paper in the cardboard, and above the filter paper,
mount the acetate paper with the desired design, and CONCLUSION
lastly mount the glass above the acetate paper. Lastly,
place the design in an area where there is enough This experiment aims to visualize the effect of light on
sunlight to turn the solution in the filter paper blue. chemical reactions. This concept is explained by
Since the design in the acetate paper covers the photochemistry, the study of chemical reactions,
solution in the filter paper from sunlight, the solution isomerization and physical behavior that may occur
in that part won’t turn blue. After turning the solution under the influence of visible and/or ultraviolet light
to blue, go to an area where there is reduce light again, is called photochemistry. Photochemical reactions are
and wash the final design with plenty of water. Dry the valuable in organic and inorganic chemistry because
final design. they proceed differently than thermal reactions. Many
thermal reactions have their photochemical
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS counterpart. In the case of photochemical reactions,
light provides the activation energy. Simplistically,
Light is a form of radiation that possesses an energy
light is one mechanism for providing the activation
that could be absorbed by atoms and molecules. To
energy required for many reactions. Everyday
visualize the effect of light on chemical reactions
examples include photosynthesis, degradation of
proceeded by mixing ferric chloride, oxalic acid and
plastics or formation of vitamin D with sunlight.
potassium ferricyanide. This method is usually used in
the process of blueprinting. In the said process, Ferric REFERENCES
ions in a few organic-iron complexes are reduced by
light. In this common reaction, the ferrous ions were P. Atkins and J. de Paula, "Atkins' Physical Chemistry"
formed and were made to react with K3(FeCN)6 which (8th edition, Freeman 2006), chap.5
normally results to a bluish compound normally
known as the Turnbull’s blue. The ferrous ions in Levine, I.N. (2009). Physical Chemistry 6th Edition.
McGraw- Hill Companies, Inc.

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