International Chemistry Olympiad

IChO 1988

Espoo, Finland · 6 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Flatlandia: the periodic system of a two-dimensional world

    The periodic system of the elements in our three-dimensional world is based on the four electron quantum numbers \(n = 1, 2, 3,\ldots;\ l = 0, 1,\ldots,n - 1,\ m = 0,\pm 1,\pm 2,\ldots,\pm 1;\) and \(s = \pm 1/2\). In Flatlandia, a two-dimensional world, the periodic system is thus based on three electron quantum numbers: \(n = 1,2,3,\ldots;\ m_l = 0,\pm1,\pm2,\ldots,\pm(n-1);\) and \(s = \pm1/2\) where \(m_l\) plays the combined role of \(l\) and \(m_l\) of the three dimensional world. The following tasks relate to this two-dimensional world, where the chemical and physical experience obtained from our world is supposed to be still applicable.

    1.1 Draw the first four periods of the Flatlandian periodic table of the elements. Number them according to their nuclear charge. Use the atomic numbers (\(Z\)) as symbols of the specific element. Write the electron configuration for each element.

    1.2 Draw the hybrid orbitals of the elements with \(n = 2\). Which element is the basis for the “organic” chemistry in Flatlandia? Find the Flatlandian analogous for ethane, ethene and cyclohexane. What kind of aromatic ring compounds are possible?

    1.3 Which rules in Flatlandia correspond to the octet and the 18-electron rules in the three dimensional world?

    1.4 Predict graphically the trends in the first ionization energies of the Flatlandian elements with \(n = 2\). Show graphically how the electronegativities of the elements increase in the Flatlandian periodic table.

    1.5 Draw the molecular orbital energy diagrams of the neutral homonuclear diatomic molecules of the elements with \(n = 2\). Which of these molecules are stable in Flatlandia?

    1.6 Consider simple binary compounds of the elements (\(n = 2\)) with \(Z = 1\). Draw their Lewis structure, predict their geometries and propose analogues for them in the three-dimensional world.

    1.7 Consider elements with \(n \leq 3\). Propose an analogue and write the chemical symbol from our world for each of these Flatlandian elements. On the basis of this chemical and physical analogue predict which two-dimensional elements are solid, liquid or gaseous at normal pressure and temperature.

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Fluorides of an element A and the electron-density maps of compound E

    Upon heating of a mixture of A and fluorine (molar ratio 1 : 9, pressure approximately 1 MPa) to 900 °C three compounds (B, C and D) are formed. All three products are crystalline solids at ambient temperature with melting points below 150 °C. The fluorine content of C is found to be 36.7 % and that of D 46.5 % (by weight). When B is treated with anhydrous \(\ce{HOSO2F}\) at −75 °C a compound E is formed:

    Figure 1

    E is a solid which is stable for weeks at 0 °C, but decomposes in days at room temperature. The electron density distribution of E obtained through X-ray diffraction studies is shown on two intersecting, mutually perpendicular planes (see Fig. 1).

    Figure 2

    Fig. 1

    The numbers indicated on the maps relate to the electron density in the neighbourhood of the atoms of E as a function of the spatial coordinates. The maxima found in these maps coincide with the locations of the atoms and the values are approximately proportional to the number of electrons in the atom in question.

    2.1 Show where the maxima lie by drawing the contour curves around the maxima, connecting points of equal electron densities. Label each maximum to show the identities of the atoms in E.

    2.2 When 450.0 mg of C was treated with an excess of mercury, 53.25 ml of A was liberated at a pressure of 101.0 kPa and a temperature of 25 °C. Calculate the relative atomic mass of A.

    2.3 Identify A, B, C, D and E.

    2.4 Use the valence-shell electron-pair repulsion theory (VSEPR) to propose electron-pair geometries for B and C. Using the two electron density maps, sketch the molecular geometry of E.

    The original mixture was hydrolysed in water. B reacts to A while liberating oxygen and producing aqueous hydrogen fluoride. Hydrolysis of C leads to A and oxygen (in molar ratio of 4 : 3) and yields an aqueous solution of \(\ce{AO3}\) and hydrogen fluoride. D hydrolyses to an aqueous solution of \(\ce{AO3}\) and hydrogen fluoride.

    2.5 Write the equations for the three hydrolysis reactions.

    2.6 Quantitative hydrolysis of a mixture of B, C and D gives 60.2 ml of gas (measured at 290 K and 100 kPa). The oxygen content of this gas is 40.0% (by volume). The amount of \(\ce{AO3}\) dissolved in water is titrated with an aqueous 0.1 molar \(\ce{FeSO4}\) solution and 36.0 ml used thereby. During the titration \(\ce{Fe^{2+}}\) is oxidized to \(\ce{Fe^{3+}}\) and \(\ce{AO3}\) is reduced to A. Calculate the composition (% by moles) of the original mixture of B, C and D.

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Combustion in a car engine and catalytic oxidation of CO

    A typical family car has four cylinders with a total cylinder volume of 1600 cm³ and a fuel consumption of 7.0 l per 100 km when driving at a speed of 90 km/h. During one second each cylinder goes through 25 burn cycles and consumes 0.4 g of fuel. Assume that fuel consists of 2,2,4-trimethylpentane, \(\ce{C8H18}\). The compression ratio of the cylinder is 1:8.

    3.1 Calculate the air intake of the engine (m³/s). The gasified fuel and air are introduced into the cylinder when its volume is largest until the pressure is 101.0 kPa. Temperature of both incoming air and fuel are 100 °C. Air contains 21.0 % (by volume) of \(\ce{O2}\) and 79.0 % of \(\ce{N2}\). It is assumed that 10.0 % of the carbon forms \(\ce{CO}\) upon combustion and that nitrogen remains inert.

    3.2 The gasified fuel and the air are compressed until the volume in the cylinder is at its smallest and then ignited. Calculate the composition (% by volume) and the temperature of the exhaust gases immediately after the combustion (exhaust gases have not yet started to expand). The following data is given:

    Compound \(\Delta H_f\) (kJ/mol) \(C_p\) (J/mol K)
    \(\ce{O2(g)}\) 0.0 29.36
    \(\ce{N2(g)}\) 0.0 29.13
    \(\ce{CO(g)}\) −110.53 29.14
    \(\ce{CO2(g)}\) −395.51 37.11
    \(\ce{H2O(g)}\) −241.82 33.58
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane −187.82

    3.3 Calculate the final temperature of the leaving gases assuming that the piston has moved to expand the gases to the maximum volume of the cylinder and that the final gas pressure in the cylinder is 200 kPa.

    3.4 To convert \(\ce{CO(g)}\) into \(\ce{CO2(g)}\) the exhaust gases are led through a bed of catalysts with the following work function:

    \[ \frac{n(\ce{CO})}{n(\ce{CO2})} = \frac{1}{4}k \left[\frac{n(\ce{CO})}{n(\ce{CO2})}\right]_1 v e^{-T/T_0} \]

    where \([n(\ce{CO})/n(\ce{CO2})]_1\) is the molar ratio before the catalyst, \(v\) is the flow rate in mol/s and \(T\) the temperature of the gases entering the catalyst (the same as the temperature of the leaving exhaust gases). \(T_0\) is a reference temperature (373 K) and \(k\) is equal to 3.141 s/mol. Calculate the composition (% by volume) of the exhaust gases leaving the catalyst.

    Official English text of the problem.

  4. Problem 4: Photodecomposition of AgCl in chloride determination, pH of a weak-acid mixture and conditional constants

    Chloride ions are analytically determined by precipitating them with silver nitrate. The precipitate is undergoing decomposition in presence of light and forms elemental silver and chlorine. In aqueous solution the latter disproportionates to chlorate(V) and chloride. With excess of silver ions, the chloride ions formed are precipitated whereas chlorate(V) ions are not.

    4.1 Write the balanced equations of the reactions mentioned above.

    4.2 The gravimetric determination yielded a precipitate of which 12 % by mass was decomposed by light. Determine the size and direction of the error caused by this decomposition.

    4.3 Consider a solution containing two weak acids \(\ce{HA}\) and \(\ce{HL}\), 0.020 molar and 0.010 molar solutions, respectively. The acid constants are \(1\times10^{-4}\) for \(\ce{HA}\) and \(1\times10^{-7}\) for \(\ce{HL}\). Calculate the pH of the solution.

    4.4 \(\ce{M}\) forms a complex \(\ce{ML}\) with the acid \(\ce{H2L}\) with the formation constant \(K_1\). The solution contains another metal ion \(\ce{N}\) that forms a complex \(\ce{NHL}\) with the acid \(\ce{H2L}\). Determine the conditional equilibrium constant, \(K_1'\) for the complex \(\ce{ML}\) in terms of \([\ce{H+}]\) and \(K\) values.

    \[ K_1=\frac{[\ce{ML}]}{[\ce{M}][\ce{L}]} \]

    \[ K_1'=\frac{[\ce{ML}]}{[\ce{M}'][\ce{L}']} \]

    \([\ce{M}']\) = total concentration of \(\ce{M}\) not bound in \(\ce{ML}\)

    \([\ce{L}']\) = the sum of the concentrations of all species containing \(\ce{L}\) except \(\ce{ML}\)

    In addition to \(K_1\), the acid constants \(K_{a1}\) and \(K_{a2}\) of \(\ce{H2L}\) as well as the formation constant \(K_{\ce{NHL}}\) of \(\ce{NHL}\) are known.

    \[ K_{\ce{NHL}} =\frac{[\ce{NHL}]}{[\ce{N}][\ce{L}][\ce{H+}]} \]

    You may assume that the equilibrium concentration \([\ce{H+}]\) and \([\ce{N}]\) are known, too.

    Official English text of the problem.

  5. Problem 5: Synthesis of a secondary alcohol G from phenol and the mass spectrum of D

    A common compound A is prepared from phenol and oxidized to compound B. Dehydration of A with \(\ce{H2SO4}\) leads to compound C and treatment of A with \(\ce{PBr3}\) gives D. In the mass spectrum of D there is a very strong peak at \(m/e = 83\) (base peak) and two molecular ion peaks at \(m/e\) 162 and 164. The ratio of intensities of the peaks 162 and 164 is 1.02. Compound D can be converted to an organomagnesium compound E that reacts with a carbonyl compound F in dry ether to give G after hydrolysis. G is a secondary alcohol with the molecular formula \(\ce{C8H16O}\).

    5.1 Outline all steps in the synthesis of G and draw the structural formulae of the compounds A – G.

    5.2 Which of the products A – G consist of configurational stereoisomeric pairs?

    5.3 Identify the three ions in the mass spectrum considering isotopic abundances given in the text.

    Official English text of the problem.

  6. Problem 6: Identification of a bio-accumulated pollutant X from its mass spectrum

    Upon analyzing sea mussels a new bio-accumulated pollutant X was found as determined by mass spectroscopy coupled to a gas chromatograph. The mass spectrum is illustrated in figure. Determine the structural formula of X assuming that it is produced out of synthetic rubber used as insulation in electrolysis cells that are used for the production of chlorine. Give the name of the compound X. The isotopic abundances of the pertinent elements are shown in the figure and table below. Intensities of the ions m/e = 196, 233, 268 and 270 are very low and thus omitted. Peaks of the \(\ce{^{13}C}\) containing ions are omitted for simplicity.

    Figure 1
    Element Mas Norm.abundanc Mass Norm.abundanc Mas Norm.abundanc
    H 1 100.0 2 0.015
    C 12 100.0 13 1.1
    N 14 100.0 15 0.37
    O 16 100.0 17 0.04 18 0.20
    P 31 100.0
    S 32 100.0 33 0.80 34 4.4
    Cl 35 100.0 37 32.5
    Br 79 100.0 81 98.0

    Official English text of the problem.