Determining An Equilibrium Constant

Using Spectrophotometry and Beer’s Law

Objectives:
1.) To determine the equilibrium constant for the reaction of iron (III) and thiocyanate to
form the thiocyanatoiron(III) complex ion using spectrophotometric data.
2.) To determine the concentration of an unknown by evaluating the relationship
between color intensity and concentration.

Background Information:
One of the fundamental problems in chemistry is how to determine the extent of a
reaction. While not every chemical reaction goes to completion, they usually approach an
equilibrium state. When the system reaches equilibrium, the concentrations of the reactants and
products no longer change over time. This does not mean that the reaction has ceased. In fact,
the reaction continues to progress forward, as well as backward. It is said to be in a dynamic
state of equilibrium where the rate of the products being formed from the reactants is exactly the
same as the rate of the products being decomposed to form the reactants.
For the general equilibrium reaction
aA + bB < = > cC + dD (Eqn. 1)
When studying the equilibrium of chemical systems, one of the most important quantities
to determine is the equilibrium constant, Keq. At equilibrium at a given temperature, the mass
action expression is a constant, known as the equilibrium constant, Keq. The equilibrium
expression for the reaction in Equation 1 is given as:
Keq = [C]c [D]d (Eqn. 2)
[A]a [B]b
The value of the equilibrium constant may be determined from experimental data if the
concentrations of both the reactants and the products are known. Additionally, all equilibrium
concentrations can be calculated if a single equilibrium concentration is known along with all
other “initial” concentrations.
It may be recalled that in spectrophotometric studies, the Beer-Lambert law, or Beer’s
Law, can be used to determine the concentration of highly colored species. Mathematically,
Beer’s Law can be stated as:

A = abc (Eqn. 3)
where “a” is the molar absorptivity, “b” is the pathlength, “c” is the concentration, and “A” is
absorbance. Molar absorptivity, a, is a proportionality constant that has a specific value for
each absorbing species at a given wavelength. The pathlength, b, is the distance across the
solution in centimeters and is dependent upon the size of the cuvette. In this case, the pathlength
will be kept constant at 1.00 cm. The concentration, c, of the absorbing species is in moles of
solute per liter of solution.
Absorbance is mathematically defined as:
A = log (Io / I) (Eqn. 4)
where Io is the initial intensity of the beam prior to going through the solution and I is the
intensity of the beam after it has been transmitted through the solution.

(Updated 091119) 1
 The measurements on the spectrophotometers will be taken in units of Percent
Transmittance (%T) with values varying from 0 – 100. Because of the linear nature of the %T
scale and the limited range of possible values, this scale is considered more precise than the
Absorbance scale. In this experiment, all readings will be taken in units of %T and the
Absorbance will be calculated using the following equation:
A = log [100 / (%T)] (Eqn. 5)
When combined iron (III) and thiocyanate ions form “blood red” complexes. So in this
experiment, spectrophotometric methods will be used to determine the concentration of the iron
(III) cyanato complex, [FeSCN2+ ]. This however is difficult because the thiocyanate ion, SCN-,
can react with the ferric ion, Fe3+, in acidic solutions to form a series of thiocyanato- complexes:
Fe(SCN)2+ , Fe(SCN)2+ , Fe(SCN)3, and Fe(SCN)4–.
The iron (III) ion also introduces a complication because of its reaction with water to
form iron hydroxide, which is insoluble in water:
Fe3+ (aq) + 3 H2O (l) <==> Fe(OH)3 (s) + 3 H+ (aq) (Eqn. 6)
To avoid precipitation of iron (III) hydroxide, you will include excess nitric acid (HNO3) in all
solutions, to shift this equilibrium far to the left. Because neither hydrogen ions nor nitrate ions
are components of the iron (III) thiocyanate equilibrium, nitric acid does not affect the
equilibrium position of the reaction that produces FeSCN 2+.
Fe3+ < = > FeSCN2+ = Fe(SCN)2+… etc (Eqn. 7)
When high concentrations of thiocyanate are present, the higher order complexes are
predominant in the solution. However, if the molarity of thiocyanate is very low, the only
complex formed in any appreciable amount is the monothiocyanatoiron (III) ion.
Fe3+ + SCN- = FeSCN2+ (Eqn. 8)
With the equilibrium constant:
Keq = [FeSCN2+ ] (Eqn. 9)
[Fe3+ ] [SCN- ]
To evaluate the equilibrium constant for this reaction, one must first determine the
concentrations of the three ions. There are several different ways to find out these
concentrations. An easy way to make these determinations is to use spectrophotometric
methods. The thiocyanate ion is colorless. The ferric ion is yellowish. The iron (III) cyanato
complex, on the other hand, is a deep red.
The thiocyanatoiron (III) complex absorbs radiation at 447 nm. So at this wavelength,
Beer’s Law can be rewritten as:
A = ab[FeSCN2+ ] (Eqn. 10)
This equation can be rearranged to form the equation:
[FeSCN2+ ] = A / ab (Eqn. 11)
Then A / ab can be substituted for [FeSCN2+ ] into the numerator of Equation.
Keq = (A / ab) _ (Eqn. 12)
[Fe3+ ] [SCN- ]

(Updated 091119) 2
For the denominator, the calculations get a little more complex. In order to determine the
concentration of Fe3+ , one must first assume that all of the iron in the system is either in the
form of either Fe3+ or FeSCN2+. By letting [Fe*] represent the iron initially added to the system,
then one can write:
[Fe*] = [Fe3+] + [FeSCN2+ ] (Eqn. 13)
This equation can be rearranged to form the equation:
[Fe3+] = [Fe*] – [FeSCN2+ ] (Eqn. 14)
Then from Eqn. 10, A / ab can be substituted for [FeSCN2+ ]
[Fe3+] = [Fe*] – (A / ab) (Eqn. 15)
Likewise, the concentration of the thiocyanate ion, SCN-, can be determined. By letting
[SCN*] represent the thiocyanate initially added to the system, then one can write:
[SCN*] = [SCN-] + [FeSCN2+ ] (Eqn. 16)
Then from Eqn. 10, A / ab can be substituted for [FeSCN2+ ]
[SCN-] = [SCN*] – (A / ab) (Eqn. 17)
By substituting Equations 10, 14 & 16 into Equation 8:
Keq = (A / ab) _ __________ (Eqn. 18)
[[Fe*] – (A / ab)] [[SCN*] – (A / ab)]
Equation 17 contains two unknowns, K and (A / ab). As shown by Frank Oswalt, the following
equation can be derived from Equation 17:
A = _ A ([Fe*] + [SCN*]) K + abK (Eqn. 19)
[Fe*] [SCN*] [Fe*] [SCN*]
Equation 18 closely resembles the equation for a line: y = mx + b. Then one can plot y vs. x and
determine the slope, where:
y = __A___ x = A ([Fe*] + [SCN*]) (Eqn. 20)
[Fe*] [SCN*] [Fe*] [SCN*]
The slope of the resulting straight line is K eq.

(Updated 091119) 3
Example:
Some students were doing an experiment using copper (II) and thiocyanate ions to form
the thiocyanatocopper (II) ion. The thiocyanatocopper(II) ion can be used to demonstrate the
calculations. There is a similar equilibrium among Cu2+ , SCN- and CuSCN+ . The equation for
the formation of the CuSCN+ is
Cu2+(aq) + SCN- (aq) = CuSCN+(aq) (Eqn. 21)
This reaction can also be studied spectrophotometrically. The thiocyanatocopper(II) ion absorbs
radiation at 380 nm whereas the copper (II) and thiocyanate ions do not.
To determine the concentration plot the following values:
y = __A___ x = A ([Cu*] + [SCN*]) (Eqn. 22)
[Cu*] [SCN*] [Cu*] [SCN*]
The slope of the resulting straight line is Keq.
Student A pipetted exactly 10.0 ml of 5.21 x 10-2 M KSCN solution into a volumetric
flask. He then added exactly 25.0 ml of 2.0 M nitric acid. He then diluted the solution with
distilled H2O to the 100 ml mark on the flask.
This KSCN-HNO3 solution was transferred to a 250 ml beaker. Student B pipetted
exactly 1.00 ml of a 2.515 x 10-1 M Cu(NO3)2 in 0.5 M HNO3 into the beaker. After the solution
reached equilibrium, Student B poured some of the sample into a cuvette and measured the %T
at 380 nm.
The sample was returned to the beaker. Another 1.00 ml of a 2.515 x 10-1 M Cu(NO3)2 in
0.5 M HNO3 was added to the beaker. After the solution had again reached equilibrium, Student
A poured some of the sample into a cuvette and measured its %T at 380 nm.
This procedure was repeated until 10.0 ml of the copper solution had been added to the
KSCN-HNO3 solution. The following data were obtained:
Vol. M Cu(NO3)2 in
Soln # HNO3 (ml) %T A
1 1.00 74.7 0.127
2 2.00 60.1 0.221
3 3.00 50.7 0.295
4 4.00 44.0 0.357
5 5.00 39.6 0.402
6 6.00 35.6 0.449
7 7.00 33.1 0.480
8 8.00 31.1 0.507
9 9.00 29.5 0.530
10 10.00 28.2 0.550
Table 1: The solution mixtures, their transmittances and calculated absorbances.

The equilibrium constant can be determined using the following calculations:

1. The Absorbances were calculated using the following equation:
A = log (100 / %T)
For the fist value %T = 74.7
A = log (100 / 74.7) = 0.127

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2. The Molarity of the diluted KSCN solution in the 250 ml beaker before any Cu2+ was added:
(10.0 ml) (5.21 x 10-2 mmole/ml) = 5.21 x 10-1 mmole/ml
5.21 x 10-1 mmole/ml / 100.0 ml = 5.21 x 10-3 mmole/ml
= 5.21 x 10-3 mole/L
3. The calculation of the concentration of copper and thiocyanate ions initially added, [Cu*] and
[SCN*] respectively:
For the total volume:
Vtotal = 100.00 ml + 1.00 = 101.00 ml
mmole of Cu* = (1.00 ml) (2.515 x 10-1 mmole/ml)
= 2.515 x 10-1 mmole
Then
[Cu*] = (2.515 x 10-1 mmole/ml) / (101.00 ml)
= 2.49 x 10-3 mmole/ml
= 2.49 x 10-3 mole/L
Then
[SCN*] = (5.21 x 10-1 mmole) / (101.00 ml)
= 5.16 x 10-3 mmole/ml
= 5.16 x 10-3 mole/L
4. Calculation of the total concentration of copper and thiocyanate ions initially added,
[Cu*] + [SCN*] :
[Cu*] + [SCN*] = 2.49 x 10-3 mole/L + 5.16 x 10-3 mole/L
= 7.65 x 10-3 mole/L
5. Calculation of [Cu*] [SCN*] :
[Cu*] [SCN*] = (2.49 x 10-3 M) (5.16 x 10-3 M)
= 1.28 x 10-5 M2
6. Calculation of A([Cu*] + [SCN*]) :
A([Cu*] + [SCN*]) = (0.127) [(2.49 x 10-3 M) + (5.16 x 10-3 M)]
= 9.71 x 10-4 M2
7. Calculation of A / ([Cu*] [SCN*])
[Note: This will be plotted on the y-axis.]
y = A / ([Cu*] [SCN*]) = (0.127) (1.28 x 10-5 M2)
= 9.92 x 103 M-2
8. Calculation of A([Cu*] + [SCN*]) / ([Cu*] [SCN*])
[Note: This will be plotted on the x-axis.]
x = A([Cu*] + [SCN*]) = 9.71 x 10-4 M2 / 1.28 x 10-5 M2
([Cu*] [SCN*])
= 7.59 x 101 M-1

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Calculations 2-8 were repeated for each of the other nine equilibrium mixtures. The following
table summarizes the results of these calculations.
Soln # x y
1 75.9 9920
2 88.1 8780
3 98.6 7960
4 108 7360
5 115 6770
6 122 6380
7 128 5990
8 132 5640
9 136 5340
10 140 5080
Table 2: The solution mixtures and the calculated values for x & y.

This data was then plotted in Figure 1.

12000

10000
A / ([Cu*] [SCN*])

8000

6000

4000 y = -73.507x + 15328

2000

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
A([Cu*] + [SCN*]) / ([Cu*] [SCN*])

Figure 1: Plot to determine the equilibrium constant for the formation of CuSCN*.

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Procedure:
Caution: All of the following chemicals are highly corrosive. Use care in handling
the solution used in this experiment. Wash any solution off your skin immediately.
2 M HNO3
0.5 M HNO3
Fe(NO3)3-HNO3 (aq)
KSCN-HNO3 (aq)
Caution: Always wear departmentally approved goggles while doing experiments.

Overview of Procedure:
In Part A of the experiment, the appropriate wavelength to be used in this experiment will
be determined. The blank for this experiment will 0.5M HNO3 instead of distilled water because
the Fe(NO3)3 was prepared in HNO3. A known solution of Fe(NO3)3 will then be used to
determine where the minimum percent transmittance / maximum absorbance occurs.
In Part B, a series of calibration solutions with known concentrations of the iron (III)
thiocyanate ion will be prepared. To do this, a large excess of thiocyanate will be added to the
Fe 3+ to drive the reaction to the left, incorporating all of the ferric ion into FeSCN 2+.
In each of these solutions, therefore, the equilibrium concentration of FeSCN2+ equals the
initial concentration of Fe 3+. The equation for the trendline of the Beer's law plot will be used to
determine the equilibrium constant Keq for this reaction.
The absorbance of each solution will be determined. A Beer's law plot should be made in
Excel (or other graphing program). A linear trendline should be added. The trendline is the
equation of the line relating Absorbance to Concentration.

Group A – Determination of Lambda Max for the Iron

1. Acquire cuvettes with 0.5M HNO3 and Fe(SCN)3 solution from the stockroom.
2. Set the spectrophotometer at 400 nm. Zero the spectrophotometer.
3. Place the cuvette with the 0.5M HNO3, the reference solution in the holder
and adjust the light control knob to 100%. Remove the cuvette.
4. Place the cuvette with the solution in the holder.
5. Record the % Transmittance on Datasheet 1.
6. Change to the next wavelength and repeat 2-5.
7. Calculate the Absorbance for each of the % Transmittance values.
8. Record the wavelength that corresponds to the maximum absorbance.
Use this wavelength for Part B.

Group B – Prepare the diluted ferric nitrate solution:

1. On Datasheet 1, record the exact molarity of the Fe(NO3)3 solution and the KSCN
solution. Be sure to include all significant digits.
2. Condition a 10 ml pipet with the stock solution.
a. Acquire ~15 ml of 0.00250 M Fe(NO3)3 solution in a 50 ml beaker.
(Note: The stock solution of 0.00250 M Fe(NO3)3 solution was
prepared using 0.50 M HNO3 as the solvent. The solution is highly
corrosive. Use caution when working with the solution.)
b. Draw ~10 ml of Fe(NO3)3 from the beaker into the pipet. Fill the pipet to
slightly above the 10 ml mark being careful not to overfill the pipet and
not to pull the solution into the bulb.
c. Remove the bulb and quickly cover the end with your thumb (or forefinger)
to create a vacuum.

(Updated 091119) 7
 d. Gently rock thumb away from the pipet and back to allow air in and practice
releasing small amounts of acid into the original 50 ml beaker.
e. Repeat Steps b-d twice more.
f. Pour the Fe(NO3)3 used for conditioning into the waste container.
3. Acquire ~15 ml of 0.00250 M Fe(NO3)3 solution in the 50 ml beaker.
4. Pipet 10.00 ml of Fe(NO3)3 solution into a 100 ml volumetric flask.
a. Fill the pipet to slightly above the 10 ml mark being careful not to overfill
the pipet and not to pull the solution into the bulb.
b. Gently rock thumb away from the pipet and back to allow air in and release
a small amount of acid until the bottom of the meniscus is exactly on the
10 ml line and then reseal.
c. Transfer the pipet tip into a volumetric flask and allow the solution to flow
into the flask.
5. Acquire ~90 ml of 0. 5 M HNO3 in a dispenser bottle.
6. Using a funnel, add ~15 ml portions of the HNO3 to the volumetric slowly.
After adding ~15 ml stop and swirl. Then continue with the next addition.
When you get close to the fill line, add the HNO3 dropwise until the bottom
of the meniscus is on the line.
7. Once the flask is filled to the 100 ml mark, place the cap on securely.
Invert the flask, shake well, and then revert. Repeat shaking process 10 times.
8. Pour the contents of the volumetric flask into a clean dry 250 ml beaker.
Label this beaker as “Diluted Fe3+”.
9. Calculate the final iron concentration and record on Datasheet 1.
10. Acquire ~25 ml of 0.0025M KSCN in a clean dry 50 ml beaker.
11. Pipet 2.00 ml of KSCN into the beaker of “Diluted Fe3+”.
Stir the mixture with a stirring rod. Be careful to knock any solution off
the stirring rod back into the beaker.
12. Pour ~8 ml of solution into a cuvette.
13. At the appropriate wavelength:
a. Zero the spectrophotometer.
b. Place the cuvette with the 0.5M HNO3, the reference solution in the holder
and adjust the light control knob to 100%. Remove the cuvette.
c. Place the cuvette with the solution in the holder.
d. Record the % Transmittance on Datasheet 1.
e. Pour the solution out of the cuvette back into the beaker of “Diluted Fe3+”.
14. Pipet another 2.00 ml of KSCN into the beaker of “Diluted Fe3+”.
Stir the mixture with a stirring rod. Be careful to knock any solution off
the stirring rod back into the beaker.
15. Pour ~8 ml of solution into a cuvette.
16. Place the cuvette with the solution in the holder.
17. Record the % Transmittance on Datasheet 1.
18. Pour the solution out of the cuvette back into the beaker of “Diluted Fe3+”.
19. Repeat steps 14-18 to obtain the remaining data.
20. Dispose of all solutions in the appropriate waste container.
21. Clean all of the used glassware and return the appropriate items to the stockroom.

(Updated 091119) 8
Calculations:
Do the following calculations for each determination and record the results on the appropriate
datasheet. (For how to do the calculations, refer to the example of Cu(NO3)2.)
1. Calculate the molarity of the original diluted Fe(NO3)3 solution.
2. Calculate the following for each of the 10 equilibrium solutions.
a. Convert %T to A.
A = log (100 / %T)
b. Calculate [FE*] and [SCN*].
[Fe*] = initial # moles of Fe / Vtotal
{Note: while the initial # of moles of Fe does not change from one
equilibrium solution to the next, the total volume does change.}
[SCN*] = # moles of SCN / Vtotal
{Note: Both the # of moles of SCN and the total volume will
change from one equilibrium solution to the next.}
c. Calculate [FE*] + [SCN*].
d. Calculate [FE*] [SCN*].
e. Calculate A ([FE*] + [SCN*]).
{Note: A is the Absorbance value for each equilibrium solution.}
d. Calculate A / ([FE*] [SCN*]).
f. Calculate A ([FE*] + [SCN*]) / ([FE*] [SCN*]).
3. Create a Beer’s Law Plot, using
x = A ([FE*] + [SCN*]) / ([FE*] [SCN*]).
y = A / [FE*] [SCN*]
4. Add a trendline to the plot. Determine the slope of the line to 3 significant digits.
5. Determine the equilibrium constant, Keq, for the reaction.
6. Determine the concentration of the unknown.
a. Make a Beer’s Law plot with [KSCN*] concentration on the x-axis &
corresponding Absorbances on the y-axis.
b. Add a trendline with equation.
c. Plug in the absorbance for your unknown into the equation for “y”
and solve for your concentration “x”.
References:
“Equilibria.” Written by Tim Sheppard MBBS BSc. Last updated 19th June 2009. Available at:
http://www.blobs.org/science/article.php?article=25
Frank, Henry S. and Robert L. Oswalt. “The Stability and Light Absorption of the Complex Ion
FeSCN2+.” JACS, 69, 1321-5 (1947).
Hudak, Norman J. “Determining an Equilibrium Constant Using Spectrophotometry.”
(EQUL 343) Chemical Education Resources, 1988.
Morgan, John. “Using Beer's Law To Find An Equilibrium Constant For Iron(III) Thiocyanato
Ion.” Available at Bloomsberg University of Pennsylvania:
http://facstaff.bloomu.edu/jmorgan/Equilibrium%202%20Iron%20thiocyanate%20S09.pdf

Ramette, Richard W. “Formation of Monothiocyanatoiron (III): A Photometric Equilibrium

Study.” J. Chem. Ed, 40, 71-2 (1963).
“Measuring an Equilibrium Constant I: Using Color to Analyze an Equilibrium Mixture”
Available at the Chemistry Department, University of Southern Maine:
http://usm.maine.edu/chy/manuals/116/text/KeqSpec.html
(Updated 091119) 9
(Updated 091119) 10
Name: _____________________________________________________________ Sect#: __________________

Lab Partner’s Name: ____ONLINE____________________________________ Date: ___________________

Datasheet 1
Group A – Determination of Lambda Max for the Iron
Wavelength (nm) % Transmittance Absorbance
400 70.2
425 55
450 45.8
475 44.4
500 50
525 61
550 73.6
575 84.8
600 92.2
625 96.8
650 98.8
675 99.8
700 100

Wavelength at Maximum Absorbance, λmax, nm _____________________

Molarity of Fe(NO3)3, M ___0.0025 M______ Molarity of KSCN, M ___0.0025 M______

Vol. of Fe(NO3)3, ml ____10.00 ml______
Molarity of dil. Fe(NO3)3, M _________________

Experimental Data for Group B:

Soln. # Vol. KSCN added, ml % Transmittance Absorbance
1 5 95.7
2 10 94.4
3 15 90.6
4 20 86.9
5 25 80.4
6 30 85.3
7 35 81.3
8 40 75.8
9 45 70.2
10 50 72.2
UNK xxxxxxxxxx 61.1

(Updated 091119) 11
(Updated 091119) 12
Name: _____________________________________________________________ Sect#: __________________

Lab Partner’s Name: ________________________________________________ Date: ___________________

Post Lab Questions

1. Why is it important that you avoid any loss of solutions when transferring and measuring
solutions in this experiment?

2. According to the Beer’s Law equation, A = abc. Why is it you did not need to know the value
for the molar absorptivity constant or the pathlength for the calculations you did in this
experiment?

3. For each determination of the %T ~8 ml of the solution were used. What would have been
the effect on your determination of the %T if samples of ~9 ml were used instead? Explain
briefly.

4. Frank and Oswalt report a molar absorptivity of 4700 L/mole.cm for the thiocyanatoiron(III)
ion. If the given pathlength was 1.00cm, what %T would you expect for a solution that has a
concentration of 1.0 x 10-4 M thiocyanatoiron(III) ion?

5. Create a Beer’s Law Plot, using

x = A [FE*] + [SCN*] / [FE*] [SCN*].
y = A / [FE*] [SCN*]

Record the following information (slope, Keq and concentration of unknown.)

a. Add a trendline to the plot. Determine the slope of the line to 3 significant digits.

b. Determine the equilibrium constant, Keq, for the reaction.

c. Determine the concentration of the unknown.

(Updated 091119) 13
[Note: If calculations are shown for #6, a separate calculations page for your data will not have to be included.]

6. A student mixed 4.00 ml of 1.02 x 10-1 M Fe(NO3)3 with 100.00 ml of 1.98 x 10-4 M KSCN,
using 0.50 M HNO3 as the solvent for both solutions. He found that the absorbance of the
resulting equilibrium mixture to be 0.253. Given this data, calculate the following:

a.) [Fe*]

b.) [SCN*]

c.) [FE*] + [SCN*]

d.) [FE*] [SCN*]

e.) A ([FE*] + [SCN*])

f.) A / ([FE*] [SCN*])

g.) A ([FE*] + [SCN*]) / ([FE*] [SCN*])

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