SPECTOPHOTOMETRIC

DETERMINATION
EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANT OF A REACTION

OF

THE

Z.C. G. HACHERO
DEPARTMENT OF MINING, METALLURGICAL AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, DILIMAN, QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES
DATE PERFORMED: MARCH 3 AND 5,
INSTRUCTORS NAME: MARO PEA

2015

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ABSTRACT
A spectrophotometer is a device that measures the amount of light that can
pass through a given substance. The quantitative measurement of light absorption
as a function of wavelength can establish both the identity and the concentration of
a substance in a solution through the application of Beer-Lamberts law. Standard
and unknown solutions containing varying amounts of FeCl 3 , KSCN and HCl
were prepared and tested for absorptivity through the use of a UV-Vis
spectrophotometer. After obtaining the equilibrium values of the concentrations of
[Fe3+ ], [SCN- ], and [Fe(SCN 2+ ] the, Keq was calculated, as well as the percent
difference of the experimental value from the literature value. It was obtained that
the experimentally determined KEq (331.10) differed by 68% from the known K eq
(890) of the reaction. It can be concluded that the experiment was a failure due to
experimental inaccuracy. It was then recommended that this experiment to be done
in a fairly consistent temperature using more test reaction systems obtained from
reagents with greater purity.

CONCLUSION
RECOMMENDATION

AND

The experimentally determined KEq

(331.10) differed by 68% from the
known Keq (890) of the reaction. The
experiments final data deviated from
the literature value. Many factors
could have contributed to the error,
like experimental mistakes such as the
reagents not having a high enough
purity, the temperature where the
experiment was done was not
consistent, or that the apparatus,
especially the cuvette, was
not handled properly and efficiently.
This experiment can be improved by
using reagents which are of greater
purity for the preparation of the stock
solutions It is highly recommended to
take good care when handling the
cuvette, as fingerprints in it can
drastically change the data. Lastly, it
is
recommended that the test solutions
be within the testing room for at least
30 minutes so that the solutions would

have the same temperature, and the

Keq of the solutions would not have
drastic differences such as in the
experiment.
As
an
overall
conclusion,
the
experiment
was
not
successful
because of the huge deviation of the
equilibrium
constant
from
the
theoretical
range
of
equilibrium
constants. It failed due to different
factors that can affect a certain
procedure or a certain part in the
experiment. By carefully performing
the experiment for accuracy and
precision, by carefully preventing
errors
by
applying
different
techniques,
and
by
using
uncontaminated reagents, then the
experiment
could
have
been
successful.
REFERENCES
[1] Petrucci, R., Herring, F., Madura, J.,
& Bissonnette, C. General Chemistry:
Principles and Modern Applications,
10th ed.; Pearson: Canada, 2011.

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[2] Chang, R. General Chemistry:

Essential Concepts, 6th ed.; McGrawHill: New York, 2011.

AB/Spec_intro.pdf (accessed March 9,

2015)

[3]Spectophotometry;
http://employees.oneonta.edu/kotzjc/L

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