International Chemistry Olympiad

IChO 1990

Paris, France · 7 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Phosphoric acid

    The elemental phosphorus is present in the nature as phosphate in a complex mineral apatite. This mineral contains, in addition to phosphate, silica and the following ions: \(\ce{Ca^2+}\), \(\ce{CO3^2-}\), \(\ce{SO4^2-}\), \(\ce{SiO3^2-}\), and \(\ce{F^-}\).

    Let us assume that this mineral is a mixture of tricalcium phosphate, \(\ce{Ca3(PO4)2}\), calcium sulphate, calcium fluoride, calcium carbonate and silica.

    For uses as fertilizer the calcium bis(dihydrogenphosphate), \(\ce{Ca(H2PO4)2}\), which is soluble in water, has been prepared. For this purpose, apatite is treated with a mixture of phosphoric and sulphuric acid. At the same time this operation eliminates the majority of impurities.

    The elemental analysis of an apatite gave the following results in which, except of fluorine, the elemental composition is expressed as if the elements were in the form of oxides:

    \(\ce{CaO}\) \(\ce{P2O5}\) \(\ce{SiO2}\) \(\ce{F}\) \(\ce{SO3}\) \(\ce{CO2}\)
    % by mass 47.3 28.4 3.4 3.4 3.5 6.1

    Operation 1 - A sample of \(m_0\) of this mineral is treated with \(50.0\ \mathrm{cm^3}\) of a solution containing \(0.500\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\) phosphoric and \(0.100\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\) sulphuric acids. The mixture is completely dehydrated by heating up to about \(70\,^\circ\mathrm C\) avoiding temperature rising above \(90\,^\circ\mathrm C\). This operation is carried out under the hood since toxic gaseous substances are emitted. The dry residue is ground and weighed; \(m_1\) is the mass of the residue obtained.

    In these conditions only dihydrogenphosphate, \(\ce{Ca(H2PO4)2}\), is formed while silica and silicate do not react.

    Operation 2 - \(1.00\ \mathrm g\) of this residue is treated with \(50.0\ \mathrm{cm^3}\) of water at \(40\,^\circ\mathrm C\), then filtered, dried and weighed. The mass of the residue obtained is \(m_2\). This new residue is mainly containing gypsum, \(\ce{CaSO4.2H2O}\), whose solubility can be considered as constant between \(20\,^\circ\mathrm C\) and \(50\,^\circ\mathrm C\) and is equal to \(2.3\ \mathrm{g\,dm^{-3}}\).

    1.1 Write the balanced equations for the reactions that are involved.

    1.2 From what mass of apatite should one start if all the reactions are stoichiometric?

    Starting with \(m_0\) of obtained apatite, \(m_1=5.49\ \mathrm g\) of residue are obtained.

    1.3 What mass should theoretically be obtained?

    1.4 This result is due to the presence of products that are not expected to be found in the residue. Give two of them that under these experimental conditions can plausibly account for the data.

    Traditionally, in industry the analysis and the yield are expressed as percentage of oxide. The phosphorous content is expressed as if it were \(\ce{P2O5}\).

    If \(n_2\) is the amount of a soluble product obtained, \(n_1\) the amount of a substance added as acid, \(n_0\) the amount of apatite added, the yield is:

    \[ r_{\mathrm{exp}}=\frac{n_2}{n_1+n_0}\,100 \]

    \(m_2=0.144\ \mathrm g\) of residue is obtained on the filter.

    1.5 Calculate \(r_{\mathrm{exp}}\).

    1.6 The experimental yield is over \(100\%\). Calculate a value of \(r\) nearer to the real yield.

    Relative atomic masses of P: 31; Ca: 40; O: 16; H: 1; F: 19; C: 12; Si: 28; S: 32.

    Values of \(pK\): \[ \frac{\ce{HSO4^-}}{\ce{SO4^2-}}=2 \qquad \frac{\ce{HF}}{\ce{F^-}}=3 \qquad \frac{\ce{H3PO4}}{\ce{H2PO4^-}}=2 \qquad \frac{\ce{H2PO4^-}}{\ce{HPO4^2-}}=7 \qquad \frac{\ce{HPO4^2-}}{\ce{PO4^3-}}=12 \]

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Ionic solutions - aqueous solutions of copper salts

    This part is about the acidity of the hydrated \(\ce{Cu^2+}\) ion and the precipitation of the hydroxide.

    Consider a \(1.00\times10^{-2}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\) solution of copper(II) nitrate. The \(\mathrm{pH}\) of this solution is 4.65.

    2.1 Give the equation for the formation of the conjugate base of the hydrated \(\ce{Cu^2+}\) ion.

    2.2 Calculate the \(pK_a\) of the corresponding acid-base pair.

    The solubility product of copper(II) hydroxide is \(K_{sp}=1\times10^{-20}\).

    2.3 At what \(\mathrm{pH}\) value hydroxide \(\ce{Cu(OH)2}\) precipitates from the solution under consideration? Justify your calculation showing that the conjugate base of this hydrated \(\ce{Cu^2+}\) ion is present in negligible quantity.

    Disproportionation of copper(I) ions

    The \(\ce{Cu+}\) ion is involved in two redox couples:

    Figure 1

    Standard electrode potential \(E_1^0=+\,0.52\ \mathrm{V}\)

    Figure 2

    Standard electrode potential \(E_2^0=+\,0.16\ \mathrm{V}\)

    2.4 Write down the equation for the disproportionation of copper(I) ions and calculate the corresponding equilibrium constant.

    2.5 Calculate the composition of the solution (in \(\mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\)) obtained on dissolving \(1.00\times10^{-2}\ \mathrm{mol}\) of copper(I) in \(1.0\ \mathrm{dm^3}\) of water.

    2.6 Apart from \(\ce{Cu+}\) ions, name two chemical species which also disproportionate in aqueous solution; write down the equations and describe the experimental conditions under which disproportionation is observed.

    Consider the stability of copper(I) oxide, \(\ce{Cu2O}\), in contact with a \(1.00\times10^{-2}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\) solution of \(\ce{Cu^2+}\) ions. The solubility product of copper(I) oxide is \(K_{sp}=[\ce{Cu+}][\ce{OH-}]=1\times10^{-15}\)

    2.7 Calculate the \(\mathrm{pH}\) value at which \(\ce{Cu2O}\) becomes stable. Quote a simple experiment allowing the observation of the precipitation of \(\ce{Cu2O}\).

    Complex formation involving \(\ce{Cu+}\) and \(\ce{Cu^2+}\) ions

    2.8 The dissociation constant of the complex ion \(\ce{[Cu(NH3)2]+}\) is \(K_D=1\times10^{-11}\). Calculate the standard electrode potential of the couple:

    Figure 3

    2.9 The standard electrode potential of the couple

    Figure 4

    \(E_3^0=-\,0{,}02\ \mathrm{V}\).

    Calculate the dissociation constant for the complex ion \(\ce{[Cu(NH3)4]^2+}\).

    2.10 Deduce from it the standard electrode potential of the couple:

    Figure 5

    Does the disproportionation of the cation \(\ce{[Cu(NH3)2]+}\) take place?

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Organic synthesis - synthesis of haloperidol

    Haloperidol is a powerful neuroleptic prescribed in cases of psychomotoric disorder and for the treatment of various psychoses. A synthesis of this compound is proposed.

    3.1 Give a scheme for the preparation of methyl 4-chlorobenzoate starting from benzene and all necessary inorganic substances. Diazomethane (\(\ce{H2CN2}\)) must be used in your synthesis.

    γ-Butyrolactone (J) is a cyclic ester represented below.

    Figure 1

    3.2 How can γ-butyrolactone J be converted into 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (K)?

    3.3 Convert K into 4-chlorobutanoyl chloride (L).

    The reactions described below do not correspond to those used in the industrial synthesis of haloperidol for which the route is quite complex.

    Methyl 4-chlorobenzoate is treated with an excess of vinylmagnesium bromide in anhydrous ether. M is obtained after hydrolysis. When M is treated with an excess of hydrogen bromide in anhydrous conditions in the presence of benzoyl peroxide, N is obtained. N reacts with ammonia to form 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-hydroxypiperidine (O).

    3.4 Write down the structure of M, N and O and indicate the mechanism of the reaction leading to M.

    In the presence of a moderate amount of aluminium chloride, L reacts with fluorobenzene to yield mainly a ketone P (\(\ce{C10H10OFCl}\)).

    3.5 Sketch the structure of P and indicate the mechanism.

    3.6 Give a chemical and physical test method for the determination of the carbonyl group. How can you make sure that the carbonyl group does not belong to an aldehyde group?

    P reacts with O in basic media in a 1 : 1 molar ratio to give H that contains only one chlorine atom on the aromatic ring.

    3.7 Give the structure of H which is haloperidol.

    3.8 State the multiplicity of each resonance in the \(\ce{^1H}\) NMR spectrum of K. Assume that all coupling constants between protons and adjacent carbons are identical.

    Official English text of the problem.

  4. Problem 4: Chemical thermodynamics

    The production of zinc from zinc sulphide proceeds in two stages: the roasting of zinc sulphide in the air and the reduction of the zinc oxide formed by carbon monoxide. In this problem we will consider the roasting of zinc sulphide.

    This operation consists in burning zinc sulphide in the air. The equation of the reaction taking place is as follows:

    Figure 1

    Industrially this reaction is carried out at 1350 K.

    4.1 Show that the reaction can be self-sustaining, i.e. that the heat produced is sufficient to bring the reactants from ambient temperature to the reaction temperature.

    Suppose that the zinc containing mineral contains only zinc sulphide, \(\ce{ZnS}\).

    4.2 Starting with a stoichiometric mixture of one mole zinc blend only and a necessary quantity of the air at 298 K, calculate the temperature to which the mixture will raise by the heat evolved during the roasting of the mineral at 1350 K under standard pressure. Is the reaction self-sustaining? Air is considered to be a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen in a volume ratio equal to 1 : 4.

    In fact, zinc blend is never pure and is always mixed with a gangue that can be assumed to be entirely silica \(\ce{SiO2}\).

    4.3 Assuming that the gangue does not react during the roasting, calculate the minimum \(\ce{ZnS}\) content of the mineral for which the reaction would be self-sustaining at 1350 K despite the presence of silica. Give the answer is grams of \(\ce{ZnS}\) per hundred grams of zinc blend.

    Data:

    Standard molar heat capacities averaged over the temperature range considered (in \(\mathrm{J\,K^{-1}\,mol^{-1}}\)):

    \(\ce{ZnS}\) (solid): 58.05 \(\ce{ZnO}\) (solid): 51.64
    \(\ce{SO2}\) (gas): 51.10 \(\ce{O2}\) (gas): 34.24
    \(\ce{N2}\) (gas): 30.65 \(\ce{SiO2}\) (solid): 72.50

    Molar masses (in \(\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\)):

    \(\ce{ZnS}\) \(\ce{SiO2}\)
    97.5 60.1

    Official English text of the problem.

  5. Problem 5: Chemical kinetics

    Nitramide \(\ce{NO2NH2}\) decomposes slowly in aqueous solution according to the reaction:

    Figure 1

    The experimental kinetic law is as follows:

    \[ \frac{d[\ce{N2O}]}{dt} =k\frac{[\ce{NO2NH2}]}{[\ce{H3O+}]} \]

    5.1 What is the apparent order of this reaction in a buffered solution?

    5.2 Which of the following mechanisms is the most appropriate for the interpretation of this kinetic law? Justify your answer.

    Figure 2
    Figure 3
    Figure 4

    5.3 Show the relationship between the experimentally observed rate constant and the rate constants of the selected mechanism.

    5.4 Show that hydroxyl ions catalyze the decomposition of nitramide.

    The decomposition is studied in a buffered solution of a constant volume \(V\) at a constant temperature by measuring the partial pressure of the gas \(\ce{N2O}\), considered to be insoluble in water, in a constant volume of the same value \(V\) above the solution. The following results are obtained:

    \(t\)(min) 0 5 10 15 20 25
    \(p\)(Pa) 0 6800 12400 17200 20800 24000

    After a sufficiently long time, the pressure stabilises at 40000 Pa.

    5.5 Express the pressure \(p\) as a function of time and the constant \(k'\) such that

    \[ k'=\frac{k}{[\ce{H3O+}]}. \]

    5.6 Verify graphically that the kinetic law is confirmed by these experimental results.

    5.7 Calculate \(k'\) giving its units.

    Official English text of the problem.

  6. Problem 6: Bio-organic chemistry

    The reaction of dehydrogenation of succinate to fumarate is a one step in the tricarboxylic Krebs cycle, catalysed by the enzyme succinic dehydrogenase. Flavine-adenine-dinucleotide, FAD, acts as a coenzyme. The equation of the process:

    Figure 1

    The stereochemistry of the dehydrogenation of succinate to fumarate has been studied. Consider the enzymatic reaction with the 2,3-dideuteriosuccinates related to the acids or obtained by catalytic deuteration (in the presence of palladium on coal) of fumaric and maleic acids.

    Figure 2

    6.1 Using Fischer formulae, write down structures for all the possible stereoisomers obtained by catalytic deuteration of maleic and fumaric acids. How many isomers are there? Indicate those that are optically active. Establish a stereochemical relationship between them (compare the isomers two by two). Using Newman projections show the most stable conformation of each isomer.

    The proportion of dideuterated fumarate (obtained when each of the above 2-3 dideuterated succinates is submitted to the enzymatic reaction) is 4 % when using fumaric acid as starting molecule, but 48.5 % when using maleic acid.

    It is assumed that at the active site, the enzymatic dehydrogenation occurs on the succinate, in the most stable conformation as proposed in 6.1. The dehydrogenation stereochemistry can be syn or anti.

    6.2 On the basis of the Newman projections of the most stable conformations of each isomer and the above facts, determine the percentage of dideuterated fumarate formed by syn and anti dehydrogenation.

    (Assume that the percentages of dideuterated fumarate are 0 or 50 %, respectively.)

    6.3 Show the stereochemistry of the enzymatic dehydrogenation.

    In the following step of the Krebs cycle and in the presence of fumarase enzyme, fumarate adds on a water molecule to yield \((S)\)-malate (also called as L-malate).

    Fischer projection of \((S)\)-malate:

    Figure 3

    6.4 The 2,3-dideuterofumarate reacts with fumarase to \((2S,3S)\)-2,3-dideuteromalate (through addition of water). Show the stereochemical pathway of the reaction. Use the schematic drawing below to answer this question.

    Figure 4

    The acetylcoenzyme A, \(\ce{CH3COSCoA}\) reacts with glyoxylate, \(\ce{OHC-CO2-}\), in the presence of malate synthetase enzyme to \((S)\)-malate.

    Figure 5

    A similar reaction can proceed between an ester \(\ce{CH3COOR'}\) (similar to the thioester \(\ce{CH3COSCoA}\)) and an aldehyde \(\ce{R''CHO}\) (similar to the glyoxylate) in the presence of \(\ce{R'-O-}\) ions. It leads to a β-hydroxyester.

    Figure 6

    (\(\ce{R'-O-}\) enter the reaction as a base to produce an intermediate carbanion from the ester)

    6.5 Write the steps of the mechanism.

    The enzymatic reaction is carried out using acetylcoenzyme A which is obtained from acetic acid \(\ce{CHDTCOOH}\) having \(R\)-configuration.

    Figure 7

    (tritium \(\ce{T} = {}^{3}_{1}\ce{H}\), deuterium \(\ce{D} = {}^{2}_{1}\ce{H}\))

    The formed \((S)\)-malate is dehydrated (the reverse reaction of question 6.4) by an enzymatic reaction.

    6.6 What enzyme can be used?

    The major product is monotritiated fumarate (79%) with 21 % untritiated fumarate.

    6.7 Write down the Fischer projections of the two possible structures of the major product \((S)\)-malate arising from the acetylcoenzyme A which has a labelled acetyl group with \(R\)-configuration.

    6.8 What would be the products if the starting material has a labelled acetyl group with \(S\)-configuration?

    Official English text of the problem.

  7. Problem 7: Hydrogenation of benzene in continuous reactors

    In this problem tick the appropriate box in the tables of the answer sheet.

    Hydrogenation of benzene to cyclohexane is performed in continuous reactors. The reaction is as follows:

    Figure 1

    Two basic types of continuous reactors are examined: a continuous plug flow reactor and a continuous stirred reactor.

    The continuous plug flow reactor (Fig. 1)

    Figure 2

    Fig. 1

    The reagents are introduced and mixed at the inlet of the reactor (flow F1 and F2). Each slice of the reaction medium (marked zone in the diagram) moves along inside the plug flow reactor without mixing with the others and exits from the reactor (flow F3). When the flow has stabilized, concentrations and conditions are time-independent but dependent on the location in the reactor.

    The continuous stirred reactor (Fig. 2)

    Figure 3

    Fig. 2

    The reagents are introduced into the reactor (flows F1 and F2). Inside the reactor they are stirred perfectly and instantaneously. When the flow is stabilized, concentrations and conditions are time-independent and identical at every point of the reactor.

    The differential yield of hydrogenation (\(Y\)) is given by \[ Y=-\frac{\mathrm{d}([\ce{C6H12}])}{\mathrm{d}([\ce{C6H6}])}. \]

    The proportion of benzene already hydrogenated is given by \[ p=\frac{[\ce{C6H12}]}{[\ce{C6H12}]+[\ce{C6H6}]}. \]

    The relationship between \(p\) and \(Y\) is shown in Fig. 3.

    Figure 4

    Fig. 3

    The aim is to hydrogenate almost all the benzene, i.e. \(0.9\le p\le1\) with the best mean yield \[ Y=-\frac{\Delta[\ce{C6H12}]}{\Delta[\ce{C6H6}]}. \]

    7.1 What is the value of \(p\) in a continuous stirred reactor leading to the maximal mean yield of hydrogenation? What is the maximal value of \(Y\)?

    7.2 For a continuous plug flow reactor, give a rough value of \(Y\) for \(0.9\le p\le1\):

    \(Y=0.97,\ 0.98,\ 0.99\) or \(1.00\) ?

    7.3 Represent by grey shading in the graph (Fig. 3) the quantities of benzene lost in installation P (plug flow reactor) and installation MP (stirred reactor + plug flow reactor).

    7.4 Give the amount of annual benzene lost in installation P and MP assuming an annual consumption of 100 000 tons of benzene.

    Official English text of the problem.