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Because the solution is alkaline, you will initially get benzoate ions formed rather
than the acid. The sulphuric acid is added to convert the ions to the acid.
With longer side chains, you will get all sorts of mixtures of other products - but
in each case, the main product will be benzoic acid.
In each case, the half-equation for the manganate(VII) ions in acidic solution is:
These equations can be combined to give you an overall ionic equation for each
possible reaction. That, of course, also gives you the reacting proportions.
For example, when the equations are combined, you find that 1 mole of
MnO4- ions react with 5 moles of Fe2+ ions. Having got that information, the
titration calculations are just like any other ones.