29/12/25 Pag 12.1 Analysis of iron tablets
Ferrous Sulfate is the most common form of iron tablets prescribed. Ferrous Sulfate
tablets also include things other than iron like kaolin, glucose, povidone, stearic acid,
magnesium stearate, opaglos, titanium dioxide (E171), starch, sodium lauryl sulfate
and sucrose.1 Iron tablets are often used to treat people with iron deficiency anaemia
and can often be used as a preventative measure. It can be used when the amount of
iron from diets are not enough to supplement the body with a sufficient level of iron.2
Iron is mineral used in the body to make a protein known as haemoglobin used to carry
oxygen in the blood throughout the body. It is also used in certain hormone production.3
200 mg of Ferrous Sulfate contains usually has around 65 mg of iron present in them. 4
The approximate amount of iron intake per person is dependent on the life stage a
person is in, sex and lifestyle. For example, adult men from (ages 19-50) require around
8mg of iron while adult women (ages 19-50) require around 18mg of iron daily.3
The exact concentration of iron present in Ferrous Sulfate can be determined using a
titration. This is a method used to accurately measure the volume of one solution that
reacts with another solution and can be used to determine concentration etc.5 The
concentration of iron present in the tablets can be determined by titrating Fe2+ in
solution against Potassium Manganate solution. The end point is indicated by a pale
pink colour.
Equipment
1. Mortar and pestle
2. Distilled water
3. Weighing scale
4. 100 and 250 cm 3 conical flask
5. Weighing boat
6. Five iron tablets
7. 150cm3 (1 mol dm-3) Sulfuric acid
8. 100cm3 graduated volumetric flask
9. Stand and clamp
10. Burette
11. 25cm3 pipette
12. Filter funnel and filter paper
13. 150 cm 3 (0.02 moldm-3) potassium permanganate solution
Method6
