International Chemistry Olympiad

IChO 1970

Budapest, Hungary · 6 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Structure of a gas from its combustion products

    An amount of 23 g of gas (density \(\rho = 2.05\ \mathrm{g\,dm^{-3}}\) at STP) when burned, gives 44 g of carbon dioxide and 27 g of water.

    Problem:

    What is the structural formula of the gas (compound)?

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Water of crystallisation in two samples of crystalline soda

    A sample of crystalline soda (A) with a mass of 1.287 g was allowed to react with an excess of hydrochloric acid and 100.8 cm³ of a gas was liberated (measured at STP).

    Another sample of different crystalline soda (B) with a mass of 0.715 g was decomposed by 50 cm³ of 0.2 N sulphuric acid.

    After total decomposition of soda, the excess of the sulphuric acid was neutralized which required 50 cm³ of 0.1 N sodium hydroxide solution (by titration on methyl orange indicator).

    Problems:

    2.1 How many molecules of water in relation to one molecule of \(\ce{Na2CO3}\) are contained in the first sample of soda?

    2.2 Have both samples of soda the same composition?

    Relative atomic masses: \(A_{\mathrm r}(\ce{Na}) = 23;\quad A_{\mathrm r}(\ce{H}) = 1;\quad A_{\mathrm r}(\ce{C}) = 12;\quad A_{\mathrm r}(\ce{O}) = 16.\)

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Equilibrium mixture from carbon monoxide and water vapour

    Carbon monoxide was mixed with 1.5 times greater volume of water vapours. What will be the composition (in mass as well as in volume %) of the gaseous mixture in the equilibrium state if 80 % of carbon monoxide is converted to carbon dioxide?

    Official English text of the problem.

  4. Problem 4: Alloy of rubidium with another alkali metal

    An alloy consists of rubidium and one of the other alkali metals. A sample of 4.6 g of the alloy when allowed to react with water, liberates 2.241 dm³ of hydrogen at STP.

    Problems:

    4.1 Which alkali metal is the component of the alloy?

    4.2 What composition in % by mass has the alloy?

    Relative atomic masses:

    \(A_{\mathrm r}(\ce{Li}) = 7;\quad A_{\mathrm r}(\ce{Na}) = 23;\quad A_{\mathrm r}(\ce{K}) = 39;\quad A_{\mathrm r}(\ce{Rb}) = 85.5;\quad A_{\mathrm r}(\ce{Cs}) = 133\)

    Official English text of the problem.

  5. Problem 5: Crystallisation of copper(II) sulphate pentahydrate

    An amount of 20 g of cooper (II) oxide was treated with a stoichiometric amount of a warm 20% sulphuric acid solution to produce a solution of copper (II) sulphate.

    Problem:

    How many grams of crystalline copper(II) sulphate (\(\ce{CuSO4 . 5H2O}\)) have crystallised when the solution is cooled to \(20\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\)?

    Relative atomic masses: \(A_\mathrm{r}(\ce{Cu}) = 63.5;\quad A_\mathrm{r}(\ce{S}) = 32;\quad A_\mathrm{r}(\ce{O}) = 16;\quad A_\mathrm{r}(\ce{H}) = 1\)

    Solubility of \(\ce{CuSO4}\) at \(20\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\): \(s = 20.9\) g of \(\ce{CuSO4}\) in 100 g of \(\ce{H2O}\).

    Official English text of the problem.

  6. Problem 6: Two oxides of the same metal

    Oxide of a certain metal contains 22.55 % of oxygen by mass. Another oxide of the same metal contains 50.48 mass % of oxygen.

    Problem:
    1. What is the relative atomic mass of the metal?

    Official English text of the problem.