Experiment no.

4
Assay of Hydrogen Peroxide Topical Solution

I. Principle Involved
The assay of hydrogen peroxide topical solution involves a direct titration.
The titrant to be used is 0.1 N Potassium Permanganate VS.
This assay involves a redox reaction. Although the hydrogen peroxide
generally acts as an oxidizing agent, in this assay it will act as the reducing agent
that will be oxidized. Meanwhile, the potassium permanganate acts as the
oxidizing agent that will be reduced.
There will be no indicator that will used since the potassium
permanganate is a self-indicator. The color transition at the endpoint will be
colorless to faint pink.
II. Official Requirement
III. Assay Procedure
IV. Reasons for Important Step
1. The assay requires no indicator as Potassium Permanganate is used which is a
self-indicator. Since potassium permanganate is heavily colored, the end-point
may be detected when the purple color of the permanganate persists (Watson p.
73) and the titration must be stopped when the first miniscule trace of pink color
is produced (Dulski, p.150)
During a titration with potassium permanganate ,the purple color of the MnO4− is
removed as soon as it is added because it is reduced to Mn2+. As soon as the
titration is complete, a fraction of a drop of excess MnO4 solution imparts a
definite pink color to the solution, indicating that the reaction is complete.
2. Sulfuric acid is added to maintain a reasonably constant hydrogen-ion
concentration. The addition of sulfuric acid is needed maintain the acidity of the
solution which is necessary for the assay. In neutral solution, the reduction
product of this permanganate is MnO2, rather than Mn2+ produced in acid
medium. The MnO2 acts as a catalyst for further decomposition of the
permanganate, which produces more MnO2, and so on. The acidic condition of
the solution prevents the formation of MnO2 precipitates.
3. Potassium permanganate is used as a titrant in this assay since it is a stronger
oxidizer than hydrogen peroxide which usually the oxidizing agent.
Permanganate in low pH is strong enough to quantitatively oxidize hydrogen
peroxide to oxygen, this reaction is used for the determination of hydrogen
peroxide concentration.
V. Proper Disposal
Potassium permanganate is corrosive to skin and eyes; it may cause
severe burns, blisters and severe scarring if not handled properly. Hydrogen
peroxide is also corrosive to the eyes; contact with the eyes may cause corneal
damage, and it can also cause severe blisters. Sulfuric acid also poses health
damages such as burns. For precautions in handling these chemicals, proper
laboratory attire must be worn, and personal protective equipment must be used
to avoid the health damages the chemicals may cause.
The solution at the end of titration must be discarded in the metal waste.