Iodination of propanone

Safety

Video

Results

Methods

In acid solution iodine reacts with propanone according to the reaction below.

The reaction can be followed using a colorimeter to measure the disappearance of the yellow/brown iodine colour.

The rate of the reaction can be shown to be independent of the concentration of iodine (i.e. zero order for iodine) and directly proportional to the concentrations of propanone and acid (i.e first order).

The rate law for the reaction can be expressed as rate = k[CH₃COCH₃][H⁺]

The reagent concentrations used in the examples illustrated here are relatively safe. Good laboratory practice should be followed at all times. Students and teachers should complete risk assessments. Solid iodine is corrosive and stock solutions need to be prepared with care. Solutions greater than 1M should be labelled ‘Irritant’ but the maximum concentration used here is less than 0.1M. We recommend using commercial Povidone-Iodine instead of iodine in potassium iodide. This gives good results at much lower concentrations of acid and propanone.
Sulphuric acid between 0.5 and 1.5M should be labelled ‘Irritant’
Propanone is highly flammable and MUST NOT be used near a naked flame, is irritating to the eyes, degreases the skin and the vapour can cause drowsiness or dizziness.

Second order reaction (simulation)

You can simulate a second order reaction by preparing a solution of 10% propanone in 0.2M H₂SO₄and calling this 'soultion X'. Measuring the rate of decolorisation of iodine against the concentration of X will give a graqph with second order kinetics:
rate = k[X]²

• 2.5 cm³ 10% propanone in 0.2M H₂SO₄
• 0.5 cm³ 5% solution of povidone-iodine

Varying the concentration of acid or propanone gave reaction rates consistent with the reaction being first order for either reactant. Varying the iodine concentration did not affect the rate, the reaction is zero order for iodine.

Click to download a pdf file about this investigation.