International Chemistry Olympiad

IChO 1985

Bratislava, Czechoslovakia · 8 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Determination of aluminium with 8-hydroxyquinoline and bromate

    A solution was formed from 0.5284 g of a sample of an alloy containing aluminium. The aluminium was then precipitated as aluminium 8-hydroxyquinolate. The precipitate was separated, dissolved in hydrochloric acid and the 8-hydroxyquinoline formed was titrated with a standard solution of potassium bromate containing potassium bromide. The concentration of the standard potassium bromate solution was 0.0200 M and 17.40 cm³ of it were required. The resultant product is a dibromo derivative of 8-hydroxyquinoline.

    The structural formula of 8-hydroxiquinoline is:

    Figure 1

    The relative atomic mass of aluminium is 26.98.

    Problems:

    1.1 Write the balanced equation for the reaction of the aluminium (III) ion with 8-hydroxyquinoline, showing clearly the structure of the products.

    1.2 Give the name of the type of compound which is formed during the precipitation.

    1.3 Write the balanced equation for the reaction in which bromine is produced.

    1.4 Write the balanced equation for the reaction of bromine with 8-hydroxyquinoline.

    1.5 Calculate the molar ratio of aluminium ions to bromate ions.

    1.6 Calculate the percentage by weight of aluminium in the alloy.

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Dioxygen species O2+, O2- and O2(2-): bond orders, distances and energies

    It is possible to prepare compounds containing ions \(\ce{O2^-}\), \(\ce{O2^{2-}}\) or even \(\ce{O2^+}\). These ions are usually formed from molecules of oxygen during various reactions, as indicated in the scheme below:

    Figure 1

    2.1 Indicate clearly which of the above reactions correspond to the oxidation and which to the reduction of the oxygen molecule.

    2.2 For each of the ions in the scheme give the formula of a compound containing that particular ion.

    2.3 It has been found that one of the species in the scheme is diamagnetic. Which one is it?

    2.4 Copy out the following table:

    Species Bond order Interatomic distance Bonding energy
    \(\ce{O2}\)
    \(\ce{O2^+}\)
    \(\ce{O2^-}\)
    \(\ce{O2^{2-}}\)

    The interatomic distances, \(\ce{O-O}\), in the above species have the values 112, 121, 132 and about 149 pm. Write these values in the appropriate column in the table.

    \(1\ \mathrm{pm}=10^{-12}\ \mathrm{m}\).

    2.5 Three of the bond energies, \(E_{\ce{O-O}}\), have the values approximately 200, 490 and 625 kJ mol\(^{-1}\). The value for one of the species is uncertain and, therefore, not given. Write the values in the appropriate spaces in the table.

    2.6 Determine the bond order for the individual species and write the answers in the table.

    2.7 Is it possible to prepare compounds containing the \(\ce{F2^{2-}}\) ion? Give reasons for your answer.

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Solubility of calcium sulphate and the calcium-EDTA complex

    Calcium sulphate is a sparingly soluble compound. Its solubility product is given by:

    \[ K_s(\ce{CaSO4})=[\ce{Ca^2+}][\ce{SO4^2-}]=6.1\times10^{-5} \]

    Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) has the formula \(\ce{C10H16N2O8}\) and the structure:

    Figure 1

    The anion of this acid, \(\ce{C10H12N2O8^4-}\), forms a stable complex \(\ce{CaC10H12N2O8^2-}\) with calcium ions. The stability constant of this complex ion is given by:

    \[ K=\frac{[\ce{CaC10H12N2O8^2-}]} {[\ce{Ca^2+}][\ce{C10H12N2O8^4-}]} =1.0\times10^{11} \]

    EDTA is completely dissociated in strongly alkaline solution. The equation for this dissociation is:

    \[ \ce{C10H16N2O8 -> 4H+ + C10H12N2O8^4-} \]

    Problems:

    3.1 Calculate the concentration of calcium ions in a saturated solution of calcium sulphate.

    3.2 Calculate the concentration of free \(\ce{Ca^2+}\) cations in a solution of 0.1 M \(\ce{Na2(CaC10H12N2O8)}\). You should ignore any protonation of the ligand.

    3.3 How many moles of calcium sulphate will dissolve in 1 litre of a strongly alkaline solution of 0.1 M \(\ce{Na4C10H12N2O8}\)?

    What would be the concentrations of the calcium and sulphate ions in the resulting solution?

    3.4 Suggest a structure for the complex ion \(\ce{[CaC10H12N2O8]^2-}\) assuming that it is approximately octahedral.

    3.5 Is the structure you have suggested in 4) optically active?

    If your answer is "yes" then draw the structure of the other optical isomer enantiomer).

    3.6 Explain why the complexes formed by the anion \(\ce{C10H12N2O8^4-}\) are exceptionally table.

    Official English text of the problem.

  4. Problem 4: Kinetics of the racemisation of alpha-pinene

    At a temperature around \(200\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\) the racemisation of pinene can be followed in the gaseous phase by measuring the optical rotation.

    If, for example, you take the (+)-enantiomer of α-pinene

    Figure 1

    an equilibrium is gradually established between the two enantiomers (optical isomers). The two opposing reactions are both of the first order.

    In 1927 D. F. Smith obtained the following data in his study of racemisation of α-pinene:

    \(T/\mathrm{K}\) \(\alpha_1\) \(\alpha_2\) \(t/\mathrm{min}\)
    490.9 32.75 18.01 579
    490.9 29.51 15.59 587
    503.9 30.64 8.74 371
    505.4 12.95 8.05 120
    510.1 23.22 6.15 216

    \(\alpha_1\) and \(\alpha_2\) are the values for optical rotation in terms of the dimensions of the polarimeter scale; \(t\) is the time which has elapsed between the two measurements.

    Problems:

    4.1 What is the value for the equilibrium constant for the racemisation?

    What is the corresponding value of \(\Delta_{\mathrm r}G^\circ\) (racemisation)?

    What is the relationship between the forward and backward rate constants, \(k_1\) and \(k_{-1}\), in a state of dynamic equilibrium?

    4.2 State the rate equation for the racemisation of pinene.

    Derive a relationship which could be used to calculate the rate constant for the conversion of the (+)-enantiomer into the (-)-enantiomer using the data given in the table.

    4.3 Calculate the rate constant for this reaction at the four temperatures given in the table.

    4.4 Calculate the average value of the activation energy for this reaction. You should take the average of the values at a minimum of three temperatures or use a graphical method.

    HINT:

    If the loss of concentration of a substance obeys the rate equation:

    \[ -\frac{dc}{dt}=k(2c-\text{constant}) \]

    Then the dependence of concentration on time is given by:

    \[ \ln\frac{2c_0-\text{constant}}{2c-\text{constant}}=2kt \]

    where \(c_0\) is the initial concentration at time \(t=0\).

    Official English text of the problem.

  5. Problem 5: Thermodynamics of a zinc - silver sulphate galvanic cell

    The equilibrium voltage of the cell,

    \[ \ce{Zn}\;/\;\ce{ZnSO4}\;(0.0125\ \mathrm{M}) \;\|\; \ce{Ag2SO4}\;(0.0125\ \mathrm{M})\;/\;\ce{Ag} \]

    was measured at several temperatures and the results of the measurements are given in the following table:

    \(t\,/\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\) 10 20 30
    \(E\,/\,\mathrm{V}\) 1.5784 1.5675 1.5566

    Problems:

    5.1 Give the equation for the reaction occurring in this galvanic cell.

    5.2 Determine the value of the cell voltage at the temperature T = 298 K.

    5.3 Determine \(\Delta_{\mathrm r}G_{298}\) of the cell reaction.

    5.4 Determine \(\Delta_{\mathrm r}H_{298}\) of the cell reaction.

    Official English text of the problem.

  6. Problem 6: Synthesis of a sympathomimetic 2-phenylethylamine derivative from acetophenone

    The following scheme describes the synthesis of a compound D (with sympathomimetic effects) whose skeleton consists of 2-phenylethylamine.

    Figure 1

    Problems:

    6.1 What reagents were used in steps a, b, c, and d?

    6.2 Give the structural formulae of compounds B, C and D.

    6.3 Is it possible to prepare 3-hydroxyacetophenone from the reaction between phenol, acetylchloride and \(\ce{AlCl3}\)? Give reasons for your answer.

    6.4 Give the formulae of the compounds that are formed by the reaction of compound C with a) 10% \(\ce{HCl}\) and b) 10% \(\ce{NaOH}\).

    6.5 By the asterisk denote the chirality centre in the formula of compound D.

    6.6 Give the spatial formula of enantiomer (R) of compound D.

    Official English text of the problem.

  7. Problem 7: Aldol reaction of propanal: intermediate and rate equation

    Propanal, A, reacts in an aqueous-ethanolic solution of sodium hydroxide to yield compound B that is readily dehydrated to give compound C (\(\ce{C6H10O}\)).

    Problems:

    7.1 Give the structural formulae of substances B and C.

    7.2 Give the formula of intermediate M that is formed from propanal A by the action of hydroxide ions.

    7.3 Give the formulae of the two most important mesomeric structures of intermediate M and denote the nonbonding electron pairs and the charge distribution.

    7.4 The reaction of propanal A with sodium hydroxide, producing substance B, can be described by the scheme:

    Figure 1

    The rate of the formation of substance B is given by the equation:

    \[ v=k_2[\mathbf M][\mathbf A] \qquad (1) \]

    The above values of \(k\) are the rate constants for the individual reaction steps.

    Assume that the concentration of intermediate M is small and constant during the reaction and express this fact by an aquation involving terms with constants \(k_1\), \(k_{-1}\) and \(k_2\).

    \[ \frac{d[\mathbf M]}{dt}=0 \qquad (2) \]

    Derive an expression for the concentration of M from equation 2 and then substitute for \([\mathbf M]\) in equation 1. This gives equation 3 which is the complete rate equation for the formation of substance B.

    If it is assumed that the second reaction step is rate determining, then the rearrangement of equation 3 gives equation 4, the rate equation.

    Give equations 2, 3, and 4.

    7.5 Determine the overall order of the reaction described by equation 4.

    Official English text of the problem.

  8. Problem 8: Glycolysis equilibria of glucose-1-phosphate, glucose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate

    The following reaction scheme represents part of anaerobic degradation of saccharides, i.e. the glycolysis, involving equilibrium constants \(K_1\) and \(K_2\):

    Figure 1

    Problems:

    8.1 Give the structural formulae for all the three reactants (compounds) that are mutually interconverted, i.e. α-D-glucose-1-phosphate, α-D-glucose-6-phosphate and α-D-fructose-6-phosphate.

    8.2 In the beginning of the reaction the reaction mixture contained 1 mmol of glucose-6-phosphate. Calculate the amounts of glucose-6-phosphate, glucose-1-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate in the mixture at equilibrium. (As the reaction take place in a constant volume, the ratio of the amounts of substances equals that of their concentrations.)

    Official English text of the problem.