IChO 1968 · Theory problem 4

Identification of an organic acid from titration and vapour density

A volume of \(31.7\ \mathrm{cm^3}\) of a 0.1-normal \(\ce{NaOH}\) is required for the neutralization of \(0.19\ \mathrm{g}\) of an organic acid whose vapour is thirty times as dense as gaseous hydrogen.

Problem:

4.1 Give the name and structural formula of the acid.

(The acid concerned is a common organic acid.)

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 4.1 Acetic acid (ethanoic acid), structural formula \(\ce{CH3-C(=O)-OH}\); SMILES: CC(=O)O.

Solution

4.1

At the same temperature and pressure, gas densities are proportional to molar masses. Gaseous hydrogen, \(\ce{H2}\), SMILES [H][H], has molar mass approximately \(2\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\). Therefore, the acid has molar mass

\[ M_{\text{acid}}=30M_{\ce{H2}} \approx30\times2 =60\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

The amount of base used, expressed in equivalents, is

\[ n_{\mathrm{eq}} =NV =\left(0.1\ \mathrm{eq\,L^{-1}}\right) \left(31.7\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{L}\right) =3.17\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{eq}. \]

Thus, the acid’s equivalent mass is

\[ E=\frac{0.19\ \mathrm{g}}{3.17\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{eq}} \approx59.9\ \mathrm{g\,eq^{-1}}. \]

The number of neutralizable protons per molecule is consequently

\[ z=\frac{M_{\text{acid}}}{E} \approx\frac{60}{59.9} \approx1. \]

The small discrepancy from an exact integer reflects rounding of the supplied data. The acid is therefore monoprotic.

The common organic acid satisfying these conditions is acetic acid (ethanoic acid), SMILES CC(=O)O. Its molecular formula is \(\ce{C2H4O2}\), giving

\[ M=(2\times12+4\times1+2\times16)\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}} =60\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

Its structural formula is \(\ce{CH3-C(=O)-OH}\): a methyl group bonded to a carboxyl group. The carboxyl proton is neutralized according to

\[ \ce{CH3COOH + NaOH -> CH3COONa + H2O}. \]

Here sodium hydroxide is [Na+].[OH-], sodium acetate is CC(=O)[O-].[Na+], and water is O. This reaction confirms the required \(1:1\) acid-to-base stoichiometry.

The solution was checked against the official solution.