Kinetics of an Iodine Clock Reaction

Introduction:
In this experiment, you will determine the rate law for a reaction and the effect of concentration on the
rate of the reaction by studying the initial reaction rate at several different reactant concentrations. You
will also examine the effect of a catalyst on the reaction rate. You will investigate the effect of
temperature on the rate of this reaction, which will allow you to calculate the changing rate constants
and then the activation energy, Ea.

The primary reaction to be studied is the oxidation of I- (iodide ion) by S2O82- (persulfate ion) in aqueous
solution:
2 I-(aq) + S2O82-(aq) → I2(aq) + 2 SO42-(aq) Main reaction
To find the rate of this reaction, you will need to monitor the change in the concentration of a reactant or
product with time. We choose the iodine to monitor because it is a colored solution which can be seen.
When this reaction is run by itself, a yellow/brown color will slowly appear as iodine is produced. You
will do this by using a second reaction, referred to as a “clock” reaction. The clock reaction indicates
when a specific amount of I2 has been produced by the primary reaction.

The "clock" reaction you will use involves the reaction of a very small amount of S2O32- (thiosulfate ion)
with the I2 produced in the primary reaction:
I2(aq) + 2 S2O32-(aq) → 2 I-(aq) + S4O62-(aq) Clock reaction

S2O32- is essentially consuming the I2 formed in the primary reaction. S2O32- reacts very rapidly with I2,
so I2 is consumed by S2O32- as fast as it is formed. As soon as all of the S2O32- ions have reacted and are
used up, the I2 still being formed in the first equation starts to accumulate. Once excess I2 is present, it
can react with the starch (an indicator in this reaction) to turn blue. Thus, "∆t" is calculated as the time
elapsed between mixing the reagents (initial time, ti) and the appearance of the blue color (final time, tf).
You can calculate the diluted concentration of the S2O32- ions in the reaction mixture; that value can be
used to calculate ∆[I2] by using the stoichiometry of the clock reaction. Since the same amount of S2O32-
is added to each run, ∆[I2] is also the same for each run. However, the amount of time for the
appearance of the blue color varies, so t is not constant. Refer to Section 12.1 of Openstax Chemistry
to calculate reaction rates.

Effect of Concentration on the Reaction Rate: Solving for orders of reactants

For Runs 1-3, you will vary the initial concentration of I- while keeping the initial concentration of
S2O82- constant. By using the method of initial rates, you will be able to determine the order for I- in the
rate law.
For Runs 2, 4 and 5, you will vary the initial concentration of S2O82- while keeping the initial
concentration of I- constant. By using the method of initial rates, you will also be able to find the order
for S2O82- in the rate law.
Once you determine the order of I- and order of S2O82-, you can substitute these back into the rate law
and calculate k (the rate constant) for each set of initial concentrations for runs 1 - 5. You will then
determine the average value of k for the five room temperature runs.
Refer to Section 12.3 of Openstax Chemistry for calculating orders of reacants and rate laws.

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Effect of a Catalyst on the Reaction Rate
A comparison of the reaction rate with and without a catalyst (run 6) will demonstrate catalytic action.
Cu2+ ions, added in the form of a dilute Cu(NO3)2 solution, makes a suitable catalyst.

Effect of Temperature on the Reaction Rate: Calculation of Ea

Ea 1
The Arrhenius equation, ln k = -   + ln A, describes the relationship between temperature and
R T
rate constant. You will run the reaction at four different temperatures, calculate the rate constant at each
temperature, and use an Arrhenius graph of (1/T on the x-axis) versus (ln k on the y-axis) to determine
the value of the activation energy, Ea.
Refer to Section 12.5 of Openstax Chemistry on using the Arrhenius equation to plot data and calculate
Activation Energy (Ea).

Equations to use for the calculations:

Dilution: M1V1 = M2V2

-D[I 2 ] -D[S2O32- ]
Rate of reaction: =
Dt 2Dt
Rate law: rate = k[I-]x [S2O82-] y x = order of I-, y = order of S2O82-, k = rate constant with units

Rate 2 [I- ]x2 [S2O82- ]2y

Solving for orders of reactants using ratio of runs: =
Rate1 [I- ]1x [S2O82- ]1y
• Runs 1, 2, and 3 will be used to solve for x (the order of I-)
• Runs 2, 4, and 5 will be used to solve for y (the order of S2O82-)

Ea  1 
Arrhenius equation to solve for Activation Energy: ln k = -   + ln A, where R = 8.314 J/molK
R T

Materials:
3 – 10 mL beakers 0.2% starch
250 mL beaker for waste 0.012 M Na2S2O3
Clean, dry test tubes 0.20 M KI
Magnetic stir bar 0.20 M KNO3
Forceps 0.20 M (NH4)2S2O8
Stir/hot plate 0.20 M (NH4)2SO4
DI wash bottle

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Procedure:
Effect of Concentration on the Rate of Reaction
1. You will carry out five runs three times each to give a good average time per run. Be sure to collect
three times that are close to each other. More than three trials might be needed. To keep the ionic
strength and volume of all runs relatively constant, the non-reactive compounds KNO3 and (NH4)2SO4
are added to replace the reactants KI and (NH4)2S2O8 when less than 20 drops of either reactant is used.

Waste handling: Keep a large beaker at your bench to collect the reaction waste. When you have
completed all trials, pour the contents of this beaker into the waste container in the fume hood.

Table I gives the composition in drops of the reaction mixtures that will be used to determine the order
of reaction with respect to the iodide and persulfate ions.
Table I. Compostion of the Reaction Mixtures
Run 0.2% 0.012 M 0.20 M 0.20 M 0.20 M 0.20 M
No. starch Na2S2O3 KI KNO3 (NH4)2S2O8 (NH4) 2SO4
1 3 5 20 0 10 10
2 3 5 10 10 10 10
3 3 5 5 15 10 10
4 3 5 10 10 20 0
5 3 5 10 10 5 15
10 mL Beaker Test Tube

2. Use the dropper bottles containing starch, Na2S2O3, KI, and KNO3 to add the appropriate number of
drops for Run 1 into one of the 10 mL beakers. Repeat this process with the other 10 mL beakers to
prepare the other two trials for Run 1.
Note: Make sure you use solutions from the same set of dropper bottles and hold the bottles at the
same angle to obtain drops of consistent size!
3. Record the temperature of the mixture in one of these beakers. This will be room temperature and
this temperature will remain relatively constant for Runs 1-5.
4. Obtain a stir plate from one of the benchs near the fumehoods. Add a magnetic stirring bar to one of
the 10 mL beakers, place the beaker on the magnetic stirrer, and adjust the speed of the stirrer to obtain a
slow but steady speed.
5. Use the dropper bottles containing (NH4)2S2O8 and (NH4)2SO4 to combine the appropriate number of
drops for Run 1 in a small clean, dry test tube. You can use the same test tube for all trials of runs 1-3
because the contents are the same. But you will need a new clean dry test tube for run 4 and another for
run 5.
6. Pour the test tube solution into the 10 mL beaker as rapidly as possible, starting the timer as soon as
the contents have been added. Stop the timer when the solution turns blue, and record the time, in
seconds, in Data Table 2. Use forceps to remove the stir bar from the beaker to keep your fingers from
getting blue. Rinse and dry the stir bar before adding it to the next beaker.
7. Repeat this process for the other two Run 1 trials, so you will have three reaction times for Run 1.
Rinse the beakers and the test tubes with tap water and then DI water. Dry the beakers, but DO NOT
attempt to dry the test tubes. Repeat steps 2 – 7 for runs 2-5.

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Effect of a Catalyst
8. Repeat Run 3 (at room temperature) one more time, adding one drop of 0.020 M Cu(NO3)2 to the
mixture in the test tube. Since you only need to calculate the rate of reaction (and not the rate
constant), one trial should be sufficient. This will be Run 6.

Waste: Dispose of the waste in the waste container in the fume hood.
Clean-Up: Rinse all glassware with tap water and then a final rinse with DI water.
Wipe your entire bench with a damp paper towel. Put all equipment back where you
found it.

Effect of Temperature and the Activation Energy

9. You have reaction times for Run 3 at room temperature, and need reaction times for Run 3 at three
other temperatures, one at least 10-15°C colder (run 7) than room temperature, one about 10-15°C
warmer (run 8) than room temperature, and another about 20-30°C warmer (run 9) than room
temperature. Make sure to do the cold temperature run first and only perform one trial at each
temperature.
The general procedure is to prepare the appropriate solutions in the beaker and the test tube, then place
both the beaker and the test tube in a water bath (larger beaker) containing either ice-water or warm
water, depending on the desired temperature. Put the thermometer in the test tube. Allow the solutions to
remain in the water bath until the correct temperature has been reached, then combine the mixtures and
time the reaction as before. Make sure to record the temperatures.

Week 2 Graded Pre-lab, page 7:

• Complete Results “Table 3a” with rows for the first five runs and with the following columns: [I-]
(M), [S2O82-] (M), and Reaction Rate (M/s). Concentrations of reactants are the diluted
concentrations for each run. This table must be completed for the second week! Use these results to
solve for the order of each reactant and the rate constant, with units.
o Note if you put the units in the column headings then you will not have to write the units in each
cell in the table.

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Calculations: Show one example from run 1 (unless otherwise indicated) of each calculation below
in your lab report. Be sure to label each calculation and show 1) the formula or equation used, 2) the
values used in the calculation, and 3) the final answer with units (if applicable).
1) Average time
2) Diluted concentration of I-
3) Diluted concentration of S2O82-
4) Diluted concentration of S2O32-
−Δ[𝐼2 ] −𝚫[𝑺𝟐 𝑶𝟑 𝟐− ]
5) Rate of reaction = =
Δ𝑡 𝟐𝚫𝒕
-
6) Order of I (use runs 1,2; 1,3; 2,3; show one sample calculation, report the unrounded value of each,
average your three values, and then round your average to 0, 1, or 2)
7) Order of S2O82- (use runs 2,4; 2,5; 4,5; show one sample calculation, show the unrounded value of
each, average your three values, and then round your average to 0, 1, or 2)
8) Value of k from the rate law
9) Average of k values for runs 1-5 (room temperature runs)
10) Graph 1: Arrhenius Equation plot:
• Use Results Table 4 to plot the Arrhenius graph needed to calculate the Activation Energy, Ea.
• 1/T (x-axis) versus ln k (y-axis)

11) Calculate the activation energy from your graph of (1/T) vs (ln k).
• This can be shown on the page with the graph or immediately after the graph.
Ea  1 
• Use the linear form of the Arrhenius equation to calculate Ea: ln k = -   + ln A, where R =
R T
8.314 J/molK
12) Report your final rate law: write the rate law for your reaction including the average k value (runs 1-
5) with units and orders for I- and S2O82-.

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 Kinetics of an Iodine Clock Reaction Pre-Lab Questions and Calculations

You will complete this quiz in Canvas 1 hour before your lab period. This page will not be turned
in or graded. You may use this page to set up your calculations before you take the Canvas quiz.

1. Which substance(s) is/are used in the experiment to keep ion concentrations and volumes constant
but do not appear in the equations?

2. What ion must be used up (limiting reactant) in the clock reaction to cause the solution to turn blue?

3. If 5 drops of 0.15 M KI are added to 40 drops of Na2S2O3, what is the final concentration of KI?

4. Which chemical acts as a catalyst in this experiment?

5. What is the minimum recommended temperature for the cold temperature run (#7)?

6. What is the maximum recommended temperature for the hottest temperature run (#9)?

7. What variables/factors during the experiment will affect your results?

8. What are the safety concerns associated with this experiment?

9. What should be included in your clean-up protocol at the end of the experiment?

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Name: ____________________________________ Experiment date: _____________

Kinetics of an Iodine Clock Reaction Pre-lab assignment – Week 2

This must be completed before the beginning of your lab period. It will be graded
or collected at the beginning of lab.
Results Table 3a: Include units for each column
Run Average Time, ____ Rate of Reaction, ______ [I-], _____ [S2O82-], _____
1
2
3
4
5

Show a sample calculation for [I-] for run 1:

Show a sample calculation for Rate of Reaction for run 1:

Show a sample calculation for the order of I-:

Show a sample calculation for the order of S2O82-:

Instructor Initials: _________ Pre-lab points: __________

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Name: _____________________________ Partners: ________________________
Kinetics of an Iodine Clock Reaction Lab Report: pages 8 – 9, Calculations, Graph,
Conclusion
Data and Results
Table 1: Drops Table of solutions for each run.
Run 0.2% 0.012 M 0.20 M 0.20 M 0.20 M 0.20 M
No. starch Na2S2O3 KI KNO3 (NH4)2S2O8 (NH4) 2SO4
1 3 5 20 0 10 10
2 3 5 10 10 10 10
3 3 5 5 15 10 10
4 3 5 10 10 20 0
5 3 5 10 10 5 15
10 mL Beaker Test Tube

Table 2 (3 pts): Times, temperatures for runs 1 – 9.

Run Temperature (oC) Trial 1, s Trial 2, s Trial 3, s Average time, s
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Instructor Initials: _________

Table 3 (20 pts): Average Times, Reaction Rates, Diluted Concentrations, and rate constants. Include
the units for k.
Run Average Rate of Reaction [I-] (M) [S2O82-] (M) T (oC) k (____________)
time (s) (M/s)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
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Table 4 (6 pts): Temperatures, rate constants, inverse temperature, natural log of k (ln k) – Include the
units for k and 1/T
Run T (K) k, ________ 1/T, _______ ln k
3
7
8
9

Calculations (25 pts): In the space below, show a sample of each calculation. For each calculation,
show the equation/formula used, values used, and final answer with units, if applicable.

1. Average time

2. Diluted concentration of I-

3. Diluted concentration of S2O82-

4. Diluted concentration of S2O32-

5. Rate of reaction

6. Order of I- (use runs 1,2; 1,3; 2,3; show one sample calculation, report the unrounded value of
each, average your three values, and then round your average to 0, 1, or 2)

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 7. Order of S2O82- (use runs 2,4; 2,5; 4,5; show one sample calculation, show the unrounded value
of each, average your three values, and then round your average to 0, 1, or 2)

8. Rate constant, k

9. Average of k values for runs 1-5 (room temperature runs)

10. Graph (5 pts): Attach your Arrhenius Graph with title and labeled axes.

11. Activation Energy, Ea

12. Report your final rate law: write the rate law for your reaction including the average k value with
units (runs 1-5) and orders for I- and S2O82-.

Conclusion (5 pts): Write your conclusion on a separate piece of paper. You should state your
final rate law (with values for orders x and y, and average k for runs 1 - 5) and activation energy, Ea,
value. Summarize the effects of concentration, temperature, and catalyst on the rate of reaction.

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Post-Lab Questions – These questions will not be graded as part of your lab report
grade. You will be responsible for the information in these questions and able to
answer these or similar questions on the post-lab quiz at the start of next week’s lab
period.

1. Explain how and why the reaction rate changes as concentrations of the reactants change.

2. Explain the general calculation procedure used to solve for reactant orders in the rate law. How did
you determine which runs to use to solve for the order of each reactant?

3. Explain the general calculation steps used to calculate the activation energy. What data and results
are used and how are they used?

4. Compare your average reaction time for Run 3 at room temperature to your reaction times at the
colder and hotter temperatures. What effect does changing the temperature have on the rate of
reaction? (What happens at cold temperatures? What happens at hot temperatures?) Explain WHY
temperature has this affect for both cold and hot temperatures.

5. Compare your average reaction time for Run 3 without Cu(NO3)2 to your reaction time with
Cu(NO3)2. How did the addition of Cu(NO3)2 affect the rate of reaction? WHY did Cu(NO3)2 have
this affect? What did Cu(NO3)2 do that changed the reaction time?

6. Discuss at least 2 sources of error – how they affected your results and how you would correct them
if you were to repeat the experiment.

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