IChO 1985 · Theory 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.

Answers

  • 3.1: \([\ce{Ca^2+}]=7.8\times10^{-3}\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}\).
  • 3.2: \([\ce{Ca^2+}]=1.0\times10^{-6}\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}\).
  • 3.3: Approximately \(0.10\,\mathrm{mol}\) dissolves. The resulting free-ion concentrations are \([\ce{Ca^2+}]\approx6.1\times10^{-4}\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}\) and \([\ce{SO4^2-}]\approx0.10\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}\). Retaining the small additional dissolution gives \(0.100606\ldots\,\mathrm{mol}\) and the same numerical sulphate concentration in \(\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}\).
  • 3.4: The calcium(II)–EDTA ion, \(\ce{[Ca(EDTA)]^2-}\), has EDTA bound through two cis nitrogen donors and four carboxylate oxygen donors, forming an approximately octahedral, hexadentate complex. Its stereochemical SMILES and drawing instructions appear below.
  • 3.5: Yes. The proposed structure is chiral and has a non-superimposable mirror-image enantiomer, specified below. A racemic mixture has no net optical rotation.
  • 3.6: Its exceptional stability arises from the chelate effect, six donor–metal interactions, five five-membered chelate rings, and favorable attraction between calcium and the negatively charged oxygen donors.

Solution

Write \(\ce{Y^4-}\) for the ethylenediaminetetraacetate ion and \(\ce{[CaY]^2-}\) for its calcium complex.

The relevant species have the following names and SMILES. The calcium sulphate entry represents an ionic formula unit, not a discrete molecule or its crystal lattice.

Species Name SMILES
\(\ce{C10H16N2O8}\) Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid O=C(O)CN(CC(=O)O)CCN(CC(=O)O)CC(=O)O
\(\ce{Y^4-}\) Ethylenediaminetetraacetate ion O=C([O-])CN(CC(=O)[O-])CCN(CC(=O)[O-])CC(=O)[O-]
\(\ce{Ca^2+}\) Calcium(II) ion [Ca+2]
\(\ce{SO4^2-}\) Sulphate ion [O-]S(=O)(=O)[O-]
\(\ce{CaSO4}\) Calcium sulphate [Ca+2].[O-]S(=O)(=O)[O-]

3.1 — Saturated calcium sulphate solution

The dissolution equilibrium is

\[ \ce{CaSO4(s) <=> Ca^2+(aq) + SO4^2-(aq)}. \]

Let the molar solubility in water be \(s_0\). Each mole dissolved produces one mole of each ion, so

\[ [\ce{Ca^2+}]=[\ce{SO4^2-}]=s_0. \]

Thus

\[ s_0^2=K_s, \qquad s_0=\sqrt{6.1\times10^{-5}} =7.810\ldots\times10^{-3}\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}. \]

Therefore,

\[ \boxed{[\ce{Ca^2+}]=7.8\times10^{-3}\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}}. \]

3.2 — Dissociation of the calcium–EDTA complex

The equilibrium is

\[ \ce{[CaY]^2- <=> Ca^2+ + Y^4-}. \]

Let \(C=0.1\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}\) be the analytical complex concentration and \(x\) the concentration dissociated. Ignoring ligand protonation,

\[ [\ce{Ca^2+}]=[\ce{Y^4-}]=x, \qquad [\ce{[CaY]^2-}]=C-x. \]

The given formation constant gives

\[ K=\frac{C-x}{x^2}, \qquad Kx^2+x-C=0. \]

Because the complex is very stable, \(x\ll C\), giving

\[ x\simeq\sqrt{\frac{C}{K}} =\sqrt{\frac{0.1}{1.0\times10^{11}}} =1.0\times10^{-6}\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}. \]

Here \(x/C=10^{-5}\), so neglecting \(x\) relative to \(C\) is justified.

\[ \boxed{[\ce{Ca^2+}]=1.0\times10^{-6}\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}}. \]

3.3 — Dissolution in strongly alkaline EDTA solution

Dissolution and complex formation occur together:

\[ \ce{CaSO4(s) <=> Ca^2+ + SO4^2-}, \]

\[ \ce{Ca^2+ + Y^4- <=> [CaY]^2-}. \]

Adding these gives

\[ \ce{CaSO4(s) + Y^4- <=> [CaY]^2- + SO4^2-}, \]

whose equilibrium constant is

\[ K_{\mathrm{net}}=K_sK =(6.1\times10^{-5})(1.0\times10^{11}) =6.1\times10^6. \]

Complex formation therefore greatly increases dissolution.

Assume excess solid is available and the solution volume remains \(1\,\mathrm L\). Define

\[ c=[\ce{Ca^2+}],\quad b=[\ce{[CaY]^2-}],\quad \ell=[\ce{Y^4-}],\quad s=[\ce{SO4^2-}], \]

and let \(C_L=0.1\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}\) be the total ligand concentration.

The ligand and calcium balances are

\[ b+\ell=C_L, \qquad s=b+c. \]

The equilibrium equations are

\[ cs=K_s, \qquad b=Kc\ell. \]

Combining the ligand balance with complex formation gives

\[ b=\frac{C_LKc}{1+Kc}. \]

Consequently, the exact equation for free calcium is

\[ c\left(c+\frac{C_LKc}{1+Kc}\right)=K_s. \]

Almost all EDTA is complexed, so initially take \(b\simeq C_L\). Then

\[ c(c+C_L)\simeq K_s, \]

and therefore

\[ c\simeq \frac{\sqrt{C_L^2+4K_s}-C_L}{2} =6.0632\times10^{-4}\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}. \]

This approximation is consistent because

\[ Kc\simeq6.1\times10^7\gg1. \]

Indeed, the remaining free ligand concentration is only

\[ \ell=\frac{C_L}{1+Kc} \simeq1.65\times10^{-9}\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}. \]

Using the full balances gives the following numerical values, with extra digits retained only to show the small correction:

\[ \begin{aligned} c&=0.000606323725\ldots\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}},\\ b&=0.099999998351\ldots\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}},\\ s&=b+c=0.100606322076\ldots\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}. \end{aligned} \]

Thus

\[ n(\ce{CaSO4})=sV =0.100606322076\ldots\,\mathrm{mol} \approx0.10\,\mathrm{mol}. \]

The requested free-ion concentrations are

\[ \boxed{[\ce{Ca^2+}]\approx6.1\times10^{-4}\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}}, \]

\[ \boxed{[\ce{SO4^2-}]\approx0.10\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}}. \]

The total dissolved calcium concentration is \(s\), whereas the free calcium concentration is only \(c\).

3.4 — Structure of the calcium–EDTA ion

EDTA supplies six donor atoms:

  • The two tertiary amine nitrogen atoms, each donating a lone pair.
  • One oxygen atom from each of the four carboxylate groups.

It therefore acts as a hexadentate ligand. Under the stipulated octahedral model, these six donors occupy the six vertices around calcium. The nitrogen donors are cis, allowing their ethylene bridge to form a five-membered chelate ring.

A precise drawing can be specified as follows. Put calcium at the origin, with the \(xy\)-plane as the page and \(+z\) pointing toward the viewer. Label the nitrogen donors \(N_A,N_B\); label the two oxygen donors belonging to arms attached to each nitrogen \(O_{A1},O_{A2}\) and \(O_{B1},O_{B2}\).

Donor Position in enantiomer A
\(N_A\) \(+x\): right
\(N_B\) \(+y\): above
\(O_{A1}\) \(-y\): below
\(O_{A2}\) \(+z\): toward the viewer
\(O_{B1}\) \(-x\): left
\(O_{B2}\) \(-z\): behind the page

Draw bonds from calcium to all six donors, using a solid wedge for the forward oxygen and a hashed wedge for the rear oxygen. Connect the two nitrogen atoms through the \(\ce{-CH2-CH2-}\) bridge. Connect each nitrogen to its two designated oxygen donors through separate \(\ce{N-CH2-C(=O)-O^-}\) arms. The carbonyl oxygen of each arm is not coordinated in this model.

Calcium(II)–ethylenediaminetetraacetate ion, enantiomer A, has the coordination SMILES:

[Ca@OH1+2]12345<-N(CC(=O)[O-]->2)(CC(=O)[O-]->3)CCN->4(CC(=O)[O-]->1)CC(=O)[O-]->5

Here the arrows denote donor-to-metal coordinate bonds, and @OH1 is an extended SMILES octahedral stereochemical descriptor. This notation specifies connectivity and configuration, but not exact bond lengths, chelate-ring puckering, or departures from a regular octahedron.

3.5 — Optical activity and the other enantiomer

Yes. The arrangement described above is chiral: its mirror image cannot be superimposed on it by rotating the complete complex while preserving the ligand connections. These opposite coordination configurations form a \(\Delta/\Lambda\) enantiomeric pair.

To draw the other enantiomer, reflect the entire structure through the plane of the page:

  • Keep \(N_A,N_B,O_{A1}\), and \(O_{B1}\) at their stated positions.
  • Put \(O_{A2}\) behind the page, at \(-z\).
  • Put \(O_{B2}\) toward the viewer, at \(+z\).
  • Preserve all nitrogen–arm connections and reflect the associated ligand backbone.

Thus the forward and rear oxygen donors exchange positions, with their attached arms reflected accordingly.

Calcium(II)–ethylenediaminetetraacetate ion, enantiomer B, has the coordination SMILES:

[Ca@OH2+2]12345<-N(CC(=O)[O-]->2)(CC(=O)[O-]->3)CCN->4(CC(=O)[O-]->1)CC(=O)[O-]->5

For this same SMILES atom order, changing @OH1 to @OH2 specifies the opposite octahedral configuration. A racemic mixture of the two enantiomers is optically inactive.

3.6 — Origin of the exceptional stability

The principal explanation is the chelate effect.

One EDTA ion makes six donor–metal interactions and forms five five-membered chelate rings: four involving the carboxylate arms and one involving the ethylene bridge between the nitrogen atoms. These ring sizes permit favorable binding without excessive ring strain.

After the first donor attaches, the remaining donors are held close to calcium. Their attachment is therefore intramolecular and avoids the repeated translational entropy cost associated with bringing separate ligands to the metal. Binding also releases coordinated solvent molecules into the surrounding solution, which can provide a favorable entropy contribution.

Finally, calcium is a hard Lewis acid and binds favorably to the negatively charged oxygen donors. Together, these interactions and the chelate effect account for the large formation constant.

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