International Chemistry Olympiad

IChO 1980

Linz, Austria · 6 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Photodissociation of chlorine and the quantum yield of the H2-Cl2 reaction

    The dissociation of (molecular) chlorine is an endothermic process, \(\Delta H = 243.6\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\).

    The dissociation can also be attained by the effect of light.

    1.1 At what wavelength can the dissociating effect of light be expected?

    1.2 Can this effect also be obtained with light whose wavelength is smaller or larger than the calculated critical wavelength?

    1.3 What is the energy of the photon with the critical wavelength?

    When light that can effect the chlorine dissociation is incident on a mixture of gaseous chlorine and hydrogen, hydrogen chloride is formed. The mixture is irradiated with a mercury UV-lamp (\(\lambda = 253.6\ \mathrm{nm}\)). The lamp has a power input of 10 W. An amount of 2 % of the energy supplied is absorbed by the gas mixture (in a 10 litre vessel). Within 2.5 seconds of irradiation 65 millimoles of \(\ce{HCl}\) are formed.

    1.4 How large is the quantum yield (= the number of product molecules per absorbed photons)?

    1.5 How can the value obtained be (qualitatively) explained? Describe the reaction mechanism.

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Water gas equilibrium

    The homogeneous gas reaction

    Figure 1

    is termed the water gas reaction.

    Problems:

    2.1 Calculate the Gibbs reaction energy, \(\Delta G^0_{1000}\), for the water gas reaction at 1000 K from the reaction enthalpy: \[ \Delta H^0_{1000}=35040\ \mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}} \] and the reaction entropy: \[ \Delta S^0_{1000}=32.11\ \mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}\,K^{-1}}. \]

    2.2 What is the value of the equilibrium constant \(K_p\) of the water gas reaction at 1000 K?

    2.3 What are the values of the equilibrium constants \(K_x\) and \(K_c\) (\(x\): mole fraction, \(c\): concentration in \(\mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\) at the same temperature (1000 K)? (Note: The gas behaves ideally.)

    2.4 A mixture of gases containing 35 vol. % of \(\ce{H2}\), 45 vol. % of \(\ce{CO}\) and 20 vol. % of \(\ce{H2O}\) vapours is heated to 1000 K. What is the composition of the mixture after the establishment of the water gas equilibrium?

    2.5 Calculate the reaction enthalpy value, \(\Delta H^0_{1400}\), at 1400 K from the reaction enthalpy value, \(\Delta H^0_{1000}\), and the values of the molar heat, \(c_p^0\), (valid in the temperature range 1000 K to 1400 K)

    \[ \Delta H^0_{1000}=35040\ \mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}} \]

    \[ c_p^0(\ce{CO2})=42.31+10.09\times10^{-3}\,T \quad \mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}\,K^{-1}} \]

    \[ c_p^0(\ce{H2})=27.40+3.20\times10^{-3}\,T \quad \mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}\,K^{-1}} \]

    \[ c_p^0(\ce{CO})=28.34+4.14\times10^{-3}\,T \quad \mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}\,K^{-1}} \]

    \[ c_p^0(\ce{H2O})=30.09+10.67\times10^{-3}\,T \quad \mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}\,K^{-1}} \]

    (It holds that \(\displaystyle \int_a^b(c_1+c_2x)\,\mathrm{d}x=c_1(b-a)+0.5c_2(b^2-a^2)\))

    2.6 What can you say on the basis of the above findings on \(\Delta H^0\) about the shift in the water gas equilibrium with increasing temperature?

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Chemistry of ions, stoichiometry, redox reactions: identification of a white crystalline compound A

    (Chemistry of ions, stoichiometry, redox reactions)

    A white crystalline solid compound A exhibits the following reactions:

    1) The flame of a Bunsen burner is intensively yellow coloured.

    2) An aqueous solution of A is neutral. Dropwise addition of sulphurous acid (an \(\ce{SO2}\) solution) leads to a deep brown solution that is discoloured in the presence of excess of sulphurous acid.

    3) If an \(\ce{AgNO3}\) solution is added to the discoloured solution obtained by 2) and acidified with \(\ce{HNO3}\), a yellow precipitate is obtained that is insoluble on addition of \(\ce{NH3}\), but can be readily dissolved by adding \(\ce{CN^-}\) or \(\ce{S2O3^2-}\).

    4) If an aqueous solution of A is treated with \(\ce{KI}\) and dilute \(\ce{H2SO4}\) a deep brown solution is formed that can be discoloured by addition of sulphurous acid or a \(\ce{Na2S2O3}\) solution.

    5) An amount of 0.1000 g of A is dissolved in water, then 0.5 g \(\ce{KI}\) and a few \(\mathrm{cm^3}\) of dilute \(\ce{H2SO4}\) are added. The deep brown solution formed is titrated with 0.1000 M \(\ce{Na2S2O3}\) solution until the solution is completely discoloured. The consumption is 37.40 \(\mathrm{cm^3}\).

    Problems:

    3.1 What elements are contained in the compound A?

    3.2 What compounds can be considered as present on the basis of reactions 1) to 4)? Calculate their molar masses.

    3.3 Formulate the reactions corresponding to 2) to 4) for the compounds considered and write the corresponding equations in the ionic form.

    3.4 Decide on the basis of 5) which compound is present.

    Official English text of the problem.

  4. Problem 4: Organic chemistry, stereochemistry: an acid C5H8O2, its hydrogenation and bromination

    (Organic chemistry, stereochemistry)

    Carbonic acid A with an overall formula of \(\ce{C5H8O2}\) yields two geometric isomers, cis (A') and trans (A''). On hydrogenation with \(\ce{Pt/H2}\) the same racemic carboxyl acid B is obtained from both stereoisomers that can be separated into enantiomers (+)-B and (-)-B.

    A' and A'' rapidly react with one mole of bromine in \(\ce{CCl4}\) in the dark at 20 °C to yield C.

    Problems:

    4.1 What is the constitution of A and B?

    4.2 Write the stereo formulae for A' and A'' and the Fischer projection formulae for the enantiomer B (not considering the signs (+) or (-)).

    4.3 How many stereo isomers of C are simultaneously formed when A' and A'' are treated with bromine?

    4.4 Briefly, give reasons for your answer to c).

    4.5 Write the Fischer projection formulae and one Newman projection formula (conformation) for all the stereoisomers of C. Denote those that are mutually enantiomeric and diastereoisomeric.

    Official English text of the problem.

  5. Problem 5: Inorganic chemistry: alkaline hydrolysis of a partially methylated disilane

    (Inorganic chemistry)

    From 20 mg of partially methylated disilane, \(\ce{Si2H_{6-x}(CH3)_{x}}\), 27.8 cm³ of hydrogen are evolved during alkaline hydrolysis at 294 K and 97400 Pa.

    5.1 Why the Si-Si bond of the disilane reacts during hydrolysis?

    5.2 Why the Si-H bonds of the disilane react during hydrolysis?

    5.3 Calculate the degree of substitution \(x\) of the methylated disilane.

    5.4 Write the complete reaction equation for the hydrolysis.

    5.5 How many isomers can form the calculated compound? Give the structural formula for each isomer.

    Official English text of the problem.

  6. Problem 6: Organic chemistry, syntheses: products from benzaldehyde and malonic acid

    (Organic chemistry, syntheses)

    Benzaldehyde and malonic acid reacted in pyridine at 80 °C yielding (among others) \(\ce{CO2}\) and compound A in a yield of ca. 80 % of the theoretical value. Catalytic hydrogenation of 1.48 g A on Pt at room temperature and normal pressure yielded B with a consumption of 0.25 litre of hydrogen. On reaction of B with a polyphosphoric acid (the Friedel-Crafts' conditions) compound C can be isolated accompanied by two acidic, isomeric side products. The side products Da and Db can be formed in a greater amount at a high concentration of B in the reaction medium, and can be suppressed by dilution.

    The elemental analysis of C yields 81.8 % of carbon and 6.1 % of hydrogen. The corresponding values for Da and Db, identical within the experimental error, are 76.6 % and 6.4 %, respectively. An amount of 2.82 g Da, as well as Db requires ca. 100 \(\mathrm{cm^3}\) 0.1 N potassium hydroxide solution for its neutralization. C can be purified by distillation (b. p. 243 – 245 °C) and then exhibits a melting point of 40 °C and density of 1.09 \(\mathrm{g/cm^3}\). The relative molecular mass can be obtained by mass spectrometry and its value is 132.

    Using this information solve the following problems:

    6.1 The structural formula of A.

    6.2 The structural formula of B.

    6.3 The structural formula of C.

    6.4 The structural formulae of Da and Db.

    6.5 Give an alternative pathway for the synthesis of A using the simplest possible starting materials and forming at least one C–C bond.

    6.6 Give an alternative pathway for the synthesis of B using the simplest possible starting materials and forming at least one C–C bond.

    6.7 Give structural formulae for the products of the following reactions:

    Figure 1

    Official English text of the problem.