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Types of redox titrations

illustration showing different types of redox titrations
illustration showing different types of redox titrations

(image may contain incorrect data, it is just for illustration purpose)

1. Cerimetry:

Principle:

  • Cerimetry involves the use of cerium (IV) salts, such as cerium (IV) sulfate, as the oxidizing titrant.

  • In this process, cerium (IV) ions are reduced to cerium (III) ions when they react with reducing agents in the analyte.

Applications:

  • Cerimetry is commonly used for the determination of reducing sugars, phenols, and a variety of organic and inorganic substances.

Example chemical reaction:

  • The oxidation of oxalic acid by cerium(IV) sulfate:

2 Ce(SO4)2 + C2H2O4 → 2 Ce(SO4) + 2 H2SO4 + 2 CO2

2. Iodimetry:

Principle:

  • Iodimetry involves the direct titration of a reducing agent with iodine (I₂) as the oxidizing titrant. Iodine is reduced to iodide (I⁻), while the reducing agent is oxidized.

Applications:

  • Iodimetry is used to quantify reducing agents like sulfites, thiosulfates, arsenites, and organic compounds such as vitamin C.

Example chemical reaction:

  • In the iodimetric titration of sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3), iodine reacts with the thiosulfate ions (S2O3^2-) to produce tetrathionate ions (S4O6^2-) and iodide ions (I-):

2 S2O3^2- + I2 → S4O6^2- + 2 I-

3. Iodometry:

Principle:

  • Iodometry is an indirect redox titration technique where the reducing agent reacts with excess iodine to produce iodide ions.

  • The unreacted iodine is then titrated with a standard thiosulfate solution.

Applications:

  • Iodometry is used for the determination of copper, antimony, and other metal ions, as well as various organic compounds and pharmaceutical substances.

Example chemical reaction:

  • In the iodometric determination of copper(II) ions, copper(II) sulfate reacts with potassium iodide to produce copper(I) iodide and iodine.

  • The liberated iodine is titrated with sodium thiosulfate:

Cu^2+ + 2 I- → CuI + I2

2 S2O3^2- + I2 → S4O6^2- + 2 I-

  • The overall reaction:

Cu^2+ + 2 S2O3^2- → Cu^+ + S4O6^2-

4. Bromometry:

Principle:

  • Bromatometry is similar to iodimetry but uses bromine (Br₂) as the oxidizing titrant.

  • Bromine reacts with reducing agents to form bromide (Br⁻) ions.

Applications:

  • Bromatometry is employed to determine reducing agents like ascorbic acid, hydroquinone, phenols, and for the analysis of pharmaceuticals, food products, and environmental samples.

Example Chemical Reaction:

  • In the bromatometric titration of ascorbic acid (vitamin C, C₆H₈O₆), bromine reacts with ascorbic acid to form dehydroascorbic acid and bromide:

C6H8O6+Br2→C6H6O6+2HBr

Principle:

  • Bromatometry is similar to iodimetry, but it uses bromine (Br2) as the oxidizing titrant instead of iodine.

  • The bromine reacts with reducing agents, forming bromide (Br-) ions in the process.

Applications:

  • Bromatometry is employed to determine the concentration of reducing agents like ascorbic acid, hydroquinone, and phenols.

  • It can also be used for the analysis of pharmaceuticals, food products, and environmental samples.

Example chemical reaction:

  • In the bromatometric titration of ascorbic acid (vitamin C, C6H8O6), bromine reacts with ascorbic acid to produce dehydroascorbic acid and bromide ions:

C6H8O6 + Br2 → C6H6O6 + 2 HBr

5. Dichrometry:

Principle:

  • Dichrometry uses potassium dichromate (K₂Cr₂O₇) or sodium dichromate (Na₂Cr₂O₇) as the oxidizing titrant. Dichromate ions (Cr₂O₇²⁻) are reduced to chromium(III) ions (Cr³⁺) when they react with reducing agents.

Applications:

  • Dichrometry is used to determine ferrous ions (Fe²⁺), oxalic acid, and other reducing agents.

  • It is also applied in environmental sample analysis (e.g., wastewater) and industrial quality control.

Example Chemical Reaction:

  • In the dichrometric titration of ferrous ammonium sulfate, potassium dichromate reacts with ferrous ions to produce ferric ions and chromium(III) ions in an acidic medium:

Cr2O72∓6Fe2++14H+→2Cr3++6Fe3++7H2O


6. Titration with Potassium Iodate:

Principle:

  • In potassium iodate titrations, iodate ions (IO₃⁻) are reduced to iodide ions (I⁻), while the analyte is oxidized. Alternatively, iodate reacts with iodide to produce iodine, which then reacts with the analyte.

Applications:

  • Potassium iodate titrations are used for the determination of reducing substances like arsenic(III), sulfur dioxide, sulfite ions, and antioxidants in food and pharmaceuticals.

Example Chemical Reaction:

  • In the titration of sulfite ions (SO₃²⁻) with potassium iodate, iodate ions first react with iodide ions to produce iodine, which then reacts with the sulfite ions to form sulfate and iodide:





  • The overall reaction:



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