PAG 12.1 – Investigation iron tablets NAME
Research
Most iron tablets contain the following 1:
Ferrous Sulphate (active ingredient). Most tablets contain 200mg of ferrous sulphate, which
its equivalent to 65mg of elemental iron.
Maize starch
Maltodextrin
Calcium stearate
E124 (red dye)
Iron is vital to the human body as it is the main component of haemoglogin, which is a protein in red
blood cells2. Due to the high reactivity of iron (II), oxygen temporarily binds onto it and gets carried
around the body until it is released at areas with a low concentration of oxygen.
People who are anaemic need to take iron supplements to promote the production of healthy red
blood cells. Pregnant women and people with inadequate amounts of iron in their diet are at higher
risk of developing anaemia3. The recommended daily iron intake is 8mg for men and women over 50
and 18mg for women aged 19-50.
The experiment below will allow the researcher to determine the concentration of iron (II) in a
sample solution made from a crushed up iron tablet dissolved in dilute sulphuric acid. The reaction
can be summarised by this equation:
MnO4- + 8H+ + 5Fe+2 Mn+2 + 5Fe+3 + 4H2O
Method – titration using potassium manganate (VII) solution
Equipment
4 Iron tablets
0.1 M sulfuric acid solution
Electronic scale
Mortar and pestle
Filter funnel
Volumetric flask
6x 50cm3 beakers
1
http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/par/documents/websiteresources/con125980.pdf [last accessed
31.01.19]
2
Epstein, F. H.; Hsia, C. C. W. (1998). "Respiratory Function of Hemoglobin". New England Journal of
Medicine. 338 (4): 239–47.
3
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/anemia [last accessed 31.01.19]
Research
Most iron tablets contain the following 1:
Ferrous Sulphate (active ingredient). Most tablets contain 200mg of ferrous sulphate, which
its equivalent to 65mg of elemental iron.
Maize starch
Maltodextrin
Calcium stearate
E124 (red dye)
Iron is vital to the human body as it is the main component of haemoglogin, which is a protein in red
blood cells2. Due to the high reactivity of iron (II), oxygen temporarily binds onto it and gets carried
around the body until it is released at areas with a low concentration of oxygen.
People who are anaemic need to take iron supplements to promote the production of healthy red
blood cells. Pregnant women and people with inadequate amounts of iron in their diet are at higher
risk of developing anaemia3. The recommended daily iron intake is 8mg for men and women over 50
and 18mg for women aged 19-50.
The experiment below will allow the researcher to determine the concentration of iron (II) in a
sample solution made from a crushed up iron tablet dissolved in dilute sulphuric acid. The reaction
can be summarised by this equation:
MnO4- + 8H+ + 5Fe+2 Mn+2 + 5Fe+3 + 4H2O
Method – titration using potassium manganate (VII) solution
Equipment
4 Iron tablets
0.1 M sulfuric acid solution
Electronic scale
Mortar and pestle
Filter funnel
Volumetric flask
6x 50cm3 beakers
1
http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/par/documents/websiteresources/con125980.pdf [last accessed
31.01.19]
2
Epstein, F. H.; Hsia, C. C. W. (1998). "Respiratory Function of Hemoglobin". New England Journal of
Medicine. 338 (4): 239–47.
3
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/anemia [last accessed 31.01.19]
