IChO 1975 · Theory problem 5

Two consecutive aldehydes of a homologous series

A certain aldehyde B is subsequent to an aldehyde A in the homologous series of aldehydes. An amount of 19 g of aldehyde B is added to 100 g of an aqueous solution containing 23 mass % of aldehyde A. Addition of \(\ce{AgNO3}\) in ammonia solution to 2 g of the aldehydes solution results in a precipitation of 4.35 g of silver.

Problems:

5.1 Determine by calculation what aldehydes were used.

5.2 Give the structural formulas of the aldehydes.

Relative atomic masses:

\(A_{\mathrm r}(\ce{C})=12.01;\quad A_{\mathrm r}(\ce{O})=16.00;\quad A_{\mathrm r}(\ce{H})=1.01;\quad A_{\mathrm r}(\ce{Ag})=107.87\)

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 5.1 Taking oxidation to stop at the carboxylate, A is methanal (formaldehyde), C=O, and B is ethanal (acetaldehyde), CC=O.
  • 5.2 Methanal: \(\ce{H-C(=O)-H}\), C=O. Ethanal: \(\ce{CH3-C(=O)-H}\), CC=O.

Solution

5.1 Identification by calculation

The final solution contains \[ m_A=100\,\mathrm g\times0.23=23\,\mathrm g,\qquad m_B=19\,\mathrm g, \] and its total mass is \[ m_{\text{solution}}=100+19=119\,\mathrm g. \] The analysed portion therefore contains \(2/119\) of each aldehyde.

Oxidation of an aldehyde to its carboxylate by ammoniacal silver(I) is represented by \[ \ce{RCHO + 2[Ag(NH3)2]+ + 3OH- -> RCOO- + 2Ag + 4NH3 + 2H2O}. \] At this endpoint, one mole of aldehyde produces two moles of silver.

The silver obtained corresponds to \[ n(\ce{Ag}) =\frac{4.35\,\mathrm g}{107.87\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}} =0.0403263\,\mathrm{mol}. \] Thus the total amount of aldehydes in the analysed portion is \[ n_A+n_B=\frac{0.0403263}{2} =0.0201632\,\mathrm{mol}. \]

Consecutive members of the saturated, acyclic monoaldehyde series differ by \(\ce{CH2}\), so \[ M_B-M_A =12.01+2(1.01) =14.03\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \] Consequently, \[ \frac{2\,\mathrm g}{119\,\mathrm g} \left[ \frac{23\,\mathrm g}{M_A} +\frac{19\,\mathrm g}{M_A+14.03\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}} \right] =0.0201632\,\mathrm{mol}. \] Solving this equation and retaining the positive root gives \[ M_A=29.957\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}},\qquad M_B=43.987\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

The general molecular formula is \(\ce{C_nH_{2n}O}\), with \[ M_n=(14.03n+16.00)\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \] For A, \[ n=\frac{29.957-16.00}{14.03}=0.9948\approx1. \] Therefore A has one carbon atom and B has two:

  • A: \(\ce{CH2O}\), methanal (formaldehyde), C=O; \(M_A=30.03\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\).
  • B: \(\ce{C2H4O}\), ethanal (acetaldehyde), CC=O; \(M_B=44.06\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\).

Using these formula masses to check the silver yield, \[ m(\ce{Ag}) =\frac{2}{119} \left(\frac{23}{30.03}+\frac{19}{44.06}\right) (2)(107.87)\,\mathrm g =4.3407\,\mathrm g. \] This is close to the stated \(4.35\,\mathrm g\).

5.2 Structural formulas

A — methanal (formaldehyde), C=O: \[ \boxed{\ce{H-C(=O)-H}} \] Its carbonyl carbon is double bonded to oxygen and singly bonded to two hydrogen atoms.

B — ethanal (acetaldehyde), CC=O: \[ \boxed{\ce{CH3-C(=O)-H}} \] Its carbonyl carbon is double bonded to oxygen and singly bonded to one hydrogen atom and one methyl group.

The solution was checked against the official solution.