IChO 1991 · Theory 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.

Answers

The numerical demonstrations use \(1.00\ \mathrm{dm^3}\) of each initially 1 M acid, since the printed problem omits the volume.

  • 1.1: All \(0.1\ \mathrm{mol}\) of \(\ce{Tl2S}\) dissolves. After complete dissolution, its ion product is \(6.3\times10^{-23}\), below \(K_{sp}=10^{-20}\).
  • 1.2: All \(0.1\ \mathrm{mol}\) of \(\ce{CuS}\) dissolves in nitric acid through oxidation of sulfide to sulfur and reduction of nitrate to nitrogen monoxide. The overall equilibrium constant is approximately \(1.4\times10^{41}\). In hydrochloric acid, its equilibrium solubility is only \(3.2\times10^{-8}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\).

Solution

Use \(T=298\ \mathrm{K}\), approximate activities by concentrations divided by the standard concentration \(1\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\), and assign unit activity to pure solids and water. Concentrations inserted into equilibrium quotients below are numerical values in \(\mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\). Neglect solution-volume changes.

1.1 — Dissolution of thallium(I) sulfide

The acid dissociation equilibria are

\[ \ce{H2S(aq) <=> H+(aq) + HS^-(aq)}, \qquad K_{a1}=10^{-7}, \]

\[ \ce{HS^-(aq) <=> H+(aq) + S^2-(aq)}, \qquad K_{a2}=10^{-13}. \]

Consequently,

\[ [\ce{S^2-}] =\frac{K_{a1}K_{a2}[\ce{H2S}]}{[\ce{H+}]^2} =\frac{10^{-20}[\ce{H2S}]}{[\ce{H+}]^2}. \]

Thus, strong acid greatly suppresses the free sulfide-ion concentration.

Combining dissolution,

\[ \ce{Tl2S(s) <=> 2Tl+(aq) + S^2-(aq)}, \]

with sulfide protonation gives

\[ \boxed{\ce{Tl2S(s) + 2H+(aq) <=> 2Tl+(aq) + H2S(aq)}}. \]

Its equilibrium constant is

\[ K_{\mathrm{Tl}} =\frac{K_{sp}(\ce{Tl2S})}{K_{a1}K_{a2}} =\frac{10^{-20}}{10^{-20}} =1. \]

Test complete dissolution of \(0.1\ \mathrm{mol}\) in \(1.00\ \mathrm{dm^3}\) of initially 1 M acid. The resulting concentrations would be approximately

\[ [\ce{Tl+}]=0.20\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}, \]

\[ [\ce{H2S}]=0.10\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}, \]

\[ [\ce{H+}]=1.00-2(0.10) =0.80\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \]

The hydrogen sulfide concentration reaches the quoted solubility; any escape of this gas would further favor dissolution.

The corresponding sulfide concentration is

\[ [\ce{S^2-}] =\frac{10^{-20}(0.10)}{(0.80)^2} =1.56\times10^{-21}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \]

Therefore,

\[ Q_{sp} =[\ce{Tl+}]^2[\ce{S^2-}] =(0.20)^2(1.56\times10^{-21}) =6.25\times10^{-23} <10^{-20}. \]

Even after all the solid has dissolved, the solution remains undersaturated with respect to \(\ce{Tl2S}\). Complete dissolution is therefore thermodynamically favored.

Within the stated model, a strong monoprotic non-coordinating acid supplies the required hydrogen ions, while its anion does not enter this equilibrium. The conclusion therefore does not depend on the identity of that anion.

1.2 — Dissolution of copper(II) sulfide

In hydrochloric acid

The corresponding acid-driven reaction is

\[ \ce{CuS(s) + 2H+(aq) <=> Cu^2+(aq) + H2S(aq)}. \]

Its equilibrium constant is

\[ K_{\mathrm{Cu,acid}} =\frac{K_{sp}(\ce{CuS})}{K_{a1}K_{a2}} =\frac{10^{-35}}{10^{-20}} =10^{-15}. \]

Let \(s\) be the molar solubility in initially 1 M hydrochloric acid. Almost all dissolved sulfide is present as hydrogen sulfide, so

\[ [\ce{Cu^2+}]\simeq[\ce{H2S}]\simeq s, \qquad [\ce{H+}]\simeq1. \]

Hence,

\[ K_{\mathrm{Cu,acid}} =\frac{[\ce{Cu^2+}][\ce{H2S}]}{[\ce{H+}]^2} \simeq s^2, \]

giving

\[ \boxed{s\simeq\sqrt{10^{-15}} =3.2\times10^{-8}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}}. \]

Proton consumption at this concentration is negligible, confirming the approximation. The hydrogen sulfide concentration is also far below its quoted solubility.

Thus, only about \(3.2\times10^{-8}\ \mathrm{mol}\) dissolves in \(1.00\ \mathrm{dm^3}\). By the stipulated absence of stable copper–chloride complexes, complex formation provides no additional driving force. The requested \(0.1\ \mathrm{mol}\) does not dissolve in this volume of hydrochloric acid.

In nitric acid

Nitrate provides an additional dissolution pathway by oxidizing sulfide to elemental sulfur. The relevant half-reactions are

\[ \ce{S^2-(aq) -> S(s) + 2e-} \]

and

\[ \ce{NO3^-(aq) + 4H+(aq) + 3e- -> NO(aq) + 2H2O(l)}. \]

The standard cell potential is

\[ E^0_{\mathrm{cell}} =0.96-(-0.48) =1.44\ \mathrm{V}. \]

Balancing the electron transfer gives

\[ \ce{3S^2-(aq) + 2NO3^-(aq) + 8H+(aq) -> 3S(s) + 2NO(aq) + 4H2O(l)}. \]

Six electrons are transferred, so

\[ \ln K_{\mathrm{redox}} =\frac{6FE^0_{\mathrm{cell}}}{RT}, \]

or

\[ \log_{10}K_{\mathrm{redox}} = \frac{6(96487)(1.44)} {(8.314)(298)\ln 10} =146.13. \]

This oxidation must also overcome the low solubility of the solid. Adding three dissolution reactions,

\[ \ce{3CuS(s) <=> 3Cu^2+(aq) + 3S^2-(aq)}, \]

produces the overall reaction

\[ \boxed{ \ce{3CuS(s) + 2NO3^-(aq) + 8H+(aq) -> 3Cu^2+(aq) + 3S(s) + 2NO(aq) + 4H2O(l)} }. \]

Equilibrium constants multiply when reactions are added:

\[ K_{\mathrm{overall}} =K_{sp}(\ce{CuS})^3K_{\mathrm{redox}} =(10^{-35})^3\,10^{146.13}. \]

Therefore,

\[ \boxed{K_{\mathrm{overall}}\simeq1.4\times10^{41}}. \]

To check complete dissolution explicitly, \(0.1\ \mathrm{mol}\) of \(\ce{CuS}\) consumes

\[ n(\ce{H+})=\frac83(0.1)=0.267\ \mathrm{mol}, \qquad n(\ce{NO3^-})=\frac23(0.1)=0.0667\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

In the chosen \(1.00\ \mathrm{dm^3}\) volume, the final concentrations would consequently be

\[ [\ce{Cu^2+}]=0.100,\qquad [\ce{H+}]=0.733,\qquad [\ce{NO3^-}]=0.933 \quad\mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \]

The reaction generates \(0.0667\ \mathrm{mol}\) of nitrogen monoxide. At the quoted gas-solubility condition, only \(0.0253\ \mathrm{mol}\) can remain dissolved in this volume; excess gas can escape:

\[ \ce{NO(aq) <=> NO(g)}. \]

Using the quoted dissolved concentration as an upper bound,

\[ Q_{\mathrm{overall}} = \frac{[\ce{Cu^2+}]^3[\ce{NO}]^2} {[\ce{NO3^-}]^2[\ce{H+}]^8} \leq \frac{(0.100)^3(0.0253)^2} {(0.933)^2(0.733)^8} \simeq8.8\times10^{-6}. \]

Since

\[ Q_{\mathrm{overall}}\ll K_{\mathrm{overall}}, \]

all \(0.1\ \mathrm{mol}\) of copper(II) sulfide dissolves in the nitric acid, with ample acid remaining.

Species names and SMILES

Formula Name SMILES
\(\ce{Tl2S}\) Thallium(I) sulfide [Tl+].[Tl+].[S-2]
\(\ce{CuS}\) Copper(II) sulfide [Cu+2].[S-2]
\(\ce{Tl+}\) Thallium(I) ion [Tl+]
\(\ce{Cu^2+}\) Copper(II) ion [Cu+2]
\(\ce{H+}\) Hydrogen ion, proton [H+]
\(\ce{S^2-}\) Sulfide ion [S-2]
\(\ce{HS^-}\) Hydrogensulfide ion [SH-]
\(\ce{H2S}\) Hydrogen sulfide S
\(\ce{HNO3}\) Nitric acid O=[N+]([O-])O
\(\ce{HCl}\) Hydrogen chloride; hydrochloric acid in water Cl
\(\ce{NO3^-}\) Nitrate ion [O-][N+](=O)[O-]
\(\ce{Cl^-}\) Chloride ion [Cl-]
\(\ce{NO}\) Nitrogen monoxide, nitric oxide [N]=O
\(\ce{H2O}\) Water O
\(\ce{S8}\) Cyclooctasulfur, the molecular form of ordinary solid sulfur S1SSSSSSS1

The sulfide-solid SMILES record the formal ionic compositions used in the equilibrium model; they do not describe crystal bonding or geometry. The acid SMILES show neutral molecules, while the strong acids are dissociated in the calculations. Proton hydration is implicit. Reaction equations write elemental sulfur as \(\ce{S(s)}\) per sulfur atom; the \(\ce{S8}\) SMILES specifies ring connectivity without specifying its crown conformation.

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.