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Simple redox titration

A simple redox titration (hydrogen peroxide with permanganate) is performed.

Discussion: 

This redox titration provides a simple example of the principle of titration and limiting reactant. Because permanganate is intensely colored, no indicator is needed. As soon as some permanganate is left over (that is, as soon as it stops being the limiting reactant) some purple color is visible. The animation sequence is designed to illustrate this on the nanoscale (atomic/molecular scale).

The equation for the reaction is
5 H2O2(aq) + 6 H+(aq) + 2 MnO4-(aq) —> 5 O2(g) + 2 Mn2+(aq) + 8 H2O(l)

Credits: 
  • Design
    • Lynn R. Hunsberger University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292
    • John W. Moore University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
    • John Zimmerman Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN 47933
  • Demonstration
    • Néha Patani University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
  • Video
    • Jerrold J. Jacobsen University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
  • Text
    • Jerrold J. Jacobsen University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
    • John Zimmerman Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN 47933