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(20 points The ethanol (FW 46.070) in a 20.00 mL aliquot was distilled into 100.

ID: 508879 • Letter: #

Question

(20 points The ethanol (FW 46.070) in a 20.00 mL aliquot was distilled into 100.0 mL of 0.05151 M K2Cr207 (FW 294.19). Heating completed the oxidation of the alcohol to acetic acid (FW 60.054), following which the excess dichromate was titrated with 34.42 mL of 0.02497 MFe (FW 55.847). a) Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction which occurs between the ethanol and the dichromate. b) Write the balanced chemical equation for the titration reaction c) Determine the mass of ethanol in the brandy sample.

Explanation / Answer

During distillation Ethanol is oxidized by dichromate.

Balanced chemical reaction:

Write the reduction half reactions.

CH3COOH +4H+ + 4e- ----> CH3CH2COOH + H2O

Cr2O72- + 14H+ + 6e- ----> 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

We have to balance the electron.

So multiply 3 with first equation and 2 with second equation to make 12 electron for both

3CH3COOH +12H+ + 12e- ----> 3CH3CH2COOH + 3H2O

2Cr2O72- + 28H+ + 12e- ----> 4Cr3+ + 14H2O

Subtract first equation from second equation.

3CH3CH2OH + 2Cr2O72-+16H+ ----> 3CH3COOH + 4Cr3+ + 11H2O

b)

Titration is between dichromate and Fe2+

Oxidation of Fe2+ by dichromate.

Write the reduction half reaction.

Fe2+ + e- ---> Fe3+

Cr2O72- + 14H+ + 6e- ----> 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

Multiply 6 with first equation.

6Fe2+ + 6e- ---> 6Fe3+

After subtraction we have

Cr2O72- + 14H+ + 6Fe2+ ----> 2Cr3+ + 7H2O + 6Fe3+

c)

Mass of ethanol

Number of moles of dichromate initially is

= 100 mL x 0.05151 mmol/mL

= 0.005151 mol

Number of moles of Fe2+ required to reduce dichromate

= 34.42 mL x 0.02497 mmol /mL

= 8.59 x 10-4 mol

From the equation

Cr2O72- + 14H+ + 6Fe2+ ----> 2Cr3+ + 7H2O + 6Fe3+

One mole of Cr2O72- requires six mol Fe2+

1 mol Cr2O72- = 6 mol Fe2+

1/6 mol Cr2O72- = 1 mol Fe2+

8.59 x 10-4 mol Fe2+ = 8.59 x 10-4 (1/6)ol Cr2O72-

= 1.432 x 10-4 mol of Cr2O72-

The above is the number of moles of Cr2O72- remaining after reacting with ethanol.

Number of moles of Cr2O72- reacted with ethanol is

= 0.005151 - 1.432 x 10-4

= 0.00500 mol

3CH3CH2OH + 2Cr2O72-+16H+ ----> 3CH3COOH + 4Cr3+ + 11H2O

From the above equation

3 mol of ethanol requires 2 moles of Cr2O72-

3 mol ethanol = 2 mol of Cr2O72-

1 mol of of Cr2O72- = 3/2 mol of ethanol

0.00500 mol of Cr2O72 = 0.00500 (3/2) mol of ethanol

=0.007511 mol

20mL contains 0.007511 moles.

100mL contains 0.007511 x 5 = 0.03755 moles.

Mass of ethanol is

= 0.03755 x 40.070

Mass of ethanol is 1.73 g