Transition metals such as manganese, iron, and copper can exist in multiple oxidation states. Manganese commonly exists as Mn2+, Mn4+, and Mn7+. Potassium manganate (VII), KMnO4, is a powerful oxidizing agent. Iron exists as Fe2+ and Fe3+ and acts as a catalyst in the Haber process. Copper exists as Cu+ and Cu2+. Compounds of Cu+ are generally colorless and insoluble while compounds of Cu2+ are blue and soluble, forming complexes with ligands like OH-, NH3, and CO32-.
3. The Oxidation State
Stable Oxidation States: +2, +4 and +7
KMnO4 – powerful oxidizing agent
4. Reduction of KMnO4 in Alkaline Medium:
2KMnO4 + 2KOH 2K2MnO4 + H2O + O
Purple Green
Mn = +7 Mn = +6
2K2MnO4 + 2KOH 2MnO2 + 4KOH + 2O
Green Brown
Mn = +6 Mn= +4
Reduction of KMnO4 in acidic medium:
2KMnO4 + 3H2SO4 (dilute) K2SO4 + 2MnSO4 + 3H2O + 5[O]
2MnO4
- + 6H+ 2Mn+2 + 3H2O + 5[O]
Purple Colorless
Mn = +7 Mn = +2
5. Reactions of Manganese (II) ions in solution
1. The reaction of Hexaaquomanganese (II) ions with hydroxide ions:
OH- ions remove H+ from two of the water ligands to give a neutral complex.
This is insoluble in water and a precipitate is formed.
[Mn(H2O)6]+2 + 2OH- [Mn(H2O)4(OH)2] + 2H2O
6. 2. The reaction of Hexaaquomanganese (II) ions with ammonia solution:
Ammonia removes H+ ions from the aqua complex
[Mn(H2O)6]+2 + 2NH3 [Mn(H2O)4(OH)2] + 2NH4
+
7. Using Potassium Manganate (VII) as oxidizing agent
in organic chemistry
Used in neutral or alkaline solutions
Acidified KMnO4 is a strong oxidizing agent which can break C-C bonds
The KMnO4 solution is mildly alkaline with Na2CO3 solution and the color changes
are:
8. In testing for a Double Bond
1. In testing for H2C=CH2
2KMnO4 + H2O 2MnO2 + 2KOH + 3[O]
3x{ H2C=CH2 + O + H2O HO-CH2-CH2-OH }
2KMnO4 + 4H2O + 3H2C=CH2 2MnO2 + 2KOH + 3HO-CH2-CH2-OH
2. Reaction of Hydrazine with KMnO4 (N=-2 to N = 0)
2x{ 2KMnO4 + 3H2SO4 K2SO4 + 2MnSO4 + 3H2O + 5[O] }
5x{ N2H4 + 2[O] N2 + 2H2O }
4KMnO4 + 6H2SO4 + 5N2H4 2K2SO4 + 4MnSO4 + 16H2O + 5N2
9. 3. In oxidation of Aromatic side chains
Alkaline KMnO4 oxidises any hydrocarbon side chain attached to a benzene ring
back to a single -COOH group. Prolonged heating is necessary.
For Example:
In the case of the ethyl side chain, you will also get carbon dioxide. With longer
side chains, you will get all sorts of mixtures of other products. but in each
case, the main product will be benzoic acid.
10. Using KMnO4 as an oxidizing agent in
Titrations
Potassium manganate(VII) solution is use to find the concentration
of all sorts of reducing agents. It is always used in acidic solution.
Examples:
1. Oxidation of Fe+2 to Fe+3
2KMnO4 + 3H2SO4 K2SO4 + 2MnSO4 + 3H2O + 5[O]
5x{ 2FeSO4 + H2SO4 + [O] Fe2(SO4)3 + H2O}
2KMnO4 + 8H2SO4 + 10 FeSO4 K2SO4 + MnSO4 + 5Fe2(SO4)3 + 8H2O
12. Doing the titration
The KMnO4 solution always goes into
the burette, and the other solution in
the flask is acidified with dilute
sulphuric acid.
As the KMnO4 solution is run into the
flask it becomes colorless. The end
point is the first faint trace of
permanent pink color in the solution
showing that there is a tiny excess of
MnO4
- ions present.
13. Problems with the use of KMnO4 Solution
KMnO4 can't be used in titrations in the presence of ions like chloride
or bromide which it oxidizes. An unknown amount of the KMnO4 would
be used in side reactions, and so the titration result would be
inaccurate. This is why you do not acidify the solution with
hydrochloric acid.
KMnO4 isn't a primary standard. That means it can’t be made up to
give a stable solution of accurately known concentration.
It is so strongly colored that it is impossible to see when all the
crystals you have used have dissolved, and over a period of time it
oxidizes the water it is dissolved in to oxygen.
Bottles of KMnO4 solution usually have a brown precipitate around the
top. This is MnO2 - and is produced when the MnO4
- ions react with
the water.
15. Oxidation State
Iron exists in two common oxidation states, +2 (Fe2+) and +3 (Fe3+).
In aqueous solution, the Fe is readily oxidized from Fe2+ to Fe3+
Fe2+(aq) Fe3+(aq) + e-
16. Iron as catalyst in Haber Process
The Haber Process combines nitrogen and hydrogen into
ammonia.
17. Iron ions as a catalyst in the reaction
between Persulphate ions and iodide ions
The reaction between persulphate ions (peroxodisulphate ions), S2O8-
2 and iodide ions in solution can be catalyzed using either iron(II) or
iron(III) ions. The overall reaction is:
The reaction happens in two stages:
If you use Fe(III) ions, the second reactions happens first.
18. a. Reaction of Iron ions with OH- ions
In case of Iron (II) In case of Iron (III)
OH- ions remove H+ from two of the water ligands to give a neutral
complex. This is insoluble in water and a precipitate is formed.
19. b. Reaction of Iron ions with NH3
In case of Iron (II) In case of Iron (III)
Ammonia acts a base and removes H+ ions from the water ligands to
form a neutral insoluble complex.
[Fe(H2O)6]+3 + 3NH3 [Fe(H2O)3(OH)3] + 3NH4
+[Fe(H2O)6]+2 + 2NH3 [Fe(H2O)4(OH)2] + 2NH4
+
20. Reactions of Iron (II) with carbonate ions and
thiocyanate ions
a. Iron (II) ions and carbonate ions:
Iron (II) carbonate is simply formed
Fe+2 + CO3
-2 FeCO3
21. b. Iron (III) ions with Carbonate ions
The hexaaquairon(III) ion is sufficiently acidic to react with weakly
basic carbonate ions.
Carbonate ions remove H+ from water ligands to produce a neutral
complex
2[Fe(H2O)6]+3 + 3CO3
-2 2[Fe(H2O)3(OH)3] + 3CO2 + 3H2O
22. Testing for Iron(III) with Thiocyanate ions
Add thiocyanate ions, SCN-, to a solution containing
iron(III) ions, blood red solution is formed.
[Fe(H2O)6]+3 + SCN- [Fe(SCN)(H2O)5]+2 + H2O
24. The oxidation state
Copper has two stable oxidation state
Cuprous (+1)
Cupric (+2)
25. Compounds of Cu+1
Most of the compounds of Cuprous are colorless and diamagnetic as 3d orbital is
completely filled (Cu+1 = 3d10)
Exceptions are Cu2O (Red) and Cu2S (Black)
These are generally insoluble in water
The soluble compounds of Cu+1 are unstable in aqueous solution, since they
disproportionate to Cu and Cu+2
2Cu+ Cu + Cu+2
When Cu2O is dissolved in dilute H2SO4 , the products formed are CuSO4 and Cu.
This reaction takes place in two steps:
Cu2O + H2SO4 Cu2SO4 + H2O
Cu2SO4 CuSO4 + Cu
Cu2O + H2SO4 CuSO4 + Cu + H2O
26. Compounds of Cu+2
Most of the anhydrous cupric compounds are colorless while the hydrated
cupric compounds are blue due to the formation of Blue hydrated ion
[Cu(H2O)4]+2 or [Cu(H2O)6]+2
Solutions of Cu+2 salts are acidic in nature due to hydrolysis.
Cu+2 + H2O [Cu(OH)]+ + H+
Since the outer most shell of Cu+2 ion has one unpaired electron (3d9), Cu+2
compounds are paramagnetic.
27. Reaction of Hexaaquacopper (II) ions with OH- ions
OH- ions remove H+ from two of the water ligands to give
a neutral complex. This is insoluble in water and a
precipitate is formed.
28. Reaction of Hexaaquacopper (II) ion with NH3 solution
When Cu(OH)2 is dissolved in excess of NH4OH, a blue
soluble cupric ammine hydroxide is obtained
Cu(OH)2 + 4NH4OH [Cu(NH3)4(OH)2] + 4H2O
29. Reaction of Hexaaquacopper (II) ion with Carbonate ion
Normal Cuprous carbonate (Cu2CO3) and Cupric Carbonate
(CuCO3) have not been isolated but basic cupric carbonates
such as Malachite Cu(OH)2.CuCO3 (Green) and Azurite
Cu(OH)2.2CuCO3 (Blue) are known.
Malachite is obtained by passing CO2 gas through aqueous
suspension of Cu(OH)2
2Cu(OH)2 + CO2 Cu(OH)2.CuCO3 + H2O