IChO 1990 · Theory 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.

Answers

  • 1.1 Acid treatment produces calcium bis(dihydrogenphosphate), calcium sulphate, hydrogen fluoride and carbon dioxide. Washing dissolves the dihydrogenphosphate and partly dissolves the gypsum. Balanced equations and SMILES are given in Solution 1.1.
  • 1.2 \(\boxed{m_0=2.79\ \mathrm g}\), from the acid-equivalent balance.
  • 1.3 \(\boxed{m_{1,\mathrm{theor}}=5.39\ \mathrm g}\), from the gross mass balance, retaining unassigned mineral material as nonvolatile matter.
  • 1.4 Two plausible products are gypsum, \(\ce{CaSO4.2H2O}\), [Ca+2].O=S(=O)([O-])[O-].O.O, and calcium bis(dihydrogenphosphate) monohydrate, \(\ce{Ca(H2PO4)2.H2O}\), [Ca+2].O=P(O)(O)[O-].O=P(O)(O)[O-].O.
  • 1.5 \(\boxed{r_{\mathrm{exp}}\approx111.1\%}\).
  • 1.6 Direct subtraction of the dissolved gypsum mass gives the approximate correction \(\boxed{r\approx96.2\%}\). Explicitly accounting for hydrate water gives about \(\boxed{99\%}\) if the excess mass in operation 1 is entirely retained water. The distinction and the limitations of the printed data are explained below.

Solution

1.1 — Reactions

The following representations specify the molecular species and the ionic formula units used below. For crystalline salts, disconnected SMILES do not specify the crystal lattice or coordination geometry.

Substance SMILES
Phosphoric acid, \(\ce{H3PO4}\) O=P(O)(O)O
Sulphuric acid, \(\ce{H2SO4}\) O=S(=O)(O)O
Tricalcium phosphate, \(\ce{Ca3(PO4)2}\) [Ca+2].[Ca+2].[Ca+2].O=P([O-])([O-])[O-].O=P([O-])([O-])[O-]
Calcium bis(dihydrogenphosphate), \(\ce{Ca(H2PO4)2}\) [Ca+2].O=P(O)(O)[O-].O=P(O)(O)[O-]
Calcium sulphate, \(\ce{CaSO4}\) [Ca+2].O=S(=O)([O-])[O-]
Calcium fluoride, \(\ce{CaF2}\) [Ca+2].[F-].[F-]
Calcium carbonate, \(\ce{CaCO3}\) [Ca+2].O=C([O-])[O-]
Hydrogen fluoride, \(\ce{HF}\) [H]F
Carbon dioxide, \(\ce{CO2}\) O=C=O
Water, \(\ce{H2O}\) O
Calcium ion, \(\ce{Ca^2+}\) [Ca+2]
Dihydrogenphosphate ion, \(\ce{H2PO4^-}\) O=P(O)(O)[O-]
Sulphate ion, \(\ce{SO4^2-}\) O=S(=O)([O-])[O-]

Silica is an extended network solid; a single molecular SMILES would not represent its structure. Here \(\ce{P2O5}\) is an analytical reporting equivalent, not a molecular product of the reactions.

With phosphoric acid, the balanced reactions are

\[ \ce{Ca3(PO4)2 + 4H3PO4 -> 3Ca(H2PO4)2} \]

\[ \ce{CaF2 + 2H3PO4 -> Ca(H2PO4)2 + 2HF(g)} \]

\[ \ce{CaCO3 + 2H3PO4 -> Ca(H2PO4)2 + CO2(g) + H2O}. \]

Corresponding reactions with sulphuric acid are

\[ \ce{Ca3(PO4)2 + 2H2SO4 -> Ca(H2PO4)2 + 2CaSO4} \]

\[ \ce{CaF2 + H2SO4 -> CaSO4 + 2HF(g)} \]

\[ \ce{CaCO3 + H2SO4 -> CaSO4 + CO2(g) + H2O}. \]

These equations give alternative balanced contributions to the reaction with the mixed acids; each constituent need not react exclusively with one acid.

The supplied \(pK\) values support counting one acidic proton per molecule of phosphoric acid and two per molecule of sulphuric acid for these transformations. The phosphate groups become dihydrogenphosphate groups, fluoride becomes hydrogen fluoride, and carbonate releases carbon dioxide and water. Escape of the volatile products assists conversion. Hydrogen fluoride is the hazardous gaseous product in the stated model.

During operation 2,

\[ \ce{Ca(H2PO4)2(s) -> Ca^2+(aq) + 2H2PO4^-(aq)} \]

and calcium sulphate hydrates:

\[ \ce{CaSO4(s) + 2H2O(l) -> CaSO4.2H2O(s)}. \]

Gypsum dissolves to a limited extent:

\[ \ce{CaSO4.2H2O(s) <=> Ca^2+(aq) + SO4^2-(aq) + 2H2O(l)}. \]

Silica and silicate remain unreacted, as stipulated.

1.2 — Required mass of apatite

The amounts of acid supplied are

\[ n(\ce{H3PO4}) =(0.0500\ \mathrm{dm^3})(0.500\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}) =0.0250\ \mathrm{mol}, \]

\[ n(\ce{H2SO4}) =(0.0500\ \mathrm{dm^3})(0.100\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}) =0.00500\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Thus the available amount of acid equivalents is

\[ N_{\mathrm{acid}}=0.0250+2(0.00500)=0.0350\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

The acid demand follows directly from the phosphate, fluoride and carbonate analyses:

Constituent Amount per gram of mineral Acid equivalents required per mole
\(\ce{Ca3(PO4)2}\) \(\dfrac{0.284}{142}=0.002000\ \mathrm{mol\,g^{-1}}\) 4
\(\ce{CaF2}\) \(\dfrac{0.034}{38}=0.00089474\ \mathrm{mol\,g^{-1}}\) 2
\(\ce{CaCO3}\) \(\dfrac{0.061}{44}=0.00138636\ \mathrm{mol\,g^{-1}}\) 2

One mole of tricalcium phosphate contains the phosphorus equivalent of one mole of \(\ce{P2O5}\). Calcium sulphate and silica contribute no acid demand in this model.

Therefore,

\[ m_0\left[ 4\frac{0.284}{142} +2\frac{0.034}{38} +2\frac{0.061}{44} \right]=0.0350. \]

The expression in brackets is \(0.0125622\ \mathrm{mol\,g^{-1}}\), giving

\[ \boxed{m_0=2.78614\ \mathrm g\approx2.79\ \mathrm g}. \]

The printed analysis is not a completely consistent five-component composition. For the calculations that follow, unassigned mineral mass is treated as nonvolatile material.

1.3 — Theoretical residue mass

The total mass of acid solutes added is

\[ m_{\mathrm{acids}} =(0.0250)(98)+(0.00500)(98) =2.940\ \mathrm g. \]

Complete conversion releases hydrogen fluoride, carbon dioxide and the water produced from carbonate:

\[ n(\ce{HF})=\frac{0.034m_0}{19} =0.00498572\ \mathrm{mol}, \]

\[ n(\ce{CO2})=n(\ce{H2O})_{\mathrm{reaction}} =\frac{0.061m_0}{44} =0.00386260\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Their masses are

\[ m(\ce{HF})=0.0997143\ \mathrm g, \]

\[ m(\ce{CO2})=0.169954\ \mathrm g, \]

\[ m(\ce{H2O})_{\mathrm{reaction}}=0.0695268\ \mathrm g. \]

The solvent water also evaporates and contributes nothing to the final dry mass. Consequently,

\[ \begin{aligned} m_{1,\mathrm{theor}} &=m_0+m_{\mathrm{acids}} -m(\ce{HF})-m(\ce{CO2})-m(\ce{H2O})_{\mathrm{reaction}}\\ &=2.78614+2.940-0.0997143-0.169954-0.0695268\\ &=\boxed{5.38694\ \mathrm g\approx5.39\ \mathrm g}. \end{aligned} \]

The measured residue is heavier by

\[ \Delta m=5.49-5.38694=0.10306\ \mathrm g. \]

1.4 — Two plausible unexpected products

Heating to about \(70\,^\circ\mathrm C\) can remove free water while leaving water of crystallization. Two plausible products are the hydrates identified in the Answers:

\[ \ce{CaSO4 + 2H2O -> CaSO4.2H2O} \]

and

\[ \ce{Ca(H2PO4)2 + H2O -> Ca(H2PO4)2.H2O}. \]

Their retained water increases the measured mass relative to an anhydrous calculation.

If the whole excess is water, its amount is only

\[ n(\ce{H2O})_{\mathrm{retained}} =\frac{0.10306}{18} =5.73\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

There is sufficient calcium sulphate, or sufficient calcium bis(dihydrogenphosphate), for partial hydration of either to account for this excess. The weighing alone cannot identify which hydrate, or what mixture of hydrates, is present.

1.5 — Apparent experimental yield

On the initial gravimetric interpretation, all mass disappearing from the \(1.00\ \mathrm g\) sample is assigned to calcium bis(dihydrogenphosphate):

\[ m_{\mathrm{soluble,sample}}=1.00-0.144=0.856\ \mathrm g. \]

For the entire \(5.49\ \mathrm g\) batch,

\[ m_{\mathrm{soluble,batch}} =\frac{5.49}{1.00}(0.856) =4.69944\ \mathrm g. \]

The relevant molar masses are

\[ M(\ce{Ca(H2PO4)2})=234\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}, \qquad M(\ce{P2O5})=142\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

Each mole of calcium bis(dihydrogenphosphate) contains one mole of \(\ce{P2O5}\) equivalent. The apparent recovered amount, expressed as oxide mass, is therefore

\[ m_{\ce{P2O5},\mathrm{apparent}} =4.69944\frac{142}{234} =2.85180\ \mathrm g. \]

The total phosphorus supplied comprises the mineral phosphorus and the added phosphoric acid:

\[ \begin{aligned} m_{\ce{P2O5},\mathrm{input}} &=0.284m_0+\frac{n(\ce{H3PO4})}{2}(142)\\ &=(0.284)(2.78614)+\frac{0.0250}{2}(142)\\ &=2.56626\ \mathrm g. \end{aligned} \]

Thus

\[ \boxed{ r_{\mathrm{exp}} =\frac{2.85180}{2.56626}\,100 =111.13\%\approx111.1\%. } \]

This is an apparent yield because the dissolved material is not exclusively calcium bis(dihydrogenphosphate).

1.6 — Correction for dissolved gypsum

The mass of gypsum corresponding to its solubility in \(50.0\ \mathrm{cm^3}\) is

\[ m_{\mathrm{gypsum,dissolved}} =(2.3\ \mathrm{g\,dm^{-3}})(0.0500\ \mathrm{dm^3}) =0.115\ \mathrm g. \]

There is sufficient sulphate in the sample to reach this amount: the batch contains

\[ n_{\mathrm{sulphate,total}} =0.00500+\frac{0.035m_0}{80} =0.00621893\ \mathrm{mol}, \]

equivalent to approximately \(0.195\ \mathrm g\) of gypsum per \(1.00\ \mathrm g\) sample.

A simple direct mass correction subtracts the dissolved gypsum from the apparent soluble material:

\[ m_{\mathrm{phosphate,sample}}\approx0.856-0.115=0.741\ \mathrm g. \]

It then gives

\[ \boxed{ r\approx \frac{(5.49)(0.741)(142/234)}{2.56626}\,100 =96.20\%\approx96.2\%. } \]

This removes the principal source of the yield above \(100\%\), but hydrate water makes it an approximate gravimetric correction.

For explicit accounting, \(0.115\ \mathrm g\) of dissolved gypsum corresponds to only

\[ 0.115\frac{136}{172}=0.0909302\ \mathrm g \]

of anhydrous calcium sulphate. Subtracting that mass alone gives \(99.32\%\).

A more complete balance can also include the hydrate explanation from 1.4. Assume that:

  • the excess \(0.10306\ \mathrm g\) in operation 1 is entirely retained water;
  • sulphate remaining on the filter is gypsum;
  • other nonphosphate material is insoluble.

For the full batch, the dissolved sulphate amount is

\[ n_{\mathrm{sulphate,dissolved}} =\frac{5.49}{1.00}\frac{0.115}{172} =0.00367064\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Hence the dissolved anhydrous calcium sulphate mass is

\[ m_{\mathrm{sulphate,dissolved}} =(136)(0.00367064)=0.499207\ \mathrm g. \]

The water retained in the final gypsum filter cakes is

\[ \begin{aligned} m_{\mathrm{water,filter}} &=36\left(0.00621893-0.00367064\right)\\ &=0.0917386\ \mathrm g. \end{aligned} \]

The mass loss therefore contains dissolved phosphate, dissolved anhydrous sulphate, and the net loss of hydrate water. Solving for the anhydrous phosphate mass gives

\[ \begin{aligned} m_{\mathrm{phosphate,dissolved}} &=4.69944-0.499207-0.103059+0.0917386\\ &=4.18891\ \mathrm g. \end{aligned} \]

Thus, under these additional assumptions,

\[ \boxed{ r=\frac{4.18891(142/234)}{2.56626}\,100 =99.05\%\approx99.1\%. } \]

The solution was checked against the official solution.