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Virtual Iodine Clock Reaction

Background: The Iodine Clock reaction is a famous reaction that many students have studied in kinetics (the
study of reaction rates.) It is easily manipulated by temperature changes and concentration changes. In this
virtual lab, you will be using a computer program that replicates the Iodine Clock reaction without the use of
strong acids.

Materials:
1 laptop computer per group
1 lab worksheet per person

Procedure:
1. Go to this link:
http://www.chem.iastate.edu/group/Greenbowe/sections/projectfolder/flashfiles/kinetics2/iodine_clock.ht
ml
2. Once you have reached this site, you should see a picture of four graduated cylinders, a beaker, a timer,
and five different factors. You will be manipulating the factors according to the data table below.
3. Take a look at the data tablethere will be 15 different trials, each with a different combination of
factors. For each trial, follow this set of directions:
a. Click the button for the appropriate temperature, amount of H2O, amount of KI, and amount of
(NH4)2S2O8.
b. Press Start. Once all of the graduated cylinders have been emptied and the level of fluid in the
beaker has stopped rising, press the Play button under the Timer.
c. Once the fluid has turned to a darker color, press the Pause button, now under the Timer.
d. Record this time (in minutes and seconds) in the appropriate box of the data table.
e. Press Reset to start your next trial.

Reactant Set 1 Reactant Set 2 Reactant Set 3


H2O (mL) 63 54 48
Na2S2O8 + starch (mL) 10 10 10
KI (mL) 12 6 12
(NH4)2S2O8 (mL) 15 30 30
Na2S2O8 + starch (mL) 10 10 10

Data Table: (5 pts)


Temperature (C): Set 1 Set 2 Set 3
Time to rxn (min) Time (min) Time (min)
45
35
25
15
5
Data Analysis:
1. Graphing you will be using MS Excel.
a. Open Microsoft Excel (use the Start Menu)
i. Create a data table that looks like the Data Table on the front. Fill in your data.
ii. Highlight the table, from 45C down to 5C, and across from 45C to the time in the third
column.
iii. Click the Chart Wizard Button (it looks like a graph.)
iv. Choose XY (Scatter) and Scatter with data points connected by smooth lines. Click
NEXT
v. Click the Series Tab at the top of the window. Rename each series:
1. Click Series 1. Type 12 mL KI & 15 mL (NH4)2S2O8 into the Name box.
2. Click Series 2. Type 6 mL KI & 30 mL (NH4)2S2O8 into the Name box.
3. Click Series 3. Type 12 mL KI & 30 mL (NH4)2S2O8 into the Name box.
4. Click NEXT
vi. Add titles:
1. Title: Virtual Iodine Clock Reaction
2. X axis: Temperature (degrees Celsius)
3. Y axis: Time until Reaction (min)
4. Click NEXT
vii. Finish the graph:
1. Choose As new sheet
2. Right click the Plot Area of the graph and change the color of the area to None.
viii. Copy the graph:
1. On the bottom of this document before the analysis questions, you will use the
graph for your analysis and conclusion questions for this lab activity. (5 pts)
ix. Turn the assignment in to the drop box. (5 pts)
2. Answer the following data analysis questions in complete, grammatical sentences, in a different colored
font. (2 pts each):
a. Which combination of reactants produced the fastest reactions? Was this consistent for all
temperatures?

b. Which temperature produced the fastest reactions?

c. What is the total volume for all of the reactant sets? Why must the total volume be the same?
(Think about what you are comparing and changing.)

d. Two combinations of reactants produced similar results. Do they have any quantities in
common? Compare their quantities of KI and of (NH 4)2S2O8. What relationship do these have
with each other?

e. Consider your graph. Compare the time until reaction for the fastest and slowest reactant
combinations for each temperature. How much faster was the fastest trial than the slowest, for
each temperature?
f. Use the Arrhenius equation to determine activation Energy

Ea 1
ln k = . + ln A
R T

g. Obtain the order of reaction with respect to I - ions and S2O8 2- ions using your own generated
table
h.

Conclusion Question (10 pts)


Consider your graph and your data analysis questions. Explain in complete, grammatical sentences, again using a
different colored font, why your graphs look the way that they do (increasing, decreasing, similar, etc.) Please
address the effects, if any, of temperature and concentration on the reaction rate. This should be well thought-out.
Please use your notes on Reaction Rates for reference.

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