Conducting a Low-Waste Iodine Clock Experiment on Filter Paper To Discern the Rate Law

Herein we present a modified iodine clock experiment which replaces starch with cellulose paper. This provides the reaction with a white solid surface in which color change can be clearly observed and reduces reagent amounts required to 540 μL per group. After data acquisition, students are required to calculate reaction orders and the reaction constant k, culminating in their ability to discern the rate equation for this reaction. This experiment is ideal for teaching kinetics in high school and undergraduate settings, particularly if liquid waste disposal is not readily available or if high importance is placed upon minimizing their environmental impact.