IChO 1990 · Theory 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.

Answers

The main numerical answers use the customary room-temperature approximations \(pK_w=14.00\) and \(2.303RT/F=0.060\ \mathrm{V}\). Results using \(0.05916\ \mathrm{V}\) are also tabulated in the Solution. Names and SMILES are collected there.

  • 2.1 \[ \ce{[Cu(H2O)6]^2+ + H2O <=> [Cu(H2O)5(OH)]+ + H3O+}. \]

  • 2.2 \(\boxed{pK_a=7.30}\).

  • 2.3 \(\boxed{\mathrm{pH}=5.00}\). The conjugate base represents approximately \(0.50\%\) of dissolved copper(II).

  • 2.4 \[ \ce{2Cu+ <=> Cu^2+ + Cu(s)},\qquad \boxed{K\approx1.0\times10^6}. \]

  • 2.5 In the disproportionation-only model, \[ \boxed{[\ce{Cu+}]\approx7.0\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}}, \qquad \boxed{[\ce{Cu^2+}]\approx5.0\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}}. \] Approximately \(5.0\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}\) of copper metal is deposited.

  • 2.6 Two examples are chlorine in cold, dilute aqueous alkali and hydrogen peroxide on warming: \[ \ce{Cl2 + 2OH- -> Cl- + ClO- + H2O}, \] \[ \ce{2H2O2 -> 2H2O + O2}. \]

  • 2.7 \(\boxed{\mathrm{pH}=3.00}\); copper(I) oxide becomes stable against disproportionation above this boundary. Warming freshly precipitated copper(II) hydroxide with ethanal in alkaline water gives brick-red copper(I) oxide.

  • 2.8 \(\boxed{E^\circ=-0.14\ \mathrm{V}}\).

  • 2.9 \(\boxed{K_D=1.0\times10^{-12}}\).

  • 2.10 \(\boxed{E^\circ=+0.10\ \mathrm{V}}\). Disproportionation is strongly suppressed: \[ \ce{2[Cu(NH3)2]+ <=> [Cu(NH3)4]^2+ + Cu(s)}, \qquad \boxed{K\approx1.0\times10^{-4}}. \]

Solution

Activities are approximated by concentrations relative to \(c^\circ=1\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\); pure solids and water have unit activity. Consequently, concentrations substituted into the equilibrium expressions below are their numerical values in \(\mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\). Hydration is implicit when a simple copper-ion formula is used.

2.1 — Formation of the conjugate base

Writing the hydrated copper(II) ion conventionally as the hexaaqua complex,

\[ \boxed{\ce{[Cu(H2O)6]^2+ + H2O <=> [Cu(H2O)5(OH)]+ + H3O+}}. \]

A coordinated water molecule loses a proton. Its oxygen remains coordinated as a hydroxido ligand, so the complex charge decreases from \(+2\) to \(+1\). Copper remains in oxidation state \(+2\).

The conjugate base is therefore the pentaaquahydroxidocopper(II) ion.

2.2 — Acid dissociation constant

Let \(C=1.00\times10^{-2}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\). The measured pH gives

\[ h=[\ce{H3O+}]=10^{-4.65} =2.2387\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \]

Each hydrolysis event produces one conjugate-base ion and one hydronium ion. Water autoionization contributes only

\[ [\ce{OH-}]=\frac{10^{-14}}{h} =4.47\times10^{-10}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}, \]

so the conjugate-base concentration is effectively \(h\), and the remaining acid concentration is \(C-h\). Thus,

\[ K_a \simeq \frac{h^2}{C-h} = \frac{(2.2387\times10^{-5})^2} {1.00\times10^{-2}-2.2387\times10^{-5}} =5.02\times10^{-8}. \]

Therefore,

\[ \boxed{pK_a=-\log_{10}K_a=7.30}. \]

2.3 — Precipitation of copper(II) hydroxide

The precipitation reaction is

\[ \ce{Cu^2+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) -> Cu(OH)2(s)}. \]

At its onset,

\[ [\ce{Cu^2+}][\ce{OH-}]^2=K_{sp}. \]

Initially taking the free copper(II) concentration as \(1.00\times10^{-2}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\),

\[ [\ce{OH-}] = \sqrt{\frac{10^{-20}}{10^{-2}}} =1.0\times10^{-9}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \]

Hence,

\[ \mathrm{pOH}=9.00,\qquad \boxed{\mathrm{pH}=5.00}. \]

To check the approximation, the acid–base equilibrium gives

\[ \frac{[\ce{[Cu(H2O)5(OH)]+}]} {[\ce{[Cu(H2O)6]^2+}]} = \frac{K_a}{[\ce{H3O+}]} = \frac{5.02\times10^{-8}}{10^{-5}} =5.02\times10^{-3}. \]

The conjugate-base fraction is therefore

\[ \frac{5.02\times10^{-3}}{1+5.02\times10^{-3}} \approx0.0050=0.50\%. \]

Its concentration is negligible for the precipitation calculation. Including it changes the calculated onset only to approximately pH \(5.001\).

2.4 — Disproportionation of copper(I)

The two relevant half-reactions, oriented for disproportionation, are

\[ \ce{Cu+ + e- -> Cu(s)}, \]

\[ \ce{Cu+ -> Cu^2+ + e-}. \]

Their sum is

\[ \boxed{\ce{2Cu+ <=> Cu^2+ + Cu(s)}}. \]

The standard cell potential is

\[ E^\circ_{\mathrm{disp}} =E_1^\circ-E_2^\circ =0.52-0.16 =0.36\ \mathrm{V}. \]

One electron is transferred per reaction as written, so \(n=1\). Using

\[ \log_{10}K=\frac{nE^\circ_{\mathrm{disp}}}{0.060}, \]

we obtain

\[ \log_{10}K=6.00,\qquad \boxed{K=1.0\times10^6}. \]

The equilibrium expression is

\[ K=\frac{a_{\ce{Cu^2+}}}{a_{\ce{Cu+}}^2}. \]

The large value explains why uncomplexed aqueous copper(I) disproportionates extensively.

2.5 — Composition after disproportionation

Use the disproportionation equilibrium introduced in this subsection, with initial copper(I) concentration

\[ C_0=1.00\times10^{-2}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \]

If \(x\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\) of copper(II) forms, the same amount of copper metal forms, while \(2x\) of copper(I) is consumed:

\[ [\ce{Cu^2+}]=x,\qquad [\ce{Cu+}]=C_0-2x. \]

Therefore,

\[ 10^6=\frac{x}{(0.0100-2x)^2}. \]

Solving gives

\[ [\ce{Cu+}]=7.046\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}, \]

\[ [\ce{Cu^2+}]=4.965\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \]

Thus, to appropriate precision,

\[ \boxed{[\ce{Cu+}]\approx7.0\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}}, \]

\[ \boxed{[\ce{Cu^2+}]\approx5.0\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}}. \]

In \(1.0\ \mathrm{dm^3}\), approximately \(5.0\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}\) of copper metal is deposited.

Copper(II) hydrolysis alone would affect only about \(0.3\%\) of the dissolved copper(II), so it is neglected here. This calculation excludes oxide precipitation.

2.6 — Other disproportionation reactions

Chlorine. Pass chlorine into cold, dilute aqueous alkali:

\[ \boxed{\ce{Cl2 + 2OH- -> Cl- + ClO- + H2O}}. \]

Chlorine changes from oxidation state \(0\) to both \(-1\), in chloride, and \(+1\), in hypochlorite. The cold, dilute conditions favor hypochlorite as the oxidized product.

Hydrogen peroxide. Warm an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution:

\[ \boxed{\ce{2H2O2(aq) -> 2H2O(l) + O2(g)}}. \]

Oxygen changes from oxidation state \(-1\) in the peroxide to \(-2\) in water and \(0\) in oxygen gas. Oxygen evolution provides the observable evidence of decomposition.

2.7 — Stability and precipitation of copper(I) oxide

At the boundary between disproportionation and stability, the copper(I) concentration satisfies

\[ K=\frac{[\ce{Cu^2+}]}{[\ce{Cu+}]^2}. \]

With \([\ce{Cu^2+}]=1.00\times10^{-2}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\),

\[ [\ce{Cu+}] = \sqrt{\frac{10^{-2}}{10^6}} =1.0\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \]

The problem explicitly defines the oxide solubility product as

\[ [\ce{Cu+}][\ce{OH-}]=10^{-15}. \]

Consequently,

\[ [\ce{OH-}] = \frac{10^{-15}}{10^{-4}} =10^{-11}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}, \]

and

\[ \boxed{\mathrm{pH}=14.00-11.00=3.00}. \]

The direction of stability can also be established from the complete reactions. Oxide dissolution is

\[ \ce{Cu2O(s) + H2O(l) <=> 2Cu+(aq) + 2OH-(aq)}, \]

whose equilibrium constant is the square of the supplied product:

\[ K_{\mathrm{diss}}=(10^{-15})^2=10^{-30}. \]

Adding copper(I) disproportionation gives

\[ \ce{Cu2O(s) + H2O(l) <=> Cu^2+(aq) + Cu(s) + 2OH-(aq)}, \]

with

\[ K_{\mathrm{overall}}=10^{-30}\times10^6=10^{-24}. \]

Above pH 3, the increased hydroxide concentration favors the left-hand side. Thus copper(I) oxide is stable against this decomposition.

For an experiment, warm freshly precipitated blue copper(II) hydroxide with ethanal in alkaline water. Ethanal supplies the electrons needed to reduce copper(II) to copper(I), producing brick-red copper(I) oxide:

\[ \boxed{\ce{CH3CHO + 2Cu(OH)2 + OH- -> CH3COO- + Cu2O(s) + 3H2O}}. \]

2.8 — Reduction potential of diamminecopper(I)

The complex dissociates according to

\[ \ce{[Cu(NH3)2]+ <=> Cu+ + 2NH3}, \]

\[ K_{D,\mathrm I} = \frac{a_{\ce{Cu+}}a_{\ce{NH3}}^2} {a_{\ce{[Cu(NH3)2]+}}} =10^{-11}. \]

Adding this dissociation to

\[ \ce{Cu+ + e- <=> Cu(s)} \]

gives the required half-reaction:

\[ \ce{[Cu(NH3)2]+ + e- <=> Cu(s) + 2NH3}. \]

By addition of standard Gibbs energies,

\[ -FE_8^\circ = -RT\ln K_{D,\mathrm I}-FE_1^\circ. \]

Therefore,

\[ E_8^\circ = E_1^\circ+\frac{RT}{F}\ln K_{D,\mathrm I} = 0.52+0.060\log_{10}(10^{-11}), \]

so

\[ \boxed{E_8^\circ=-0.14\ \mathrm{V}}. \]

Complexation stabilizes copper(I), making its reduction to the metal less favorable.

2.9 — Dissociation constant of tetraamminecopper(II)

First obtain the standard potential for

\[ \ce{Cu^2+ + 2e- <=> Cu(s)}. \]

The two successive one-electron reductions have potentials \(0.16\) and \(0.52\ \mathrm{V}\). Adding their Gibbs energies gives

\[ -2FE^\circ=-F(0.16)-F(0.52), \]

hence

\[ E^\circ=\frac{0.16+0.52}{2}=0.34\ \mathrm{V}. \]

The complex dissociation is

\[ \ce{[Cu(NH3)4]^2+ <=> Cu^2+ + 4NH3}. \]

Adding it to the two-electron reduction gives

\[ \ce{[Cu(NH3)4]^2+ + 2e- <=> Cu(s) + 4NH3}. \]

Thus,

\[ E_3^\circ = 0.34+\frac{0.060}{2}\log_{10}K_{D,\mathrm{II}}. \]

Substitution of \(E_3^\circ=-0.02\ \mathrm{V}\) yields

\[ \log_{10}K_{D,\mathrm{II}} = \frac{2(-0.02-0.34)}{0.060} =-12. \]

Therefore,

\[ \boxed{K_{D,\mathrm{II}}=1.0\times10^{-12}}. \]

2.10 — Potential between the complexes and disproportionation

The desired half-reaction is

\[ \ce{[Cu(NH3)4]^2+ + e- <=> [Cu(NH3)2]+ + 2NH3}. \]

Adding it to the half-reaction in 2.8 gives the two-electron half-reaction in 2.9. Consequently,

\[ -2FE_3^\circ=-FE_{10}^\circ-FE_8^\circ, \]

so

\[ E_{10}^\circ=2E_3^\circ-E_8^\circ =2(-0.02)-(-0.14). \]

Therefore,

\[ \boxed{E_{10}^\circ=+0.10\ \mathrm{V}}. \]

Disproportionation of the copper(I) complex would be

\[ \boxed{\ce{2[Cu(NH3)2]+ <=> [Cu(NH3)4]^2+ + Cu(s)}}. \]

Its standard cell potential is

\[ E^\circ_{\mathrm{disp,amm}} =E_8^\circ-E_{10}^\circ =-0.14-0.10=-0.24\ \mathrm{V}, \]

giving

\[ \log_{10}K_{\mathrm{disp,amm}} =\frac{-0.24}{0.060}=-4, \]

\[ \boxed{K_{\mathrm{disp,amm}}=10^{-4}}. \]

Thus no appreciable disproportionation is expected under standard conditions. This means that disproportionation is strongly suppressed; it does not require the equilibrium product concentration to be exactly zero.

As an independent check,

\[ K_{\mathrm{disp,amm}} = K_{\mathrm{disp}} \frac{K_{D,\mathrm I}^2}{K_{D,\mathrm{II}}} = 10^6\frac{(10^{-11})^2}{10^{-12}} =10^{-4}. \]

Effect of using the more precise Nernst coefficient

Using \(2.303RT/F=0.05916\ \mathrm{V}\) consistently at \(25^\circ\mathrm C\) gives the following values. The chemical conclusions are unchanged.

Part Result with \(0.05916\ \mathrm{V}\)
2.4 \(K=1.2\times10^6\)
2.5 \([\ce{Cu+}]=6.4\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\), \([\ce{Cu^2+}]\approx5.0\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\)
2.7 \(\mathrm{pH}=3.04\)
2.8 \(E_8^\circ\approx-0.13\ \mathrm{V}\)
2.9 \(K_{D,\mathrm{II}}=6.8\times10^{-13}\)
2.10 \(E_{10}^\circ\approx+0.09\ \mathrm{V}\), \(K_{\mathrm{disp,amm}}=1.8\times10^{-4}\)

Chemical names and SMILES

Each species is identified once below. The arrows in the complex SMILES are dative-bond extensions to SMILES.

Formula Name SMILES
\(\ce{H2O}\) Water O
\(\ce{H3O+}\) Hydronium ion [OH3+]
\(\ce{OH-}\) Hydroxide ion [OH-]
\(\ce{NO3-}\) Nitrate ion [O-][N+](=O)[O-]
\(\ce{Cu+}\) Copper(I) ion [Cu+]
\(\ce{Cu^2+}\) Copper(II) ion [Cu+2]
\(\ce{[Cu(H2O)6]^2+}\) Hexaaquacopper(II) ion [OH2]->[Cu+2](<-[OH2])(<-[OH2])(<-[OH2])(<-[OH2])<-[OH2]
\(\ce{[Cu(H2O)5(OH)]+}\) Pentaaquahydroxidocopper(II) ion [OH-]->[Cu+2](<-[OH2])(<-[OH2])(<-[OH2])(<-[OH2])<-[OH2]
\(\ce{Cl2}\) Chlorine ClCl
\(\ce{Cl-}\) Chloride ion [Cl-]
\(\ce{ClO-}\) Hypochlorite ion [O-]Cl
\(\ce{H2O2}\) Hydrogen peroxide OO
\(\ce{O2}\) Dioxygen O=O
\(\ce{CH3CHO}\) Ethanal CC=O
\(\ce{CH3COO-}\) Ethanoate, or acetate, ion CC(=O)[O-]
\(\ce{NH3}\) Ammonia N
\(\ce{[Cu(NH3)2]+}\) Diamminecopper(I) ion [NH3]->[Cu+]<-[NH3]
\(\ce{[Cu(NH3)4]^2+}\) Tetraamminecopper(II) ion [NH3]->[Cu+2](<-[NH3])(<-[NH3])<-[NH3]
\(\ce{Cu(s)}\) Copper metal [Cu]
\(\ce{Cu(OH)2(s)}\) Copper(II) hydroxide [Cu+2].[OH-].[OH-]
\(\ce{Cu2O(s)}\) Copper(I) oxide [Cu+].[Cu+].[O-2]

The solid representations give an atom or formal ionic formula unit; they do not describe the crystal lattice. Bare-ion SMILES omit hydration.

The explicit aqua complexes use a six-coordinate, distorted octahedral model. Diamminecopper(I) is approximately linear. In aqueous tetraamminecopper(II), the four ammonia donors typically occupy an approximately square equatorial arrangement, with additional axial water coordination. These geometries are not specified by the SMILES. Likewise, OO does not fix hydrogen peroxide’s torsion angle, and O=O does not encode dioxygen’s triplet spin state.

The solution was checked against the official solution. Where this solution differs from the official solution, the official solution contains an error or a misprint.