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Summary Of The Chemistry Of Ferrioxalate

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The goal of this experiment is to prepare a photosensitive solution and explore its properties. While analyzing the solution, one will learn how to successfully handle these sensitive chemicals and then establish its properties via spectrophotometry.
Introduction1
During this experiment, a ferrioxalate solution will be produced from a solution of ferric nitrate that is reacted with oxalic acid. In order to become and oxalate ion, the oxalic acid can donate up to two protons. Ferrioxalate, or tris(oxalate)ferrate(III), is the product of three oxalate ions on Fe(III), as seen in the figure below2:

Ferrioxalate as an ion can undergo a photochemical reaction if it is exposed to light which results in the rather unstable complex of diaquabis(oxalate)ferrate(II) ion. There is no visible change when the reaction occurs since both the reactants and products are colourless. The second solution, potassium ferricyanide, will be prepared and used to test the extent of the photochemical reaction by adding it to the first solution, ferrioxalate. The ferrioxalate solution will be tested with different colours and exposure times of light. We will also establish what colours of light it absorbs by using spectrophotometry. When exposed to light the ferrioxalate solution will undergo a reaction and produce diaquabis(oxalate)ferrate(II) ion. Adding the ferricyanide solution allows us to see the changes that are occurring. The ferricyanide reacts with the Fe2+ of the photo-reacted product,

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