Question icon
Grade 12Physical Chemistry

25ml of a solution containing 6.1g/L an oxalate of formula Kxhy(C2O4)2nh20 required 18 ml of 0.1N naoh and 24 ml of 0.1N kmno4 in two seperate titrations find n.

Profile image of Siddarth
8 Years agoGrade 12
Answers icon

1 Answer

Profile image of Askiitians Tutor Team
ApprovedApproved Tutor Answer1 Year ago

To solve the problem of determining the value of n in the oxalate formula KxHy(C2O4)2·nH2O, we need to analyze the information provided about the solution and the titrations performed. Let's break this down step by step.

Understanding the Components

We have a solution with a concentration of 6.1 g/L of an oxalate. The titrations involve two different reagents: sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium permanganate (KMnO4). The volumes used in the titrations are 18 mL of 0.1 N NaOH and 24 mL of 0.1 N KMnO4.

Step 1: Calculate Moles of NaOH Used

First, we need to find out how many moles of NaOH were used in the titration:

  • Volume of NaOH = 18 mL = 0.018 L
  • Normality of NaOH = 0.1 N
  • Moles of NaOH = Normality × Volume (in L) = 0.1 × 0.018 = 0.0018 moles

Step 2: Reaction with Oxalate

The reaction between oxalate ions (C2O4^2-) and NaOH can be represented as follows:

  • C2O4^2- + 2 NaOH → Na2C2O4 + H2O

From this reaction, we see that 1 mole of oxalate reacts with 2 moles of NaOH. Therefore, the moles of oxalate in the solution can be calculated as:

  • Moles of oxalate = Moles of NaOH / 2 = 0.0018 / 2 = 0.0009 moles

Step 3: Calculate Mass of Oxalate

Next, we can find the mass of oxalate in the solution:

  • Mass of oxalate = Moles × Molar mass

To find the molar mass of the oxalate, we need to consider the formula KxHy(C2O4)2·nH2O. The molar mass of oxalate (C2O4) is approximately 88 g/mol. However, we need to account for the potassium (K), hydrogen (H), and water of hydration (nH2O) in our calculations.

Step 4: Calculate Total Mass in 25 mL

Since the concentration of the solution is 6.1 g/L, we can find the total mass of the oxalate in 25 mL:

  • Mass in 25 mL = (6.1 g/L) × (0.025 L) = 0.1525 g

Step 5: Calculate Moles of KMnO4 Used

Now, let's calculate the moles of KMnO4 used in the second titration:

  • Volume of KMnO4 = 24 mL = 0.024 L
  • Normality of KMnO4 = 0.1 N
  • Moles of KMnO4 = Normality × Volume (in L) = 0.1 × 0.024 = 0.0024 moles

Step 6: Reaction with Oxalate

The reaction between oxalate and KMnO4 can be represented as:

  • 5 C2O4^2- + 2 MnO4^- + 16 H+ → 10 CO2 + 2 Mn^2+ + 8 H2O

From this reaction, we see that 5 moles of oxalate react with 2 moles of KMnO4. Therefore, the moles of oxalate can be calculated as:

  • Moles of oxalate = (Moles of KMnO4 × 5) / 2 = (0.0024 × 5) / 2 = 0.006 moles

Step 7: Relating Moles to the Formula

Now we have two different calculations for the moles of oxalate. The first calculation gave us 0.0009 moles from the NaOH titration, and the second gave us 0.006 moles from the KMnO4 titration. This discrepancy suggests that we need to consider the stoichiometry of the oxalate in the formula KxHy(C2O4)2·nH2O.

Step 8: Finding n

To find n, we need to relate the total mass of oxalate to the moles calculated. The total mass of oxalate (0.1525 g) corresponds to the moles calculated from the KMnO4 titration. We can set up an equation based on the molar mass of the entire compound:

  • 0.1525 g = (Molar mass of KxHy(C2O4)2·nH2O) × (0.006 moles)

From this, we can solve for the molar mass of the entire compound and subsequently determine the value of n based on the contributions of K, H, and water of hydration. The molar mass of K is approximately 39 g/mol, and H is about 1 g/mol. By substituting these values and solving, we can find n.

In summary, the calculations involve determining the moles of oxalate from both titrations, relating these to the total mass of the oxalate, and using the molar mass to find the value of n in the formula. This process highlights the importance of stoichiometry in chemical reactions and how it can be used to derive unknowns in a compound's formula.