Oxidation-reduction titration applications

The interest in the application of indicators in oxidation-reduction titrations has followed on the discovery that the familiar color change undergone by diphenylamine on oxidation could be used to determine the end-point of the titration of ferrous ion by dichromate in acid solution. Diphenylamine, preferably in the form of its soluble sulfonic acid, at first undergoes irreversible oxidation to diphenylbenzidine, and it is this substance, with its oxidation product diphenylamine violet, that constitutes the real indicator. ... 

The endpoint may be detected by addition of colored indicators, provided the indicator itself is not electroactive. Potentiometric and spectrophotometric indication is used in acid-base and oxidation-reduction titrations. Amperometric procedures are applicable to oxidation-reduction and ion-combination reactions especially for dilute solutions. 

Chapter 18 Introduction to Electrochemistry 490 Chapter 19 Applications of Standard Electrode Potentials 523 Chapter 20 Applications of Oxidation/Reduction Titrations 560 Chapter 21 Potentiometry 588... 

The last definition has widespread use in the volumetric analysis of solutions. If a fixed amount of reagent is present in a solution, it can be diluted to any desired normality by application of the general dilution formula V,N, = V N. Here, subscripts 1 and 2 refer to the initial solution and the final (diluted) solution, respectively V denotes the solution volume (in milliliters) and N the solution normality. The product VjN, expresses the amount of the reagent in gram-milliequivalents present in a volume V, ml of a solution of normality N,. Numerically, it represents the volume of a one normal (IN) solution chemically equivalent to the original solution of volume V, and of normality N,. The same equation V N, = V N is also applicable in a different context, in problems involving acid-base neutralization, oxidation-reduction, precipitation, or other types of titration reactions. The justification for this formula relies on the fact that substances always react in titrations, in chemically equivalent amounts. 

The titrations so far discussed in this chapter have been concerned with the use of a reference electrode (usually S.C.E.), in conjunction with a polarised electrode (dropping mercury electrode or rotating platinum micro-electrode). Titrations may also be performed in a uniformly stirred solution by using two small but similar platinum electrodes to which a small e.m.f. (1-100 millivolts) is applied the end point is usually shown by either the disappearance or the appearance of a current flowing between the two electrodes. For the method to be applicable the only requirement is that a reversible oxidation-reduction system be present either before or after the end point. 

Polarisation titrations are often referred to as amper-ometric or biamperometric titrations. It is necessary that one of the substances involved in the titration reaction be oxidisable or reducible at the working electrode surface. In general, the polarisation titration method is applicable to oxidation-reduction, precipitation and complex-ation titrations. Relatively few applications involving acid/base titration are found. Amperometric titrations can be applied in the determination of analyte solutions as low as ICE5 M to 10-6 M in concentration. 

Dead-stop-end-point method was first introduced by Foulk and Bawden in 1926. Evidently, this particular technique is a modification of the classical amperometric titration. This technique is specifically applicable to only such systems where the phenomenon of oxidation-reduction exists both before as well as after the equivalence point has been duly accomplished. 

Phenylarsine oxide, C6H5As = O, is as effective as sodium thiosulfate in reducing iodine. It is more stable than thiosulfate. An advantage is that it is stable even in dilute solution. This substance is, however, highly toxic and is a suspected carcinogen. Because of its toxicity, its application is limited. One such application is in the amperometric titration of residual chlorine. The oxidation-reduction reaction of PAO is similar to thiosulfate. Its equivalent weight in iodine reaction is 168. 

Electrochemical endpoint detection methods provide a number of advantages over classical visual indicators. These methods can be used when visual methods of endpoint detection cannot be employed because of the presence of colored or clouded solutions and in the case of detection of several components in the same solution. They are more precise and accurate. In particular, such methods provide increased sensitivity and are often amenable to automation. Electrochemical methods of endpoint detection are applicable to most oxidation-reduction, acid-base, and precipitation titrations, and to many complex-ation titrations. The only necessary condition is that either the titrant or the species being titrated must give some type of electrochemical response that is indicative of the concentration of the species. 

Coulometric titration procedures have been developed for a great number of oxidation-reduction, acid-base, precipitation, and complexation reactions. The sample systems as well as the electrochemical intemediates used for them are summarized in Table 4.1, and indicate the diversity and range of application for the method. An additional specialized form of coulometric titration involves the use of a spent Karl Fischer solution as the electrochemical intermediate for the determination of water at extremely low levels. For such a system the anode reaction regenerates iodine, which is the crucial component of the Karl Fischer titrant. This then reacts with the water in the sample system according to the... 

Electrometric Titration Precipitation Reactions.—One of the most important practical applications of electrode potentials is to the determination of the end-points of various typos of titration the subject will be treated here from the standpoint of precipitation reactions, while neutralization and oxidation-reduction processes are described more conveniently in later chapters. 

Applications of coulometric titrations involving oxidation-reduction reactions are shown in Table 4. Electrogenerated oxidizing agents such as bromine have proved to be useful, especially in organic analysis. 

Coulometric titrations, like their volumetric counterparts, require a means for determining when the reaction between analyte and reagent is complete. Generally, the end points described in the chapters on volumetric methods are applicable to coulometric titrations as well. Thus, for the titration of iron(II) just described, an oxidation/reduction indicator, such as 1,10-phenanthroline, can be used as an alternative, the end point can be determined potentiometrically. Potentioinetric or... 

Perhaps the most important application of redox chemicals in the modern laboratory is in oxidation or reduction reactions that are required as part of a preparation scheme. Such preoxidation or prereduction is also frequently required for certain instrumental procedures for which a specific oxidation state is essential in order to measure whatever property is measured by the instrument. An example in this textbook can be found in Experiment 19 (the hydroxylamine hydrochloride keeps the iron in the +2 state). Also in wastewater treatment plants, it is important to measure dissolved oxygen (DO). In this procedure, Mn(OH)2 reacts with the oxygen in basic solution to form Mn(OH)3. When acidified and in the presence of KI, iodine is liberated and titrated. This method is called the Winkler method. 

Biamperometric titrations involve the use of two redox electrodes in solution, and are applicable only to titrations where there is a reversible system before or after the endpoint there is no reference electrode. The application of a potential difference causes one electrode to be anode and the other cathode. A current passes due to oxidation or reduction, respectively, of a species present in solution, decreasing to / = 0 at the equivalence point alternatively it may be that 7 = 0 until the equivalence... 

---