How do we represent the oxidation of oxalate ion by permanganate ion?

How do we represent the oxidation of oxalate ion by permanganate ion by the half-equation method? What colour change would we observe in the titration?

1 Answer
Sep 11, 2017

"Permanganate ion" is coloured a bright purple....

Explanation:

And conveniently, it is reduced to Mn^(2+), which is almost colourless. This change is very recognizable, and the stoichiometric endpoint is very accessible.

"Reduction half equation:"

underbrace(MnO_4^(-))_"bright purple" + 8H^(+)+5e^(-) rarr Mn^(2+)+4H_2O(l) (i)

"Oxidation half equation:"

C_2O_4^(2-) rarr 2CO_2(g)+2e^(-) (ii)

And so we take 2xx(i)+5xx(ii) to give.....

2MnO_4^(-) +5C_2O_4^(2-)+ 16H^(+)rarr 2Mn^(2+)+10CO_2(g)+8H_2O(l)