Finding composition of mixture of Fe3O4 and Fe2O3

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Titan97
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Homework Statement


An ##\mathrm{8~g}## sample of ##{Fe_3O_4}## and ##{Fe_2O_3}## containing some inert impurity was treated with excess of ##\mathrm{aq}## ##{KI}## in acidic medium. which converted all iron to ##Fe^{2+}##. The resulting solution was then diluted to ##\mathrm{50~ml}##.

##\mathrm{10~ml}## of it was taken and the liberated iodine required ##\mathrm{7.2~ml}## of ##\mathrm{1M}## sodium thiosulphate to reduce all iodine.

Another ##\mathrm{25~ml}## was taken and the iodine was removed. The remaining solution required ##\mathrm{4.2~mL}## of ##\mathrm{1M}## ##{KMnO_4}## to oxidize all ##Fe^{2+}##.

Calculate the percentage of composition of the mixture.
The initial solution already contains ##Fe^{2+}## from ##FeO## whic does not react until the second titration.

Homework Equations


equivalence concept

The Attempt at a Solution


[/B]
Working backwards, milli equivalence of ##{Fe^{2+}}## is ##\mathrm{5\times 4.2\times 1=21}## in ##\mathrm{25~mL}## solution. So in ##\mathrm{50~mL}##, the amount of ##{Fe^2+}## is ##\mathrm{42}## m.eq.

Similarly, the m.eq of iodine from titration with thiosulphate is ##\mathrm{36}##

From the first reaction (with iodide), $$\mathrm{m.eq~of~iodine~liberated=m.eq~of~Fe^{2+}~formed}$$
The excess ##{Fe^{2+}}## is from ##{FeO}## which is present in ##{Fe_3O_4}##

amount of ##{FeO}## is ##\mathrm{6~m.eq}##.
Hence its weight is ##\frac{6}{1000}\times\frac{72}{2}=\mathrm{0.216~g}## since n-factor is ##\mathrm{2}##.

Since ##\mathrm{1~mol}## of ##{Fe_3O_4}## conatains ##\mathrm{72~g}## of ##{FeO}##, the amount of ##{Fe_3O_4}## is ##\mathrm{0.6945~g}##. But this answer is wrong. Is there anything wrong in my procedure?
 
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I haven't checked other things, as this caught my attention first:

Titan97 said:
From the first reaction (with iodide), $$\mathrm{m.eq~of~iodine~liberated=m.eq~of~Fe^{2+}~formed}$$

Are you sure you are not tricking yourself with equivalents?
 
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During the calculation, I got different values for iodine and fe2+. This is because a part of the fe2+ is from FeO which was already present. When KI is added, the meq of iodine formed will be equal to the meq of Fe3+ formed=meq of Fe2+ reacted.
 
I strongly suggest you redo the calculations using moles.
 
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OK. But before that, can you help with the reaction of Fe3Or? Should I take fe3o4 as one mole of FeO and one mole of Fe2O3.
 
Titan97 said:
Should I take fe3o4 as one mole of FeO and one mole of Fe2O3.

Yes, it is a mixed oxide.
 
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