IChO 1988 · Theory 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.

Answers

  • 2.1: In the \(xz\) map, label the maxima from highest to lowest \(z\): F, Xe, O, S, O. In the \(xy\) map, label the common central maximum S, the positive-\(y\) maximum F, and the negative-\(y\) maximum O. Specifically, the maximum of 52 at \((-100,-125)\) in the \(xz\) map is O, and the maximum of 58 at \((+100,+100)\) in the \(xy\) map is F.

  • 2.2: \(\boxed{A_{\mathrm r}(\mathrm A)\approx131.3}\), dimensionless.

  • 2.3:

Label Identity SMILES
A Xenon, \(\ce{Xe}\) [Xe]
B Xenon difluoride, \(\ce{XeF2}\) F[Xe]F
C Xenon tetrafluoride, \(\ce{XeF4}\) F[Xe](F)(F)F
D Xenon hexafluoride, \(\ce{XeF6}\) F[Xe](F)(F)(F)(F)F
E Xenon(II) fluoride fluorosulfate, \(\ce{FXeOSO2F}\) F[Xe]OS(=O)(=O)F
  • 2.4: B has trigonal-bipyramidal electron-pair geometry and a linear molecular geometry. C has octahedral electron-pair geometry and a square-planar molecular geometry. E has approximately linear \(\ce{F-Xe-O}\), a bent \(\ce{Xe-O-S}\) linkage, and approximately tetrahedral coordination around sulfur. Its sulfur-bound fluorine lies at positive \(y\) in the \(xy\) map.

  • 2.5: \[ \ce{2XeF2 + 2H2O -> 2Xe + O2 + 4HF} \] \[ \ce{6XeF4 + 12H2O -> 4Xe + 2XeO3 + 3O2 + 24HF} \] \[ \ce{XeF6 + 3H2O -> XeO3 + 6HF} \]

  • 2.6: The original mixture contains, by moles, \[ \boxed{\ce{XeF2}:23.8\%,\qquad \ce{XeF4}:71.4\%,\qquad \ce{XeF6}:4.8\%.} \]

Solution

2.1 — Electron-density maxima

The maxima locate atomic centres. Their heights distinguish the heavy xenon atom from sulfur and from the lighter oxygen and fluorine atoms. The relevant electron counts are \[ Z(\mathrm{Xe})=54,\qquad Z(\mathrm S)=16,\qquad Z(\mathrm F)=9,\qquad Z(\mathrm O)=8. \] The xenon identification is independently confirmed by the atomic-mass calculation in 2.2.

The contour drawing should contain nested closed inner curves around the following centres. Coordinates are in pm; apart from the two labelled peak maxima (52 and 58), they are approximate readings of the map.

Map Position Atom and structural role
\(xz\), \(y=0\) Uppermost small peak, approximately \((+100,+475)\) F, bonded to Xe
\(xz\), \(y=0\) Very large peak near \((0,+300)\) Xe
\(xz\), \(y=0\) Peak near \((-100,+125)\), between Xe and S O, bridging Xe and S
\(xz\), \(y=0\) Central peak near \((0,0)\) S
\(xz\), \(y=0\) \((-100,-125)\), maximum 52 O, terminal oxygen on S
\(xy\), \(z=0\) Central peak near \((0,0)\) S, the same atom as in the other map
\(xy\), \(z=0\) \((+100,+100)\), maximum 58 F, bonded to S
\(xy\), \(z=0\) Lower-right peak, approximately \((+100,-125)\) O, the other terminal oxygen on S

Contours connect equal-density points, with higher values toward each centre; interpolation is appropriate between printed grid points. For example, a contour at density 55 can enclose the fluorine maximum of 58, whereas it cannot enclose the oxygen maximum of 52.

The distinction between these two peaks is consistent with \[ \frac{58}{52}=1.115\approx\frac{9}{8}, \] the fluorine-to-oxygen electron-count ratio.

Counting the shared sulfur only once gives one Xe, one S, three O and two F atoms.

2.2 — Relative atomic mass of A

Mercury removes the fluorine from C, liberating elemental A. The non-fluorine mass in the sample is \[ m(\mathrm A) =(450.0\ \mathrm{mg})(1-0.367) =284.85\ \mathrm{mg} =0.28485\ \mathrm g. \]

Using \(T=298.15\ \mathrm K\) and \(R=8.314\ \mathrm{kPa\,L\,mol^{-1}\,K^{-1}}\), \[ n(\mathrm A)=\frac{pV}{RT} =\frac{(101.0\ \mathrm{kPa})(0.05325\ \mathrm L)} {(8.314\ \mathrm{kPa\,L\,mol^{-1}\,K^{-1}})(298.15\ \mathrm K)} =2.16968\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

The gaseous element is monatomic xenon, consistent with the large electron-density maximum. Therefore, \[ M(\mathrm A) =\frac{0.28485\ \mathrm g}{2.16968\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}} =131.2865\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

Thus \[ \boxed{A_{\mathrm r}(\mathrm A)\approx131.3.} \]

2.3 — Identification of A–E

The atomic mass and electron-density map identify A as xenon.

For a fluoride \(\ce{XeF_{$n$}}\), the fluorine mass fraction \(w_{\mathrm F}\) satisfies \[ w_{\mathrm F}=\frac{nM(\mathrm F)}{M(\mathrm{Xe})+nM(\mathrm F)}. \] Hence, using \(M(\mathrm F)=19.00\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\), \[ n=\frac{w_{\mathrm F}}{1-w_{\mathrm F}} \frac{M(\mathrm{Xe})}{M(\mathrm F)}. \]

For C, \[ n=\frac{0.367}{0.633}\frac{131.2865}{19.00} =4.006\approx4, \] so C is xenon tetrafluoride, \(\ce{XeF4}\).

For D, \[ n=\frac{0.465}{0.535}\frac{131.2865}{19.00} =6.006\approx6, \] so D is xenon hexafluoride, \(\ce{XeF6}\).

The maps establish the connectivity of E as \[ \ce{F-Xe-O-S(=O)(=O)-F}. \] Thus E is xenon(II) fluoride fluorosulfate. The conventional double bonds represent the two terminal sulfur–oxygen bonds.

Fluorosulfuric acid, \(\ce{HOSO2F}\), has SMILES OS(=O)(=O)F; hydrogen fluoride, \(\ce{HF}\), has SMILES [H]F. The reaction is \[ \ce{XeF2 + HOSO2F -> FXeOSO2F + HF}. \] It replaces one xenon-bound fluorine with an oxygen-bound fluorosulfate group. Therefore B is xenon difluoride, \(\ce{XeF2}\).

2.4 — Electron-pair and molecular geometries

For B, \(\ce{XeF2}\), xenon has two bonding pairs and three lone pairs: \(AX_2E_3\). Five electron domains give a trigonal-bipyramidal electron-pair arrangement. The three lone pairs occupy equatorial positions, leaving the fluorine atoms in the two axial positions. Consequently, the molecule is linear, with a \(180^\circ\) bond angle.

For C, \(\ce{XeF4}\), xenon has four bonding pairs and two lone pairs: \(AX_4E_2\). Six electron domains give an octahedral electron-pair arrangement. The lone pairs occupy opposite positions, leaving four fluorines in a plane. Consequently, the molecule is square planar, with adjacent bond angles of \(90^\circ\).

For E, the requested sketch can be described as follows:

  1. Place sulfur at the common central maximum of the two maps.
  2. In the \(xz\) plane, draw the bridging oxygen above and to the left of S. Continue from this oxygen upward and to the right to Xe, and then farther upward and to the right to the terminal Xe-bound F. The \(\ce{O-Xe-F}\) unit is approximately straight.
  3. Draw one terminal sulfur–oxygen bond downward and to the left in the \(xz\) plane, toward the oxygen maximum of 52.
  4. Draw the remaining two sulfur bonds in the \(xy\) plane: the sulfur-bound F is at positive \(x\), positive \(y\), and the other terminal O is at positive \(x\), negative \(y\).

Sulfur therefore has approximately tetrahedral coordination by three oxygen atoms and one fluorine atom. The bridging \(\ce{S-O-Xe}\) unit is bent, while \(\ce{F-Xe-O}\) is approximately linear.

The SMILES given in 2.3 specify connectivity; they do not encode these xenon coordination geometries or the molecule’s orientation in the plotted planes.

2.5 — Hydrolysis reactions

The additional molecular species are water, \(\ce{H2O}\), O; oxygen, \(\ce{O2}\), O=O; and xenon trioxide, \(\ce{XeO3}\), O=[Xe](=O)=O. Hydrogen fluoride was specified in 2.3.

For B, balancing fluorine and hydrogen first and then oxygen gives \[ \boxed{\ce{2XeF2 + 2H2O -> 2Xe + O2 + 4HF}.} \]

For C, use the specified xenon-to-oxygen ratio of \(4:3\). Write \[ \ce{aXeF4 + bH2O -> 4Xe + cXeO3 + 3O2 + dHF}. \] Element balances give \[ a=4+c,\qquad d=4a,\qquad b=2a,\qquad b=3c+6. \] Therefore \(a=6\), \(b=12\), \(c=2\) and \(d=24\): \[ \boxed{\ce{6XeF4 + 12H2O -> 4Xe + 2XeO3 + 3O2 + 24HF}.} \]

For D, all xenon forms xenon trioxide: \[ \boxed{\ce{XeF6 + 3H2O -> XeO3 + 6HF}.} \]

2.6 — Composition of the fluoride mixture

Let the initial amounts of \(\ce{XeF2}\), \(\ce{XeF4}\) and \(\ce{XeF6}\) be \(x\), \(y\) and \(z\) mol, respectively.

The total amount of gas collected during hydrolysis is \[ N=\frac{pV}{RT} =\frac{(100\ \mathrm{kPa})(0.0602\ \mathrm L)} {(8.314\ \mathrm{kPa\,L\,mol^{-1}\,K^{-1}})(290\ \mathrm K)} =2.496827\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Volume fractions equal mole fractions under these conditions, so \[ n(\ce{O2})=0.400N,\qquad n(\ce{Xe})=0.600N. \]

The hydrolysis equations give \[ x+\frac23y=0.600N \] and \[ \frac12x+\frac12y=0.400N. \] Thus \[ x+y=0.800N, \] and subtraction yields \[ \frac13y=0.200N. \] Consequently, \[ y=0.600N=1.498096\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}, \] \[ x=0.200N=4.993654\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

To find \(z\), use the titration. Iron(II) sulfate, \(\ce{FeSO4}\), has ionic SMILES [Fe+2].[O-]S(=O)(=O)[O-]. Its iron(II) ions, \(\ce{Fe^{2+}}\), [Fe+2], are oxidized to iron(III) ions, \(\ce{Fe^{3+}}\), [Fe+3].

Xenon in \(\ce{XeO3}\) has oxidation state \(+6\), so reduction to xenon requires six electrons per xenon atom. The balanced titration equation in acidic solution is \[ \ce{XeO3 + 6H+ + 6Fe^{2+} -> Xe + 3H2O + 6Fe^{3+}}, \] where the hydrogen ion, \(\ce{H+}\), has SMILES [H+].

Therefore, \[ n(\ce{Fe^{2+}}) =(0.1\ \mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}})(0.0360\ \mathrm L) =3.60\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}, \] and \[ n(\ce{XeO3})=\frac{3.60\times10^{-3}}6 =6.00\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Hydrolysis produces \(y/3\) mol of xenon trioxide from C and \(z\) mol from D: \[ \frac y3+z=6.00\times10^{-4}. \] Hence \[ z=6.00\times10^{-4} -\frac{1.498096\times10^{-3}}3 =1.006346\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

The total initial amount is \[ x+y+z=2.098096\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Compound Initial amount / mmol Mole percentage
B, \(\ce{XeF2}\) 0.4994 23.8%
C, \(\ce{XeF4}\) 1.4981 71.4%
D, \(\ce{XeF6}\) 0.1006 4.8%

The solution was checked against the official solution.