Last Property of K2Cr2O7

5) It oxidises ethyl alcohol to acetaldehyde and acetic acid:

K2Cr2O7 + 4 H2SO4 → K2SO4 + Cr2(SO4)3 + 4H2O +3O

CH2CH2OH + O → CH3CHO + H2O

CH3CHO   +   O     CH3COOH

Acetaldehyde              Acetic Acid

Test for a drunken driver. The above reaction helps to test whether a driver has consumed alcohol or not. he is asked to breathe into the acidified K2Cr2O7 solution taken in a test tube. If the orange colour of the solution changes into green colour (due to Cr2(SO4)3 formed in the reaction), the driver is drunk, otherwise not.

 

o   Chromyl chloride test (Reaction with a chloride and conc. sulphuric acid): When heated with concentrated hydrochloric acid or with a chloride and strong sulphuric acid, reddish brown vapours of Chromyl Chloride are obtained.

K2Cr2O7 + 6 H2SO4 + 4 KCl → CrO2Cl2 + 6 KHSO4 + 3H2O

                                                Chromyl Chloride

Ø  Uses:

·       In volumetric analysis, it is used as a primary standard for the estimation of Fe2+ (ferrous ions) and I (iodides) in redox titrations.

·       In industry, it is used

(a) In chrome tanning in leather industry.

(b) In the preparation of chrome alum K2SO4.Cr2(SO4)3. 24H2O and other industrially important compounds such as Cr2O3, CrO3, CrO2Cl2, K2CrO4, CrCl3 etc.

(c) In calico printing and dyeing.

(d) In photography and in hardening gelatine film.

 

  ü  Preparation of Potassium Permanganate (KMnO4): Potassium permanganate is commercially prepared from Pyrolusite (MnO2). The preparation involves two steps.

Step 1: MnO2 is fused with KOH to form potassium manganate (K2MnO4).

2 MnO2 + 4 KOH + O2 → 2 K2MnO4 + 2 H2O

Step 2: K2MnO4 is electrolytically oxidised to potassium permanganate.

3 MnO42- + 4 H+ → 2 MnO4- + MnO2 + 2 H2O

 

Ø   Properties: Potassium permanganate forms dark purple crystals which are iso-structural with those of KClO4. When heated it decomposes and liberate O2.

2KMnO4 → K2MnO4 + MnO2 + O2

The manganate and permanganate ions are tetrahedral



 

F The green manganate is paramagnetic with one unpaired electron but the permanganate is diamagnetic.