International Chemistry Olympiad

IChO 1991

Lodz, Poland · 6 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Dissolution of Tl2S and CuS in acids

    1.1 Show that 0.1 mol of \(\ce{Tl2S}\) dissolves in a 1 M solution of any strong monoprotic non-coordinating acid.

    1.2 Show that 0.1 \(\ce{CuS}\) dissolves in a 1 M \(\ce{HNO3}\) but not in a 1 M \(\ce{HCl}\) solution.

    Information:

    Assume that \(\ce{Cu^2+}\) ions do not form stable complexes with chloride ions in aqueous solutions.

    \[ \begin{aligned} E^0(\ce{S}/\ce{S^2-})&=-0.48\ \mathrm{V} & E^0(\ce{NO3^-}/\ce{NO(aq)})&=0.96\ \mathrm{V} \\ pK_a(\ce{H2S})&=7 & pK_a(\ce{HS^-})&=13 \\ K_{sp}(\ce{Tl2S})&=1\times10^{-20} & K_{sp}(\ce{CuS})&=1\times10^{-35} \end{aligned} \]

    Solubility of \(\ce{NO}\) in water (298 K): \(2.53\times10^{-2}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\)

    Solubility of \(\ce{H2S}\) in water (298 K): \(0.1\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\)

    \[ R=8.314\ \mathrm{J\,K^{-1}\,mol^{-1}} \qquad F=96\,487\ \mathrm{C\,mol^{-1}} \]

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Structure of a hydrocarbon polymer and its degradation products

    A polymer X contains 88.25 % \(\ce{C}\) and 11.75 % \(\ce{H}\). In dilute solutions it reacts with bromine and ozone. The thermal degradation of X produces a volatile liquid Y in 58 % yield. Y starts boiling at 34 °C and contains 88.25 % \(\ce{C}\) and 11.72 % \(\ce{H}\). Some higher boiling products are formed both from the cracking of X and from Diels-Alder type cyclization of Y. The vapour of Y was 34 times as dense as hydrogen.

    The product of bromination of Y yields a compound containing 82.5 % bromine by mass. Ozonolysis of Y followed by mild reduction gave A and B in a molar ratio A : B = 2 : 1. Only compound B gave a positive result for the iodoform reaction.

    2.1 Determine the molecular formula and the molar mass of Y.

    2.2 Show the structures of compounds Y, A, and B.

    2.3 Give an equation for the reaction of Y with bromine.

    In the catalytic hydrogenation of 13.6 g of X, 0.2 mole of hydrogen was absorbed. Ozonolysis of X followed by mild reduction yielded compound Z (60.0 % \(\ce{C}\), 8.0 % \(\ce{H}\)).

    2.4 Give the molecular formula of Z and the degree of unsaturation of X.

    Compound Z gave a positive reaction with Fehling's solution. Mild oxidation of Z gave an acid C. A solution of acid C was titrated with aqueous \(\ce{KOH}\) solution (phenolphthalein as indicator). 0.001 mol \(\ce{KOH}\) was necessary for neutralization of 0.116 g of C.

    In the iodoform reaction a probe 2.90 g of C yielded 9.85 g of iodoform. In addition, the alkaline filtrate yielded compound D upon acidification.

    2.5 What is the molar mass of C and what functional groups are present in Z?

    When heated, D loses water to form E. Both D and E react with an excess of acidified ethanol to F (\(\ce{C8H14O4}\)).

    2.6 Sketch the structures of C, D, E, F and Z.

    2.7 X exists in isomeric forms which are stereoregular. Show the structure (containing at least 3 monomer units) for two possible stereoisomers of X.

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Silver/silver chloride and calomel electrodes

    Type II electrodes that are made of a metal covered with a sparingly soluble salt of the metal are dipped into a soluble salt solution containing an anion of the sparingly soluble salt. The silver/silver chloride (\(\ce{Ag},\,\ce{AgCl}/\ce{Cl^-}\)) and the calomel electrode (\(\ce{Hg},\,\ce{Hg2Cl2}/\ce{Cl^-}\)) are examples of such electrodes. The standard emf of a cell built of those electrodes \((-)\ \ce{Ag},\ce{AgCl}/\ce{Cl^-}\parallel\ce{Hg2Cl2}/\ce{Hg}\ (+)\) is \(E^0=0.0455\ \mathrm{V}\) at \(T=298\ \mathrm{K}\). The temperature coefficient for this cell is \(dE^0/dT=3.38\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm{V\,K^{-1}}\).

    3.1 Give the equations of the reactions taking place at both the cell electrodes and the overall cell reaction.

    3.2 Calculate the Gibbs free energy change (\(\Delta G^0\)) for the process taking place in the cell at 298 K. What does its sign imply?

    3.3 Calculate the enthalpy change for the process taking place at 298 K.

    \[ \Delta S=n\,F\,\Delta E/\Delta T. \]

    3.4 Knowing the standard potential of \(\ce{Ag}/\ce{Ag+}\) electrode is \(E^0=0.799\ \mathrm{V}\) and the solubility product of \(\ce{AgCl}\) \(K_{sp}=1.73\times10^{-10}\), calculate the standard electrode potential value of the silver/silver chloride electrode. Derive an expression showing the dependence between \(E^0(\ce{Ag}/\ce{Ag+})\) and \(E^0(\ce{Ag},\ce{AgCl}/\ce{Cl^-})\).

    3.5 Calculate the solubility product of \(\ce{Hg2Cl2}\) knowing that the standard potential of the calomel electrode is \(E^0=0.798\ \mathrm{V}\).

    \[ F=96487\ \mathrm{C\,mol^{-1}},\qquad R=8.314\ \mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}\,K^{-1}},\qquad T=298\ \mathrm{K} \]

    Official English text of the problem.

  4. Problem 4: Hydrogen atom energy levels, Lyman series and the photoelectric effect

    The energy of stable states of the hydrogen atom is given by: \(E_n=-2.18\times10^{-18}/n^2\ [\mathrm{J}]\)

    where \(n\) denotes the principal quantum number.

    4.1 Calculate the energy differences between \(n=2\) (first excited state) and \(n=1\) (ground state) and between \(n=7\) and \(n=1\).

    4.2 In what spectral range is the Lyman series lying?

    4.3 Can a single photon, emitted in the first and/or sixth line of the Lyman series, ionize:

    a) another hydrogen atom in its ground state?

    b) a copper atom in the \(\ce{Cu}\) crystal?

    The electron work function of \(\ce{Cu}\) is \(\Phi_{\ce{Cu}}=7.44\times10^{-19}\ \mathrm{J}\).

    4.4 Calculate the de Broglie wavelength of the electrons emitted from a copper crystal when irradiated by photons from the first line and the sixth line of the Lyman series.

    \(h=6.6256\times10^{-34}\ \mathrm{J\,s};\qquad m_e=9.1091\times10^{-31}\ \mathrm{kg};\qquad c=2.99792\times10^8\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}\)

    Official English text of the problem.

  5. Problem 5: Halogen derivatives of hydrocarbons

    After passing 0.25 mol of hydrocarbon A over heated pumice (950 K) in an iron pipe, compound B in yield of 80 % (i. e. 15.4 g) and 2.4 dm\(^3\) of hydrogen, (295 K, 102 kPa) were obtained.

    B and hydrogen are the only products. A mixture of halogen derivatives C, D, E, F and G is produced from B by reaction with a halogen in presence of a Lewis acid. Compounds C to G contain each one halogen atom more then the preceding compound. For the compounds C to F only one of the possible isomers is formed. In compound G there is no such preference and its three isomers G₁, G₂ and G₃ are found in the mixture. Compounds C to F racemize easily so that no optical isomerism occurs. However racemization is difficult for G₁, G₂, and especially for G₃. In the mass spectrum of E only three isotopic peaks were observed. Their relative intensities are 1: 1: 0.3.

    Information:

    • \(k_{\mathrm{ortho}}>k_{\mathrm{para}}\) in compound B.
    • The effect of the first halogen in the ring: \(k_{\mathrm{para}}>k_{\mathrm{ortho}}\).
    • Compounds D and F in one of their conformations have a center of symmetry.
    • The contribution of carbon and hydrogen isotopes in the mass spectrum of E are negligible.
    • Natural abundance of halogen isotopes:

    \(\ce{^{19}F}=100\ \%\);

    \(\ce{^{35}Cl}=75.53\ \%\); \(\ce{^{37}Cl}=24.47\ \%\);

    \(\ce{^{79}Br}=50.54\ \%\); \(\ce{^{81}Br}=49.46\ \%\);

    \(\ce{^{127}I}=100\ \%\).

    5.1 Give the structures of A, B, C, D, E, F, G₁, G₂ and G₃.

    5.2 Explain your choice for the halogen.

    5.3 Draw and label stereo-formulas of the rotational isomers of D for \(\Phi=0,\pi/2,\pi,\) and \(3\pi/2\), where \(\Phi\) denotes the dihedral or torsional angle in radians and \(\vartheta=0\) describes the configuration with maximal energy.

    5.4 Draw profiles of the energy changes as a function of the angle of rotation around the \(\ce{C-C}\) bond for compounds C and D.

    5.5 Give a sequence of G₁, G₂, G₃ according to their increasing difficulty of racemization. Explain your answer.

    5.6 Draw stereo-formulas of the enantiomers of G₃.

    5.7 Suggest a chemical reaction or a biological method by which compounds like these can be destroyed.

    Official English text of the problem.

  6. Problem 6: Production of sulphuric acid and oleum

    Sulphuric acid is produced by catalytic oxidation of \(\ce{SO2}\) to \(\ce{SO3}\), absorption of \(\ce{SO3}\) in concentrated sulphuric acid forming oleum (containing 20 % \(\ce{SO3}\) by mass) and appropriate dilution hereafter. The gas leaving the catalyst chamber contains nitrogen, oxygen, a trace of \(\ce{SO2}\) and 10 % (by volume) of \(\ce{SO3}\). Sulphur trioxide, \(\ce{SO3}\), is converted into sulphuric acid (98 % by mass) and/or oleum.

    6.1 Assuming that oleum is the only product formed, calculate the mass of water which is required for \(1000\ \mathrm{m^3}\) of gas leaving the catalyst chamber (273 K, 101.3 kPa).

    6.2 Assuming that only 98 % sulphuric acid is produced, calculate the necessary mass of water and the mass of product produced thereby.

    6.3 In the industry both oleum and 98 % sulphuric acid are produced in a mass ratio of \(x=m_1/m_2\), where \(m_1\) denotes the mass of oleum, \(m_2\) the mass of 98 % sulphuric acid. Find an expression \(y=f(x)\) to describe the relation between the mass of water consumed for \(1000\ \mathrm{m^3}\) gas (denoted \(y\)) and the value of \(x\). Show that the results of 6.1) and 6.2) are in good agreement with your mathematical expression.

    Official English text of the problem.