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Potassium permanganate reacts with hydrogen peroxide:

  • 2MnO4(aq) + 5H2O2(aq) + 6H+(aq) → 2Mn2+(aq) + 8H2O(l) + 5O2(g)

25.0 mL of 0.02 M KMnO4 solution is reduced by 20.0 mL of H2O2 solution. What is the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide solution?

Why can't you use the formula C1V1 = C2V2 to find the concentration?

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2 Answers

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C1V1 = C2V2 should only be used to calculate the concentration change as a result of a volume change (dilution by water, basically).

Since the steps are actually more complicated than that (i.e.: there is a reaction involved), we have to consider this on from first principles, the basics:

  1. 25.0 mL of 0.02 M KMnO4 = 0.0005 mol of KMnO4 was reacted away
  2. Stoichometrically, this requires 5/2 x 0.0005 = 0.00125 mol of H2O2
  3. We were told that the process took 20 mL of H2O2. Hence, c = n/V = 0.00125 / 0.020 = 0.0625 M
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Umm.. there is just one hitch with the answer above, that is that the reaction took place in 45mL not the 20 mL of H2O2... and also another 8 moles of H2O was produced, so the correct concentration needs to include these both

So following the same basics above

  1. 25.0mL of 0.02M KMnO4 = 25mL x 0.02M = 0.5 mmol
  2. Stoichometrically n(H2O2) = 5/2 x 0.5 mmol = 1.25 mmol
  3. Find volume of 8 moles of H2O V(H2O) = 8 x 18.02 x 1 = 144.16 mL
    --> assuming density of H2O to be 1 g/mL
  4. Final volume of reaction = 45mL + 144.16mL = 189.16mL
  5. Then final concentration of H2O2, c = n/V cfinal(H2O2) = 1.25mmol / 189.16 mL = 0.006608M
  6. Round sig figs c(H2O2) = 6.61 x 10E-3 M

Note that this reaction would be exothermic so some of the water would be evaporated or hydrated the released oxygen gas so the concentration would be smaller than this theorectical one

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I disagree with this answer, but I see where you're coming from. I'm calculating the concentration before the hydrogen peroxide has been added (the 20 mL vial of it). You're calculating the result after the reaction, but (assuming complete reaction) the moles remaining of hydrogen peroxide should be zero anyway. – Collin Li Mar 12 at 23:56
That said, really excellent considerations - these examples of attention to detail are usually not demanded or rewarded by the VCE, unfortunately. – Collin Li Mar 13 at 0:31
the question was worded badly i guess. They should tell you are whether or not they want the concentration before you start the reaction or after the reaction. – John Huynh Mar 13 at 0:54

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