IChO 1983 · Theory problem 1

Short questions A-J in inorganic and general chemistry

A) Describe the thermal decomposition of the following ammonium salts in terms of chemical equations:

Figure 1

B) Indicate the right answer:

a) Can the molar mass be determined by measuring the density of a gaseous compound at a given temperature and pressure?

  1. Yes, under any conditions.
  2. Yes, if the gaseous compound does not dissociate and associate.
  3. Yes, if the gaseous compound does not dissociate.
  4. Yes, if the gaseous compound does not associate.

b) Is a liquid boiling at a constant temperature (at a given pressure) a pure substance?

  1. Yes, if the liquid is not azeotropic.
  2. Yes, if the liquid is azeotropic.

C) Complete and balance the following equation: (in \(\ce{H2O}\))

Figure 2

D) The solubility of \(\ce{Hg2Cl2}\) in water is \(3.0\times10^{-5}\) g/100 ml solution.

a) What is the solubility product?

b) What is the solubility (in mol dm\(^{-3}\)) of this substance in a 0.01 M \(\ce{NaCl}\) solution?

c) What is the volume of a 0.01 M \(\ce{NaCl}\) solution which dissolves the same quantity of mercurous chloride as that dissolved in one litre of pure water?

\(A_\mathrm{r}(\ce{Hg})=200.61\qquad A_\mathrm{r}(\ce{Cl})=35.45\)

E) Which of the following groups contains solid compounds at \(10\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\)?

a) \(\ce{H2O, NH3, CH4}\)

b) \(\ce{F2, Cl2, Br2}\)

c) \(\ce{SO3, I2, NaCl}\)

d) \(\ce{Si, S8, Hg}\)

F) Which of the following salts forms an acidic aqueous solution?

a) \(\ce{CH3COONa}\)

b) \(\ce{NH4Cl}\)

c) \(\ce{Na2HPO4}\)

d) \(\ce{Na2CO3}\)

e) \(\ce{NaHCO3}\)

G) Write the electronic formulas for the following compounds so that the nature of the chemical bonds is evident:

a) \(\ce{NaClO3}\), b) \(\ce{HClO3}\), c) \(\ce{SiF4}\), d) \(\ce{NH3}\), e) \(\ce{CaF2}\), f) \(\ce{H2O}\)

H) Solid perchloric acid is usually written as \(\ce{HClO4.H2O}\). Based on experimental data showing four equal bonds, suggest a structure accounting for the experimental result.

I) The compounds of the second row elements with hydrogen are as follows: \(\ce{LiH, BeH2, B2H6, CH4, NH3, H2O, HF}\).

a) Which compounds are solid at room temperature? Explain.

b) Which of them are ionic?

c) Which are polymeric?

d) Which ones do not react with water under normal conditions?

e) Give products of the following reactions.

Figure 3

f) Supposing that \(\ce{NH3}\), \(\ce{H2O}\) and \(\ce{HF}\) are acids under some conditions, write their corresponding conjugated bases and arrange them in order of increasing basic strength.

J) The following \(E^0\) values are given for the half-reactions:

Figure 4

Calculate \(E^0\) for the following reaction:

Figure 5

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

Names and SMILES are supplied with the corresponding explanations in the Solution.

  • A(a) \[ \ce{2NH4ClO4 ->[\Delta] N2 + Cl2 + 2O2 + 4H2O} \]

  • A(b) Initially: \[ \ce{(NH4)2SO4 ->[\Delta] NH3 + NH4HSO4} \] An overall equation for stronger heating is: \[ \ce{3(NH4)2SO4 ->[\Delta] 4NH3 + N2 + 3SO2 + 6H2O} \]

  • A(c) \[ \ce{(NH4)2S2O8 ->[\Delta] N2 + 2SO2 + 4H2O} \]

  • A(d) \[ \ce{NH4NO2 ->[\Delta] N2 + 2H2O} \]

  • B(a) 2, under the usual ideal-gas assumption.

  • B(b) 1.

  • C) \[ \boxed{\ce{K2Cr2O7 + 3SnCl2 + 14HCl -> 2CrCl3 + 3SnCl4 + 2KCl + 7H2O}} \]

  • D(a) \(K_\mathrm{sp}=1.0\times10^{-18}\), using concentrations expressed in \(\mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\).

  • D(b) \(s=1.0\times10^{-14}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\).
  • D(c) \(V=6.2\times10^7\ \mathrm{dm^3}=6.2\times10^7\ \mathrm{L}\).

  • E) c): \(\ce{SO3, I2, NaCl}\).

  • F) b): ammonium chloride, \(\ce{NH4Cl}\).

  • G(a) Separate \(\ce{Na+}\) and \(\ce{ClO3-}\) ions; covalent bonds within the trigonal-pyramidal chlorate ion.

  • G(b) \(\ce{H-O-Cl(=O)2}\), with one lone pair on chlorine; polar covalent bonds.
  • G(c) Tetrahedral \(\ce{SiF4}\), with four single bonds and three lone pairs on each fluorine.
  • G(d) Trigonal-pyramidal \(\ce{NH3}\), with three single bonds and one lone pair on nitrogen.
  • G(e) Separate \(\ce{Ca^2+}\) and two \(\ce{F-}\) ions; ionic bonding.
  • G(f) Bent \(\ce{H2O}\), with two single bonds and two lone pairs on oxygen.

  • H) Hydronium perchlorate, \(\ce{[H3O]+[ClO4]-}\), containing a tetrahedral perchlorate ion with four equivalent chlorine–oxygen bonds.

  • I(a) \(\ce{LiH}\) and \(\ce{BeH2}\).

  • I(b) \(\ce{LiH}\).
  • I(c) \(\ce{BeH2}\).
  • I(d) \(\ce{CH4}\); also \(\ce{H2O}\) in the trivial sense of adding water to water.
  • I(e) \[ \begin{gathered} \ce{BeH2 + 2H2O -> Be(OH)2 + 2H2}\\ \ce{B2H6 + 6H2O -> 2B(OH)3 + 6H2}\\ \ce{B2H6 + 2LiH -> 2LiBH4} \end{gathered} \]
  • I(f) The conjugate bases are \(\ce{NH2-}\), \(\ce{OH-}\), and \(\ce{F-}\), respectively. Increasing basic strength: \[ \boxed{\ce{F- < OH- < NH2-}} \]

  • J) \[ \boxed{E_3^0=1.265\ \mathrm{V}\approx1.27\ \mathrm{V}} \]

Solution

SMILES below describe molecular connectivity or the constituent ions of a salt. They do not show lone pairs, resonance delocalization, hydrogen bonding, or crystal lattices. Formula-unit and schematic representations of extended or multicentre structures are identified explicitly.

A) Thermal decomposition

The equations below are conventional overall descriptions. Heating can proceed through intermediate stages, particularly for ammonium sulfate.

A(a) Ammonium perchlorate, [NH4+].[O-]Cl(=O)(=O)=O:

\[ \ce{2NH4ClO4 ->[\Delta] N2 + Cl2 + 2O2 + 4H2O} \]

This is internal oxidation–reduction. Nitrogen changes from oxidation state \(-3\) to \(0\), chlorine from \(+7\) to \(0\), and some oxygen from \(-2\) to \(0\). The equation conserves every element and balances the electron transfers.

A(b) Ammonium sulfate, [NH4+].[NH4+].[O-]S(=O)(=O)[O-], first loses ammonia:

\[ \ce{(NH4)2SO4 ->[\Delta] NH3 + NH4HSO4} \]

The residual salt is ammonium hydrogen sulfate, [NH4+].OS(=O)(=O)[O-].

On stronger heating, an overall decomposition equation is:

\[ \ce{3(NH4)2SO4 ->[\Delta] 4NH3 + N2 + 3SO2 + 6H2O} \]

Two of the six nitrogen atoms are oxidized from \(-3\) to \(0\), releasing six electrons. The three sulfur atoms are reduced from \(+6\) to \(+4\), accepting six electrons. The remaining nitrogen leaves as ammonia.

A(c) Ammonium peroxodisulfate, [NH4+].[NH4+].[O-]S(=O)(=O)OOS(=O)(=O)[O-]:

\[ \ce{(NH4)2S2O8 ->[\Delta] N2 + 2SO2 + 4H2O} \]

The anion contains an oxygen–oxygen peroxide linkage. Its two peroxide oxygen atoms have oxidation state \(-1\); its other oxygen atoms have oxidation state \(-2\).

The two nitrogen atoms release six electrons on oxidation to nitrogen. Reduction of the two sulfur atoms from \(+6\) to \(+4\) consumes four electrons, and reduction of the two peroxide oxygen atoms to \(-2\) consumes the remaining two.

A(d) Ammonium nitrite, [NH4+].[O-]N=O:

\[ \ce{NH4NO2 ->[\Delta] N2 + 2H2O} \]

The nitrogen atoms initially have oxidation states \(-3\) and \(+3\). They combine to form nitrogen in oxidation state \(0\).

The product identities used in A are:

Species Name SMILES
\(\ce{N2}\) Nitrogen N#N
\(\ce{Cl2}\) Chlorine ClCl
\(\ce{O2}\) Oxygen O=O
\(\ce{H2O}\) Water O
\(\ce{NH3}\) Ammonia N
\(\ce{SO2}\) Sulfur dioxide O=S=O

B) Physical properties and composition

B(a) For an ideal gas,

\[ pV=nRT=\frac{m}{M}RT. \]

Since \(\rho=m/V\),

\[ \boxed{M=\frac{\rho RT}{p}}. \]

Association or dissociation changes the number of gas particles corresponding to a given mass. The density then gives an apparent average molar mass of the equilibrium mixture, rather than directly giving the molar mass of the original compound. Thus option 2 is intended.

If nonideality matters, a known compressibility factor \(Z\) is also required:

\[ M=\frac{\rho ZRT}{p}. \]

B(b) A pure liquid boils at a fixed temperature at fixed pressure. However, an azeotropic mixture also boils at a constant temperature because its equilibrium vapour has the same composition as the liquid.

Consequently, constant boiling temperature indicates purity only after excluding an azeotrope: option 1.

C) Dichromate oxidation of tin(II)

The reduction and oxidation half-reactions are:

\[ \ce{Cr2O7^2- + 14H+ + 6e- -> 2Cr^3+ + 7H2O} \]

\[ \ce{Sn^2+ -> Sn^4+ + 2e-}. \]

Multiplying the second equation by three and adding gives:

\[ \ce{Cr2O7^2- + 14H+ + 3Sn^2+ -> 2Cr^3+ + 3Sn^4+ + 7H2O}. \]

Hydrochloric acid supplies the required acidity and chloride. Restoring the potassium and chloride ions gives:

\[ \boxed{\ce{K2Cr2O7 + 3SnCl2 + 14HCl -> 2CrCl3 + 3SnCl4 + 2KCl + 7H2O}}. \]

There are 20 chlorine atoms on each side: \(6+14=6+12+2\).

Substance Name SMILES
\(\ce{K2Cr2O7}\) Potassium dichromate [K+].[K+].[O-][Cr](=O)(=O)O[Cr](=O)(=O)[O-]
\(\ce{SnCl2}\) Tin(II) chloride [Sn+2].[Cl-].[Cl-]
\(\ce{HCl}\) Hydrogen chloride; hydrochloric acid in water Cl
\(\ce{CrCl3}\) Chromium(III) chloride [Cr+3].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-]
\(\ce{SnCl4}\) Tin(IV) chloride Cl[Sn](Cl)(Cl)Cl
\(\ce{KCl}\) Potassium chloride [K+].[Cl-]

The half-reaction species are dichromate ion [O-][Cr](=O)(=O)O[Cr](=O)(=O)[O-], chromium(III) ion [Cr+3], tin(II) ion [Sn+2], tin(IV) ion [Sn+4], and hydrogen ion [H+]. The aqueous hydrogen ion is solvated; the bare-proton notation is conventional shorthand.

D) Solubility of mercury(I) chloride

Mercury(I) chloride, or calomel, has the structural-unit SMILES Cl[Hg][Hg]Cl. Its dissolution equilibrium is:

\[ \ce{Hg2Cl2(s) <=> Hg2^2+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq)}. \]

The mercury(I) cation is the bonded dimer \(\ce{Hg2^2+}\), [Hg+][Hg+]; chloride ion is [Cl-].

We use the concentration approximation to activities and the dissolution equilibrium specified by the problem.

D(a) The molar mass is

\[ M(\ce{Hg2Cl2}) =2(200.61)+2(35.45) =472.12\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

The mass solubility is

\[ \frac{3.0\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{g}}{0.100\ \mathrm{dm^3}} =3.0\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm{g\,dm^{-3}}. \]

Thus the molar solubility in pure water is

\[ s_0= \frac{3.0\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm{g\,dm^{-3}}} {472.12\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}} =6.3543\times10^{-7}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \]

Because

\[ [\ce{Hg2^2+}]=s_0,\qquad [\ce{Cl-}]=2s_0, \]

the concentration-form solubility product is

\[ K_\mathrm{sp}=[\ce{Hg2^2+}][\ce{Cl-}]^2 =s_0(2s_0)^2=4s_0^3. \]

Therefore,

\[ K_\mathrm{sp}=1.0263\times10^{-18}\ \mathrm{mol^3\,dm^{-9}} \approx\boxed{1.0\times10^{-18}\ \mathrm{mol^3\,dm^{-9}}}. \]

The corresponding thermodynamic equilibrium constant is dimensionless when activities are referenced to the standard concentration.

D(b) Sodium chloride, [Na+].[Cl-], supplies the common chloride ion. If the new solubility is \(s\),

\[ K_\mathrm{sp}=s(0.010+2s)^2. \]

Since \(2s\ll0.010\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\),

\[ s\approx\frac{1.0263\times10^{-18}}{(0.010)^2} =1.0263\times10^{-14}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \]

Hence

\[ \boxed{s=1.0\times10^{-14}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}}. \]

The added chloride from dissolution is only about \(2\times10^{-12}\) of the initial chloride concentration, validating the approximation.

D(c) One litre of pure water dissolves

\[ n=s_0(1.000\ \mathrm{dm^3}) =6.3543\times10^{-7}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

The volume of sodium chloride solution required to dissolve this amount is

\[ V=\frac{n}{s} =\frac{6.3543\times10^{-7}\ \mathrm{mol}} {1.0263\times10^{-14}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}} =6.1916\times10^7\ \mathrm{dm^3}. \]

Thus

\[ \boxed{V=6.2\times10^7\ \mathrm{L}}. \]

E) Physical states at \(10\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\)

At ordinary atmospheric pressure:

Group Substances, names and SMILES States at \(10\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\)
a Water O; ammonia N; methane C Liquid; gas; gas
b Fluorine FF; chlorine ClCl; bromine BrBr Gas; gas; liquid
c Sulfur trioxide O=S(=O)=O; iodine II; sodium chloride [Na+].[Cl-] All solid
d Silicon [Si]; cyclooctasulfur S1SSSSSSS1; mercury [Hg] Solid; solid; liquid

Therefore group c is correct.

The sulfur trioxide SMILES describes the monomeric unit; its solid forms can contain associated or polymeric structures. The silicon and mercury symbols likewise do not encode their extended condensed phases.

F) Acidic salt solution

The answer is ammonium chloride, [NH4+].[Cl-].

Ammonium ion, [NH4+], is the conjugate acid of ammonia and transfers a proton to water:

\[ \ce{NH4+ + H2O <=> NH3 + H3O+}. \]

Production of hydronium ion, [OH3+], makes the solution acidic. Chloride contributes negligible basicity in water.

The other choices give basic solutions:

Salt Name and SMILES Reason
\(\ce{CH3COONa}\) Sodium acetate, CC(=O)[O-].[Na+] Acetate accepts a proton from water.
\(\ce{Na2HPO4}\) Disodium hydrogen phosphate, [Na+].[Na+].OP(=O)([O-])[O-] Hydrogen phosphate is amphiprotic, with basic behaviour predominating.
\(\ce{Na2CO3}\) Sodium carbonate, [Na+].[Na+].[O-]C(=O)[O-] Carbonate accepts a proton from water.
\(\ce{NaHCO3}\) Sodium hydrogen carbonate, [Na+].OC(=O)[O-] Hydrogen carbonate is amphiprotic, but its solution is mildly basic.

G) Electronic formulas and bonding

G(a) Sodium chlorate

The constituent ions are sodium ion [Na+] and chlorate ion [O-]Cl(=O)=O.

Draw a separate sodium cation and a bracketed chlorate anion. In a conventional expanded-valence Lewis contributor:

  • Chlorine is central and has one lone pair.
  • Two oxygen atoms have double bonds to chlorine and two lone pairs each.
  • The third oxygen has a single bond, three lone pairs, and formal charge \(-1\).

There are three equivalent resonance contributors, obtained by exchanging the singly bonded oxygen. The ion is trigonal pyramidal. Bonding between the ions is ionic; bonding within chlorate is polar covalent. The SMILES records one contributor rather than the delocalized structure.

G(b) Chloric acid

Chloric acid has SMILES OCl(=O)=O and conventional Lewis connectivity

\[ \ce{H-O-Cl(=O)2}. \]

Draw hydrogen bonded to oxygen, not directly to chlorine. Chlorine has one lone pair, and each oxygen has two lone pairs. All bonds within this molecular representation are polar covalent.

G(c) Silicon tetrafluoride

Silicon tetrafluoride has SMILES F[Si](F)(F)F.

Draw silicon at the centre with four single bonds to fluorine. Each fluorine has three lone pairs; silicon has no lone pairs. The molecular geometry is tetrahedral, and the bonds are polar covalent. The tetrahedral geometry is not specified by the plain SMILES.

G(d) Ammonia

Ammonia has SMILES N.

Draw three nitrogen–hydrogen single bonds and one lone pair on nitrogen. Four electron domains give a trigonal-pyramidal molecular geometry. The bonds are polar covalent.

G(e) Calcium fluoride

Calcium fluoride has ionic formula-unit SMILES [Ca+2].[F-].[F-].

Draw one calcium ion, [Ca+2], and two separate fluoride ions, [F-]. Each fluoride has four lone pairs, completing its octet. The solid is an ionic lattice; it is not a discrete three-atom molecule.

G(f) Water

Water has SMILES O.

Draw two oxygen–hydrogen single bonds and two lone pairs on oxygen. Its molecular geometry is bent, and its bonds are polar covalent.

H) Structure of solid perchloric acid monohydrate

Perchloric acid, OCl(=O)(=O)=O, transfers a proton to water:

\[ \ce{HClO4 + H2O -> H3O+ + ClO4-}. \]

The solid is therefore formulated as hydronium perchlorate:

\[ \boxed{\ce{[H3O]+[ClO4]-}} \]

with formula-unit SMILES [OH3+].[O-]Cl(=O)(=O)=O.

Draw a trigonal-pyramidal hydronium cation, [OH3+], and a separate tetrahedral perchlorate anion, [O-]Cl(=O)(=O)=O. In the perchlorate ion, the four oxygen positions are equivalent and the bonding is delocalized over all four chlorine–oxygen connections.

In conventional Lewis notation, four equivalent contributors interchange the singly bonded, negatively charged oxygen. The displayed SMILES represents only one contributor. Hydrogen bonding between the ions is also absent from that notation.

This ionic formulation accounts for four equivalent chlorine–oxygen bonds without assigning one oxygen a distinct covalently attached acidic hydrogen.

I) Hydrides of the second-period elements

The additional species needed here are:

Substance Name SMILES or qualified representation
\(\ce{LiH}\) Lithium hydride [Li+].[H-]
\(\ce{BeH2}\) Beryllium hydride [BeH2], formula-unit representation only
\(\ce{B2H6}\) Diborane [H]1[BH2][H][BH2]1, schematic bridge-connectivity representation only
\(\ce{CH4}\) Methane C
\(\ce{HF}\) Hydrogen fluoride F

Diborane has four terminal hydrogens and two bridging hydrogens. Each bridge forms a three-centre, two-electron bond involving two boron atoms and one hydrogen. The schematic string above must not be interpreted as eight ordinary two-centre, two-electron bonds; ordinary SMILES cannot faithfully encode this bonding.

I(a) The room-temperature solids are lithium hydride and beryllium hydride.

Lithium hydride forms an ionic lattice with strong electrostatic attractions. Beryllium hydride forms an extended covalent network, so melting or vaporization requires disruption of extensive bonding. The remaining hydrides are small molecular substances; under ordinary room conditions they are gases or, for water, a liquid.

I(b) Lithium hydride is ionic:

\[ \ce{LiH = Li+H-}. \]

Its ions are lithium ion [Li+] and hydride ion [H-].

I(c) Beryllium hydride is polymeric, conventionally written \(\ce{(BeH2)_{n}}\). Beryllium is surrounded by bridging hydrogens in an extended network with electron-deficient multicentre bonding. The isolated formula-unit SMILES does not show that network.

Diborane is a discrete bridged molecule.

I(d) Methane does not react with water under normal conditions. Water itself is also unchanged on mixing with water, apart from its usual self-ionization equilibrium.

The other hydrides are reactive: lithium hydride, beryllium hydride and diborane undergo hydrolysis; ammonia and hydrogen fluoride participate in acid–base equilibria:

\[ \ce{NH3 + H2O <=> NH4+ + OH-} \]

\[ \ce{HF + H2O <=> H3O+ + F-}. \]

Hydroxide is [OH-], and fluoride is [F-].

I(e) The balanced reactions are:

\[ \boxed{\ce{BeH2 + 2H2O -> Be(OH)2 + 2H2}} \]

\[ \boxed{\ce{B2H6 + 6H2O -> 2B(OH)3 + 6H2}} \]

\[ \boxed{\ce{B2H6 + 2LiH -> 2LiBH4}}. \]

The product identities are:

Product Name SMILES
\(\ce{Be(OH)2}\) Beryllium hydroxide O[Be]O, formula-unit representation
\(\ce{H2}\) Hydrogen [H][H]
\(\ce{B(OH)3}\) Boric acid OB(O)O
\(\ce{LiBH4}\) Lithium borohydride [Li+].[BH4-]

In the hydrolysis reactions, hydridic hydrogen combines with hydrogen from water to produce hydrogen gas. In the final reaction, hydride addition to diborane produces two tetrahedral borohydride ions, [BH4-].

I(f) Removal of one proton gives:

Acid Conjugate base Base name and SMILES
\(\ce{NH3}\) \(\ce{NH2-}\) Amide ion, [NH2-]
\(\ce{H2O}\) \(\ce{OH-}\) Hydroxide ion, [OH-]
\(\ce{HF}\) \(\ce{F-}\) Fluoride ion, [F-]

Acid strength increases from ammonia through water to hydrogen fluoride. Conjugate-base strength therefore decreases in that direction:

\[ \boxed{\text{Increasing basic strength: }\ce{F- < OH- < NH2-}}. \]

The amide ion is sufficiently basic to deprotonate water:

\[ \ce{NH2- + H2O -> NH3 + OH-}. \]

J) Standard reduction potential

The relevant species are permanganate ion [O-][Mn](=O)(=O)=O, manganese(IV) oxide O=[Mn]=O as a formula-unit representation of its extended solid, and manganese(II) ion [Mn+2].

The five-electron reduction is the sum of the three-electron and two-electron reductions:

\[ \ce{MnO4- + 4H+ + 3e- -> MnO2 + 2H2O} \]

\[ \ce{MnO2 + 4H+ + 2e- -> Mn^2+ + 2H2O}. \]

Standard Gibbs energies are additive, with

\[ \Delta G^0=-nFE^0. \]

Therefore,

\[ -5FE_1^0=-3FE_2^0-2FE_3^0, \]

so

\[ E_3^0=\frac{5E_1^0-3E_2^0}{2}. \]

Substituting the supplied values:

\[ E_3^0 =\frac{5(1.52)-3(1.69)}{2}\ \mathrm{V} =\frac{7.60-5.07}{2}\ \mathrm{V} =1.265\ \mathrm{V}. \]

Thus

\[ \boxed{E_3^0\approx1.27\ \mathrm{V}}. \]

The solution was checked against the official solution.