COBALT CHLORIDE CATALYSIS

Introduction

Catalysts speed up chemical reactions by providing an alternative pathway for a reaction that
has a lower activation energy. Catalysts do take part in reactions (if they could speed up the
reaction without taking part they would be magical!) but any catalyst that is used during the
reaction is re-made by the end of it.

In this experiment you will determine the rate of a reaction with and without a catalyst. The reaction we will be
looking at is the reaction of sodium potassium tartrate (KNaC4H4O6·4H2O) with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to produce
sodium methanoate (NaCHO2), potassium methanoate (KCHO2), carbon dioxide and water. Note: the Na+ and K+ ions
are left out of the equation as they are spectator ions and do not change.

C4H4O62-(aq) + 5H2O2(aq)  2OH-(aq) + 4CO2(g) + 6H2O(l)

Without a catalyst, the reaction takes place in two steps as follows:

Step 1: 3H2O2(aq) + C4H4O62-(aq)  2CO2(g) 2HCO2-(aq) + 4H2O(l)

Step 2: 2HCO2-(aq) + 2H2O2(aq)  2OH-(aq) + 2CO2(g) + 2H2O(l)

In the presence of a Co2+ catalyst the reaction instead proceeds as follows:

Step 1a: 3H2O2(aq) + 6H+(aq) + 6Co2+(aq)  6H2O(l) + 6Co3+(aq)

Step 1b: C4H4O62-(aq) + 2H2O(l) + 6Co3+(aq)  2HCO2-(aq) + 2CO2(g) + 6H+(aq) + 6Co2+(aq)

Step 2: 2HCO2-(aq) + 2H2O2(aq)  2OH-(aq) + 2CO2(g) + 2H2O(l)

In the non catalysed reaction step 1 is slow as it has a large activation energy. In the catalysed reaction, Step 1 is
broken down into two smaller steps, 1a and 1b each with a smaller activation energy than the original step 1,
resulting in a much increased rate of reaction. A more thorough discussion of this can be found at:
http://www.rsc.org/Education/EiC/issues/2005July/Exhibitionchemistry.asp.

You will be provided with the basic method but will be expected to adapt it to include a quantitative (rather than just
qualitative) way to measure the reaction rate.
Materials and Equipment

Water baths set to 70OC Sodium potassium tartrate

Standard laboratory glassware 20 vol hydrogen peroxide
Thermometer Cobalt (II) chloride
Retort stand and clamp

Safety
 Hydrogen peroxide is irritant.
 Cobalt chloride is toxic.
 You MUST WEAR SAFETY GLASSES AT ALL TIMES.
 Any chemicals spilt on skin should be WASHED OFF IMMEDIATELY.

Procedure

Below is the basic procedure you will need to follow. If you are to measure the rate rather than just
compare it, you will need to modify the procedure in a way that allows you to numerically measure some
aspect of the reaction (Hint: look carefully at the reaction equation).

1. Dissolve 2.25g sodium potassium tartrate 50 cm3 of water in a 250 cm3 conical flask and clamp it in place in a
water bath set to 75OC.
2. Place 20 cm3 20 vol hydrogen peroxide solution in a 100 cm3 conical flask and clamp in place in water bath.
3. When the solutions have both reached 70OC (or thereabouts) pour the hydrogen peroxide into the sodium
potassium tartrate solution.
4. Allow the reaction to continue, recording all observations carefully.
5. Once the reaction is complete, pour your waste down the sink .
6. Repeat steps 1-5 but this time add 0.25 g of cobalt (II) chloride (CoCl2) at the same time as the hydrogen
peroxide.

Note: this reaction is a potentially fruitful source of research questions for an internal assessment!

Analysis

a) Use your measurements to calculate the rate of the reaction in each case. By what factor did the catalyst
increase the rate of the reaction?
b) What evidence do you have of the Cobalt chloride acting as a catalyst (i.e. speeding the reaction up without
getting used up)?
c) Use the equations for the reaction to explain all your observations as fully as you can.
d) What evidence do you have the catalyst is actively getting involved in the reaction (rather than simply waving its
magic wand)?

Note: it may help you with your calculations to know that ’20 vol’ hydrogen peroxide solution produces 20 times its
own volume of oxygen gas when it decomposes. You can use this information to work out its concentration.