MnO4(negative) + HCO2H ------> Mn2(postive) +CO2?

Question

What volume of 0.1500M KMnO4 would be required to react with 1.00g of formic acid, HCO2H, in acid solution? The unbalanced equation is:
MnO4(negative) + HCO2H ------> Mn2(postive) +CO2

Please can you tell me how to do and please show the steps how to do it...
your help is greatly appreciated.

Additional Details

1) the Mn2(positive) is like the power ( so 2+ is the power of Mn - so its like Mn to the power of 2)

2) MnO4(negative) === the negative is the power so its like --> MnO4 to the power of - (negative)....

Answer 1

First you have to balance the chemical equation (that's not so easy):

2MnO4- + 5HCOOH + 6H+ -> 2Mn2+ + 5CO2 + 8H2O

Then find the number of moles of HCOOH. The relative molar mass (Mr) of HCOOH equals 46 a.m.u. So:

number of moles HCOOH: n = m/Mr, n = 1/46 mol.

5 mol of HCOOH react with 2 mol of MnO4-, so 1/46 react with:

number of moles MnO4- = (2*1/46)/5 = 0.4/46 mol.

Now the concentration C is 0.15 M, so in 1 L you have 0,15 mol.

C = n/V => V = n/C, V = (0.4/46)/0.15 = 0.4/6.9 = 0.058 L or

58 mL

P.S.

lippy19850528 is right in ONE thing: The coefficient of H+ (hydrogen cations) is 6, not 4. Where they came from? Well the reaction must take place in an acid environment:

2KMnO4 + 5HCOOH + 3H2SO4 -> K2SO4 + 2MnSO4 + 5CO2 + 8H2O

Now everything is balanced. You can see that for 5 mol of HCOOH we need 2 mol of KMnO4 etc.

P.S. for lippy. . .

All right lippy.... now you try to ballance the equation:

MnO4- + HCOOH -> Mn+2 + CO2

You see formic acid (methanoic acid) is a weak acid and KMnO4 needs a strong acid to act as an oxidant . . .
Try not to be such an arrogant. Read carefully your textbooks.
Dimos. Chemistry Prof.

Answer 2

ok, first of all you have to complete the unbalanced equation, you know that the oxidation state of Mn is reduced from 7+ to 2+. the following equation will satisfy this condition

KMnO4 + HCOOH = MnO + 2CO2 +H2O + K(+)
thus you know the the ratio of reaction is one to one
1 g of methanoic acid which is formaic acid is 1/46 mole thus you will also need 1/46 mole of potassium manganate

0.15M of potassium manganate means there will be 0.15 mole for every litre, 1/46 is about 0.022 and then you divide 0.022 by 0.15 to find out how much of the volume of KMnO you need which equals to 0.145 litre which is 145 cm3, that the amount you will need to react complete with KMnO and formic acid

thus the answer is 145 cm3