NORMALITY The normality, N, of a redox reagent is n times the molarity, where n is the number of electrons donated or accepted by that

species in a chemical reaction. N = nM For example, in the half equation MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e- Mn2+ + 4H2O The normality of permanganate ion is five times its molarity, because each MnO4accepts 5e- . If the molarity of permanganate is 0.1M, what is the normality for the reaction below? MnO4- + 5Fe2+ + 8H+ Mn2+ + 5Fe3+ + 4H2O Solution: N = nM =5 x 0.1 = 0.5 N (read as 0.5 normal). Like molarity, this concentration system is based on the volume of the solution. Normality = number of equivalents of solute per liter of solution Or N = eq V Example 2. Find the normality of a solution containing 6.34 g of ascorbic acid in 250.0 mL if the relevant half-reaction is

H2O +

+ 2H+ + 2e-

Solution: Ascorbic Acid(C6H8O6) C = 6 x 12 = 72 H=8x 1 =8 O = 6 x 16 = 96___ 176 Molecular mass M = _____mass______ molecular mass = __6.34 g____ 176 g/mol = 3.60 x 10-2 mol Since, each mole contains 2 equivalents in this example, 6.34 g = (2 equiv/mol) (3.60 x 10-2 mol) = 7.20 x 10-2 equivalent

250.0 mL x __1 L__= 0.250 0 L 1000 mL

N= eq V = 7.20 x 10-2 equivalent 0.250 0 L

= 0.288 N