IChO 1982 · Theory problem 5

Solubility of iodine in potassium iodide solutions

Iodine is soluble to a certain extent in pure water. It is, however, more soluble in solutions containing iodide ions. By studying the total solubility of iodine as a function of iodide concentration, the equilibrium constants of the following reactions can be determined:

Figure 1

5.1 Give the equilibrium equations for (1) – (3).

Solutions of known potassium iodide concentration \([\ce{I^-}]_{\mathrm{tot}}\) were equilibrated with solid iodine. Subsequent titration with sodium thiosulphate solution served to determine the total solubility of iodine \([\ce{I2}]_{\mathrm{tot}}\).

The experiments yielded the following results:

\([\ce{I^-}]_{\mathrm{tot}}\,/\,\mathrm{mmol\,dm^{-3}}\) 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00
\([\ce{I^-}]_{\mathrm{tot}}\,/\,\mathrm{mmol\,dm^{-3}}\) 5.85 10.53 15.11 19.96 24.82

5.2 Plot \([\ce{I2}]_{\mathrm{tot}}\) versus \([\ce{I^-}]_{\mathrm{tot}}\) in a diagram.

5.3 Derive a suitable algebraic expression relating \([\ce{I2}]_{\mathrm{tot}}\) and \([\ce{I^-}]_{\mathrm{tot}}\).

5.4 Use the graph to determine values of the equilibrium constants \(k_1\), \(k_2\), and \(k_3\).

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 5.1 Using concentration equilibrium constants, \[ \boxed{ k_1=[\ce{I2}],\qquad k_2=\frac{[\ce{I3^-}]}{[\ce{I^-}]},\qquad k_3=\frac{[\ce{I3^-}]}{[\ce{I2}][\ce{I^-}]} } \] and \(k_2=k_1k_3\).

  • 5.2 The points lie approximately on a straight line, with \([\ce{I^-}]_{\mathrm{tot}}\) on the horizontal axis and \([\ce{I2}]_{\mathrm{tot}}\) on the vertical axis: \[ \boxed{ [\ce{I2}]_{\mathrm{tot}} \simeq 1.043\ \mathrm{mmol\,dm^{-3}} +0.4737[\ce{I^-}]_{\mathrm{tot}} }. \]

  • 5.3 \[ \boxed{ [\ce{I2}]_{\mathrm{tot}} =k_1+\frac{k_2}{1+k_2}[\ce{I^-}]_{\mathrm{tot}} =k_1+\frac{k_1k_3}{1+k_1k_3}[\ce{I^-}]_{\mathrm{tot}} }. \]

  • 5.4 From the fitted line, \[ \boxed{ k_1\approx1.04\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}},\qquad k_2\approx0.900,\qquad k_3\approx8.63\times10^2\ \mathrm{dm^3\,mol^{-1}} }. \] These are approximate graphical determinations.

Solution

The molecular and ionic species used below are:

Species Formula SMILES
Iodine \(\ce{I2}\) II
Iodide ion \(\ce{I^-}\) [I-]
Triiodide ion \(\ce{I3^-}\) I[I-]I
Thiosulphate ion \(\ce{S2O3^2-}\) [O-]S(=O)(=O)[S-]
Tetrathionate ion \(\ce{S4O6^2-}\) [O-]S(=O)(=O)SSS(=O)(=O)[O-]

Triiodide is linear. Its SMILES gives formal connectivity; it does not convey the three-centre, four-electron bonding or the distribution of charge.

5.1 — Equilibrium expressions

Use the concentration convention implied by the problem, treating the solutions as ideal. The activity of pure solid iodine is unity, so the solid does not appear in the equilibrium expressions. Unsubscripted concentrations below denote free aqueous species.

For reaction (1), \[ \ce{I2(s) <=> I2(aq)}, \] hence \[ \boxed{k_1=[\ce{I2}]}. \]

Thus the concentration of free molecular iodine remains constant while the solution is equilibrated with solid iodine.

For reaction (2), \[ \ce{I2(s) + I^-(aq) <=> I3^-(aq)}, \] hence \[ \boxed{k_2=\frac{[\ce{I3^-}]}{[\ce{I^-}]}}. \]

For reaction (3), \[ \ce{I2(aq) + I^-(aq) <=> I3^-(aq)}, \] hence \[ \boxed{k_3=\frac{[\ce{I3^-}]}{[\ce{I2}][\ce{I^-}]}}. \]

Adding reactions (1) and (3) gives reaction (2), so their constants satisfy \[ \boxed{k_2=k_1k_3}. \]

With concentrations in \(\mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\), these concentration constants have units \(\mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\), no units, and \(\mathrm{dm^3\,mol^{-1}}\), respectively.

5.2 — Description of the graph

Interpret the second row of numerical data as \([\ce{I2}]_{\mathrm{tot}}\), consistently with the experimental description.

Draw the horizontal axis as \([\ce{I^-}]_{\mathrm{tot}}\), from \(0\) to \(50\ \mathrm{mmol\,dm^{-3}}\), and the vertical axis as \([\ce{I2}]_{\mathrm{tot}}\), from \(0\) to about \(26\ \mathrm{mmol\,dm^{-3}}\). Plot the five points, with both coordinates in \(\mathrm{mmol\,dm^{-3}}\): \[ (10.00,5.85),\quad (20.00,10.53),\quad (30.00,15.11),\quad (40.00,19.96),\quad (50.00,24.82). \]

Draw a straight best-fit line through the group of points and extend it to the vertical axis.

For a numerical check, let \(x\) and \(y\) be the numerical concentrations in \(\mathrm{mmol\,dm^{-3}}\). Then \[ \bar{x}=30.00,\qquad \bar{y}=15.254, \] and the least-squares slope is \[ m=\frac{\sum_i(x_i-\bar{x})(y_i-\bar{y})} {\sum_i(x_i-\bar{x})^2} =\frac{473.7}{1000}=0.4737. \] The intercept is \[ b=\bar{y}-m\bar{x} =15.254-0.4737(30.00)=1.043. \]

Thus the line crosses the vertical axis at \(1.043\ \mathrm{mmol\,dm^{-3}}\) and passes through approximately \((50.00,24.73)\).

5.3 — Relation between the total concentrations

Each triiodide ion forms from one iodine molecule and one iodide ion. The analytical iodide balance is therefore \[ \boxed{ [\ce{I^-}]_{\mathrm{tot}} =[\ce{I^-}]+[\ce{I3^-}] }. \]

The iodine titration measures iodine equivalents. The balanced titration reactions are \[ \ce{I2 + 2S2O3^2- -> 2I^- + S4O6^2-} \] and \[ \ce{I3^- + 2S2O3^2- -> 3I^- + S4O6^2-}. \]

One mole of either iodine or triiodide consumes two moles of thiosulphate. Consequently, each mole of triiodide contributes one mole to the measured total iodine solubility: \[ \boxed{ [\ce{I2}]_{\mathrm{tot}} =[\ce{I2}]+[\ce{I3^-}] }. \]

From reaction (2), \[ [\ce{I3^-}]=k_2[\ce{I^-}]. \] Substitution into the iodide balance gives \[ [\ce{I^-}]_{\mathrm{tot}} =(1+k_2)[\ce{I^-}], \] so \[ [\ce{I3^-}] =\frac{k_2}{1+k_2}[\ce{I^-}]_{\mathrm{tot}}. \]

Since \([\ce{I2}]=k_1\), \[ \boxed{ [\ce{I2}]_{\mathrm{tot}} =k_1+\frac{k_2}{1+k_2}[\ce{I^-}]_{\mathrm{tot}} }. \]

Using \(k_2=k_1k_3\), the equivalent expression is \[ \boxed{ [\ce{I2}]_{\mathrm{tot}} =k_1+\frac{k_1k_3}{1+k_1k_3}[\ce{I^-}]_{\mathrm{tot}} }. \]

This explains the observed straight line: its intercept is \(k_1\), and its slope is \(k_2/(1+k_2)\).

5.4 — Determination of the equilibrium constants

The intercept gives \[ k_1=1.043\ \mathrm{mmol\,dm^{-3}} =1.043\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}, \] or approximately \[ \boxed{k_1\approx1.04\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}}. \]

From the slope, \[ m=\frac{k_2}{1+k_2} \quad\Longrightarrow\quad k_2=\frac{m}{1-m}. \] Therefore, \[ k_2=\frac{0.4737}{1-0.4737} =\frac{0.4737}{0.5263} =0.900057\ldots, \] giving \[ \boxed{k_2\approx0.900}. \]

Finally, \[ k_3=\frac{k_2}{k_1} =\frac{0.900057\ldots} {1.043\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}}, \] so \[ \boxed{k_3\approx8.63\times10^2\ \mathrm{dm^3\,mol^{-1}}}. \]

The solution was checked against the official solution.