IChO 1982 · Theory problem 1

Ten short questions A-K (mostly multiple choice)

A. The IUPAC name of the compound \(\ce{[Co(NH3)6]Cl2}\) is

a) cobalt(II) hexaammonia dichlorine,
b) cobalt(II) hexaammonia dichloride,
c) hexaamminecobalt(II) chloride.
d) hexaamminedichlorocobalt(II)
e) cobalt(II) chloride-hexaammonia

B. The IUPAC name of the compound

Figure 1

is:

a) 5-bromo-1-hexanoic acid
b) 5-bromo-2-hydroxy-1-hexanal
c) 2-bromo-5-hydroxy-6-hexanal
d) 2-bromo-2-hydroxy-1-hexanal
e) 5-bromo-2-hydroxy-1-hexanone

C. Which of the following acid-base pairs is most suitable for keeping the pH constant at 9 in an aqueous solution?

a) \(\ce{CH3COOH}\) — \(\ce{CH3COO-}\)
b) \(\ce{NH4+}\) — \(\ce{NH3}\)
c) \(\ce{H2CO3}\) — \(\ce{HCO3-}\)
d) \(\ce{H2PO4-}\) — \(\ce{HPO4^2-}\)
e) \(\ce{H2C2O4}\) — \(\ce{HC2O4-}\)

D. One of the following statements cannot be correct. State which one.

a) A water-soluble solid contains \(\ce{Mg^2+}\), \(\ce{Cr^3+}\), and \(\ce{Br-}\).
b) A solid soluble in a sodium hydroxide solution contains \(\ce{Al^3+}\), \(\ce{K+}\), and \(\ce{SO4^2-}\).
c) A solid soluble in aqueous ammonia solution contains \(\ce{Ag+}\), \(\ce{Cu^2+}\), and \(\ce{Cl-}\).
d) A solid soluble in nitric acid contains \(\ce{Ba^2+}\), \(\ce{Fe^2+}\), and \(\ce{CO3^2-}\).
e) A solution neutral to litmus contains \(\ce{Na+}\), \(\ce{Ca^2+}\), and \(\ce{PO4^3-}\).

E. Complete the following equation:

Figure 2

The reaction is carried out in an acid solution. Fill in the missing particles and balance the reaction equation.

F. State the degree of protolysis of acetic acid with concentration of \(0.25\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\).

\(K_{\mathrm a}(\ce{HAc})=1.8\times10^{-5}\).

a) \(0.021\ \%\); b) \(0.21\ \%\); c) \(0.84\ \%\); d) \(1.3\ \%\); e) \(8.4\ \%\)

G. A solution with a volume of \(1.00\ \mathrm{dm^3}\) is saturated with lead iodide, \(\ce{PbI2}\). The concentration of iodide ions is \(2.7\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\). Determine the solubility product of \(\ce{PbI2}\).

a) \(3.6\times10^{-6}\); b) \(2.0\times10^{-8}\); c) \(9.8\times10^{-9}\); d) \(2.5\times10^{-9}\); e) \(4.9\times10^{-9}\).

H. The following standard enthalpies of formation are given:

Compound \(\Delta H^0\)
Acetic acid \(-0.50\ \mathrm{MJ\,mol^{-1}}\)
Carbon dioxide \(-0.40\ \mathrm{MJ\,mol^{-1}}\)
Water \(-0.30\ \mathrm{MJ\,mol^{-1}}\)

The \(\Delta H^0\) of combustion of acetic acid is:

a) \(0.90\ \mathrm{MJ\,mol^{-1}}\); b) \(-0.90\ \mathrm{MJ\,mol^{-1}}\); c) \(-0.20\ \mathrm{MJ\,mol^{-1}}\);
d) \(-2.1\ \mathrm{MJ\,mol^{-1}}\); e) \(0.20\ \mathrm{MJ\,mol^{-1}}\)

I. \(\ce{COCl2(g)}\) is introduced in an empty vessel at a pressure of \(a\). It dissociates and the following equilibrium is established at constant temperature:

Figure 3

If \(x\) represents the partial pressure of \(\ce{CO2(g)}\) at equilibrium, what is the equilibrium expression?

a) \(\displaystyle \frac{4x^3}{(a-2x)^2}=K_p\)
b) \(\displaystyle \frac{2x^4}{(a-2x)^2}=K_p\)
c) \(\displaystyle \frac{2x^3}{(a-x)^2}=K_p\)
d) \(\displaystyle \frac{4x^3}{(a-x)^2}=K_p\)
e) \(\displaystyle \frac{x^3}{(a-3x)^2}=K_p\)

K. For a metal M the following redox data are known:

Figure 4

The \(E^0\) for \(\ce{M^4+(aq) + 3e- -> M+(aq)}\) is then:

a) \(-0.20\ \mathrm V\) b) \(-1.00\ \mathrm V\) c) \(1.00\ \mathrm V\) d) \(0.07\ \mathrm V\) e) \(-0.07\ \mathrm V\)

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • A. c) Hexaamminecobalt(II) chloride, [NH3]->[Co+2](<-[NH3])(<-[NH3])(<-[NH3])(<-[NH3])<-[NH3].[Cl-].[Cl-].
  • B. b) 5-Bromo-2-hydroxyhexanal, CC(Br)CCC(O)C=O; stereochemistry is unspecified.
  • C. b) Ammonium [NH4+] / ammonia N.
  • D. e) The statement about the solution neutral to litmus.
  • E. \(\boxed{\ce{H3AsO4 + 4Zn + 8H+ -> AsH3 + 4Zn^2+ + 4H2O}}\).
  • F. c) \(\boxed{\alpha=0.84\%}\).
  • G. As printed, the concentration product is \(\boxed{9.8\ \mathrm{mol^3\,dm^{-9}}}\), matching none of the options. If the intended iodide concentration is \(2.7\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\), the answer is c), \(\boxed{9.8\times10^{-9}\ \mathrm{mol^3\,dm^{-9}}}\).
  • H. b) \(\boxed{\Delta_\mathrm cH^\circ=-0.90\ \mathrm{MJ\,mol^{-1}}}\).
  • I. a) \(\boxed{K_p=\dfrac{4x^3}{(a-2x)^2}}\), using the pressure convention of the choices.
  • K. d) \(\boxed{E^\circ=+0.07\ \mathrm V}\).

Solution

SMILES for salts specify their ionic components, rather than their crystal lattices. The coordination-complex SMILES use the dative-bond extension, with arrows pointing from ligand to metal.

A. Coordination-compound nomenclature

The two chloride counterions, chloride [Cl-], require the complex cation to carry charge \(+2\). Each ammonia ligand, ammonia N, is neutral, so cobalt has oxidation state \(+2\):

\[ z_{\mathrm{Co}}+6(0)+2(-1)=0 \quad\Longrightarrow\quad z_{\mathrm{Co}}=+2. \]

Coordinated ammonia is named ammine. Six such ligands give hexaammine; the metal name and oxidation state follow, and the counterion is named last. Thus the name is hexaamminecobalt(II) chloride, option c.

The six nitrogen donors form an octahedral coordination sphere. The chloride ions lie outside that sphere; the SMILES does not itself specify its octahedral geometry.

B. Organic nomenclature

The structure is

\[ \ce{CH3-CH(Br)-CH2-CH2-CH(OH)-CHO}. \]

The aldehyde group has priority over the alcohol group and determines the suffix -al. Its carbon is carbon 1. The six-carbon chain is therefore numbered as follows:

  • C1: aldehyde carbon;
  • C2: hydroxy substituent;
  • C5: bromo substituent.

The prefixes are written alphabetically, giving 5-bromo-2-hydroxyhexanal, CC(Br)CCC(O)C=O.

This corresponds to option b, whose wording includes the unnecessary aldehyde locant “1”. Both C2 and C5 are stereogenic, but the drawing specifies neither configuration; consequently, no stereochemical markers belong in the SMILES.

C. Buffer selection

For a weak acid and its conjugate base,

\[ \mathrm{pH}=pK_{\mathrm a} +\log_{10}\!\left( \frac{[\text{conjugate base}]}{[\text{acid}]} \right). \]

A buffer works most effectively when both forms are present in substantial amounts, which occurs near \(\mathrm{pH}=pK_{\mathrm a}\).

Of the listed pairs, ammonium/ammonia has its acid \(pK_{\mathrm a}\) nearest pH 9. Ammonia consumes added acid, while ammonium consumes added base. Therefore the best choice is b.

D. Compatibility of the stated ions

The intended answer is e, under the usual qualitative-analysis assumption that the named ions are present in appreciable concentrations.

The other statements are chemically possible:

  • a) Magnesium(II) [Mg+2], chromium(III) [Cr+3], and bromide [Br-] can occur in water-soluble bromide salts.

  • b) Aluminium(III) [Al+3], potassium [K+], and sulfate [O-]S(=O)(=O)[O-] can occur together in a sulfate salt. In excess hydroxide, hydroxide [OH-], aluminium forms soluble tetrahydroxoaluminate(III), O[Al-](O)(O)O:

\[ \ce{Al^3+ + 4OH- -> [Al(OH)4]-}. \]

The aluminate ion has tetrahedral coordination.

  • c) Silver(I) [Ag+] and copper(II) [Cu+2] form soluble ammine complexes in excess ammonia:

\[ \ce{AgCl(s) + 2NH3(aq) <=> [Ag(NH3)2]+(aq) + Cl-(aq)}, \]

\[ \ce{Cu^2+(aq) + 4NH3(aq) <=> [Cu(NH3)4]^2+(aq)}. \]

The complexes are diammine silver(I), [NH3]->[Ag+]<-[NH3], and tetraamminecopper(II), [NH3]->[Cu+2](<-[NH3])(<-[NH3])<-[NH3]. The silver complex is linear. In the aqueous copper complex, the four ammonia donors occupy approximately square equatorial positions, with water ligands completing the coordination sphere; these waters are omitted from the abbreviated formula and SMILES.

  • d) Barium(II) [Ba+2] and iron(II) [Fe+2] carbonates dissolve in acid because carbonate, [O-]C(=O)[O-], is protonated:

\[ \ce{CO3^2- + 2H+ -> CO2(g) + H2O}. \]

Here hydrogen ion is [H+], carbon dioxide is O=C=O, and water is O. Nitric acid, O=[N+]([O-])O, may also oxidize iron(II), but this does not contradict the composition of the original solid or its dissolution.

For e, sodium [Na+] is a spectator, but orthophosphate, [O-]P(=O)([O-])[O-], hydrolyses to produce hydroxide:

\[ \ce{PO4^3- + H2O <=> HPO4^2- + OH-}. \]

The hydrogen phosphate ion is OP(=O)([O-])[O-]. Appreciable orthophosphate therefore makes the solution alkaline. Furthermore, calcium(II), [Ca+2], precipitates phosphate:

\[ \ce{3Ca^2+ + 2PO4^3- -> Ca3(PO4)2(s)}. \]

These properties conflict with the proposed neutral solution containing appreciable amounts of both calcium and orthophosphate ions.

E. Redox balancing in acidic solution

The arsenic-containing species are arsenic acid, O=[As](O)(O)O, and arsine, [AsH3].

Arsenic changes from oxidation state \(+5\) in \(\ce{H3AsO4}\) to \(-3\) in \(\ce{AsH3}\), gaining eight electrons. Balancing oxygen with water and hydrogen with hydrogen ions gives

\[ \ce{H3AsO4 + 8H+ + 8e- -> AsH3 + 4H2O}. \]

Zinc is oxidized to zinc(II), [Zn+2]:

\[ \ce{Zn -> Zn^2+ + 2e-}. \]

Multiply this oxidation half-equation by four and add:

\[ \boxed{\ce{H3AsO4 + 4Zn + 8H+ -> AsH3 + 4Zn^2+ + 4H2O}}. \]

Both sides contain one arsenic, four zinc, four oxygen, and eleven hydrogen atoms. Both sides have total charge \(+8\).

F. Degree of protolysis of acetic acid

Acetic acid, CC(=O)O, dissociates into acetate, CC(=O)[O-], and hydrogen ions:

\[ \ce{CH3COOH <=> CH3COO- + H+}. \]

Let \(c_0=0.25\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\), and let \(x\) be the concentration dissociated. Neglecting water’s contribution to hydrogen-ion concentration,

\[ [\ce{H+}]=[\ce{CH3COO-}]=x, \qquad [\ce{CH3COOH}]=c_0-x. \]

Using the usual concentration expression,

\[ K_{\mathrm a}=\frac{x^2}{c_0-x}. \]

Solving the quadratic gives

\[ x=\frac{-K_{\mathrm a} +\sqrt{K_{\mathrm a}^{\,2}+4K_{\mathrm a}c_0}}{2} =2.1123\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \]

Thus the fraction dissociated is

\[ \alpha=\frac{x}{c_0} =\frac{2.1123\times10^{-3}}{0.25} =0.0084494, \]

and the percentage is

\[ \boxed{100\alpha=0.84494\%\approx0.84\%}. \]

Therefore the answer is c.

G. Solubility product of lead iodide

Lead(II) iodide, ionic SMILES [Pb+2].[I-].[I-], dissolves according to

\[ \ce{PbI2(s) <=> Pb^2+(aq) + 2I-(aq)}. \]

The ions are lead(II), [Pb+2], and iodide, [I-]. Assuming dissolution is their only source,

\[ [\ce{Pb^2+}]=\frac{[\ce{I-}]}{2}. \]

Therefore the concentration-based solubility product is

\[ K_{\mathrm{sp},c} =[\ce{Pb^2+}][\ce{I-}]^2 =\frac{[\ce{I-}]^3}{2}. \]

Using the concentration actually printed, \(2.7\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\),

\[ K_{\mathrm{sp},c} =\frac{(2.7)^3}{2} =9.8415 \approx \boxed{9.8\ \mathrm{mol^3\,dm^{-9}}}. \]

No option matches.

If the intended concentration was \(2.7\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\), then

\[ K_{\mathrm{sp},c} =\frac{(2.7\times10^{-3})^3}{2} =\boxed{9.8\times10^{-9}\ \mathrm{mol^3\,dm^{-9}}}, \]

which is option c.

The stated solution volume is unnecessary because the ionic concentration is already given. These calculations use the concentration-product convention implicit in the question; a thermodynamic solubility product would instead use activities.

H. Enthalpy of combustion

Complete combustion of acetic acid is

\[ \ce{CH3COOH + 2O2 -> 2CO2 + 2H2O}. \]

The species are acetic acid CC(=O)O, oxygen O=O, carbon dioxide O=C=O, and water O.

By Hess’s law,

\[ \Delta_\mathrm cH^\circ = \sum_{\text{products}}\nu\Delta_\mathrm fH^\circ - \sum_{\text{reactants}}\nu\Delta_\mathrm fH^\circ. \]

The standard formation enthalpy of elemental oxygen in its standard state is zero. Hence

\[ \begin{aligned} \Delta_\mathrm cH^\circ &=2(-0.40)+2(-0.30)-[-0.50+2(0)]\\ &=\boxed{-0.90\ \mathrm{MJ\,mol^{-1}}}. \end{aligned} \]

This is per mole of acetic acid burned, giving option b.

I. Equilibrium expression

The reaction is

\[ \ce{2COCl2(g) <=> C(graphite) + CO2(g) + 2Cl2(g)}. \]

The molecular species are phosgene (carbonyl dichloride), O=C(Cl)Cl; carbon dioxide, O=C=O; and chlorine, ClCl. Graphite is an extended solid, whose lattice cannot be represented by a single molecular SMILES.

For a fixed-volume vessel at constant temperature, partial-pressure changes follow the stoichiometric mole changes. Since the equilibrium carbon dioxide pressure is \(x\),

Gas Initial partial pressure Change Equilibrium partial pressure
\(\ce{COCl2}\) \(a\) \(-2x\) \(a-2x\)
\(\ce{CO2}\) \(0\) \(+x\) \(x\)
\(\ce{Cl2}\) \(0\) \(+2x\) \(2x\)

Pure graphite has unit activity and does not appear in the pressure expression. Thus, in the convention of the choices,

\[ K_p =\frac{p_{\ce{CO2}}\left(p_{\ce{Cl2}}\right)^2} {\left(p_{\ce{COCl2}}\right)^2} =\frac{x(2x)^2}{(a-2x)^2}. \]

Therefore

\[ \boxed{K_p=\frac{4x^3}{(a-2x)^2}}, \]

which is option a.

K. Combining standard reduction potentials

The given reductions are

\[ \ce{M^2+(aq) + e- -> M+(aq)}, \qquad E_1^\circ=-0.60\ \mathrm V, \]

\[ \ce{M^4+(aq) + 2e- -> M^2+(aq)}, \qquad E_2^\circ=+0.40\ \mathrm V. \]

Adding them gives

\[ \ce{M^4+(aq) + 3e- -> M+(aq)}. \]

Potentials cannot be added directly. The additive quantities are the standard Gibbs energy changes:

\[ \Delta G^\circ=-nFE^\circ. \]

Consequently,

\[ -3FE^\circ =-F(-0.60\ \mathrm V)-2F(0.40\ \mathrm V), \]

so

\[ E^\circ =\frac{1(-0.60)+2(0.40)}{3}\ \mathrm V =+0.0667\ \mathrm V. \]

Thus

\[ \boxed{E^\circ\approx+0.07\ \mathrm V}, \]

giving option d.

Because the metal is unspecified, element-specific SMILES cannot be assigned. Generic charged-atom placeholders for the metal(IV), metal(II), and metal(I) ions are [*+4], [*+2], and [*+], respectively; these encode only an unspecified atom and its charge.

The answers were checked against the official answers published by the organisers.