International Chemistry Olympiad

IChO 1996

Moscow, Russian Federation · 7 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Tellurium chloroaluminates from the Te - TeCl4/AlCl3 system

    The stereoregular polymerization of unsaturated hydrocarbons is usually considered as one of the most important for the industrial organic chemistry. The salts of big nonlinear cations carrying a sufficiently high charge to attack the electron density distributed along the \(\pi\)-bonds of the olefin molecules are usually used as the catalysts in these processes. Chloroaluminate anions (like \(\ce{AlCl4-}\)) possessing a highly delocalized negative charge are used usually as the anions. The necessity to develop new catalysts of this kind urged the chemists to study the interaction in the system A - B, where A = \(\ce{Te(cryst.)}\) and B = (\(\ce{TeCl4 + 4AlCl3}\)). The second component B was considered as an analog of Te(IV) chloroaluminate \(\ce{Te[AlCl4]4}\) which, however, cannot be isolated as an individual compound. It was found out that the interaction of the components A and B can lead to the formation of three new compounds (I, II and III) in the systems containing initially 77.8, 87.5 and 91.7 mol. % of the component A, respectively. It was also noticed that while in the case of compounds II and III no side products were formed, the formation of I was accompanied by the evolution of 1 mole of volatile \(\ce{TeCl4}\) per two moles of I.

    The compounds I and II attracted a particular interest of investigators. They both have pinkish-purple color and both dissociate into three ions as the conductivity studies in melted \(\ce{NaAlCl4}\) showed. The cryoscopic measurements in \(\ce{NaAlCl4}\) melt enabled to determine the molecular weights of these compounds being equal to \(1126 \pm 43\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\) and \(867 \pm 48\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\) for I and II, respectively. In the IR spectra of both compounds there is only one band observed which can be attributed to a vibration mode of a bond formed by Te atom. This band lies at \(133\ \mathrm{cm^{-1}}\) and is therefore so low in energy that this bond undoubtedly is a kind of Te – Te interaction. The \(\ce{^{27}Al}\) NMR data for the complexes I and II show that in each compound there is only one type of tetrahedrally coordinated aluminum. However, the observed chemical shifts of aluminium for the compounds I and II are different, thus manifesting that Al atoms are different in them.

    1.1 Determine Te : Al : Cl minimal atomic ratio for the complexes I, II and III.

    1.2 Write the molecular-formulae of the compounds I and II.

    1.3 Write the formulae of the anions and cations in compounds I and II.

    1.4 Draw stereochemical formulae of cations and anions in the structures of I and II assuming that the cations in I and II are examples of inorganic aromatic systems.

    1.5 Which compound has a higher thermal stability, I or II, taking into account that \(\ce{AlCl3}\) is extremely volatile compound.

    1.6 If one of the compounds I or II can be transformed into the other by heating, write the corresponding reaction equation.

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Detection limit for bismuth: gravimetric and multiplicative methods

    The detection limit is one of the basic parameters in quantitative analysis of trace amounts of elements. The detection limit is expressed as the least mass of an element which can be determined by a given method with a given accuracy.

    As an example we shall consider the method used for the determination of microscopic amounts of bismuth. In 1927 German chemist Berg suggested to precipitate bismuth as a practically insoluble salt: 8-hydroxyquinolinium tetraiodobismuthate \(\ce{[C9H6(OH)NH][BiI4]}\) (\(M_r = 862.7\)).

    2.1 a) Draw the structural formulae of the cation and anion of this salt.

    b) What is the oxidation state of \(\ce{Bi}\) atom in this compound?

    2.2 Evaluate the smallest mass of bismuth (in mg), which can be determined reliably by Berg method, if the smallest mass of precipitate which can be reliably measured is 50.0 mg.

    For the determination of trace amounts of bismuth R. Belcher and co-workers from Birmingham developed a multiplicative method. According to this method a chain of reactions followed by a titration of the final product is carried out. A detailed description follows.

    Step 1: To a given small amount (\(\approx 2\ \mathrm{cm^3}\)) of cold acidified solution containing trace amounts of \(\ce{Bi^3+}\) 50 mg of potassium hexathiocyanatochromate(III) (\(\ce{K3[Cr(SCN)6]}\)) is added in the cold, that leads to practically quantitative precipitation of bismuth.

    2.3 Write a balanced net ionic equation of this reaction.

    Step 2: The precipitate is filtered off, washed by cold water, and treated with \(5\ \mathrm{cm^3}\) of 10 % solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate. Upon this treatment the initial precipitate transforms into the precipitate of oxobismuth(III) carbonate \(\ce{(BiO)2CO3}\) with liberation of hexathiocyanatochromate(III) ions into solution.

    2.4 Write a balanced net ionic equation of this reaction.

    Step 3: To the slightly acidified filtrate transferred to a separatory funnel \(0.5\ \mathrm{cm^3}\) of saturated iodine solution in chloroform are added, and the mixture is vigorously shaken. Iodine oxidizes the ligand of the complex ion to \(\ce{ICN}\) and sulphate ion.

    2.5 Write a balanced net ionic equation of this reaction.

    Step 4: Upon 5 minutes \(4\ \mathrm{cm^3}\) of 2 M \(\ce{H2SO4}\) solution are added to the mixture. The acidification leads to the reaction of coproportionation with the evolution of molecular iodine.

    2.6 Write a balanced net ionic equation of the reaction occurred on acidification.

    Step 5: Iodine is quantitatively extracted by 4 portions of chloroform. Aqueous layer is transferred to a flask, to which \(1\ \mathrm{cm^3}\) of bromine water is added, and the mixture is mixed for 5 minutes.

    2.7 Write the balanced net ionic equations of the reactions occurred upon the addition of bromine water. Note that an excess of bromine can react with hydrogen cyanide to give \(\ce{BrCN}\), and iodide is oxidized into \(\ce{IO3^-}\).

    Step 6: To eliminate an excess of molecular bromine \(3\ \mathrm{cm^3}\) of 90 % methanoic (formic) acid is added to the mixture.

    2.8 Write a balanced net ionic equation of this reaction.

    Step 7: To the slightly acidic solution an excess (1.5 g) of potassium iodide is added.

    2.9 Write the balanced net ionic equations of the reactions occurred upon the addition of \(\ce{KI}\), taking into consideration that iodide reacts with \(\ce{BrCN}\) in a similar manner as with \(\ce{ICN}\) to form molecular iodine.

    Step 8: The resulting solution is titrated by a standard 0.00200 M \(\ce{Na2S2O3}\) solution. The results thus obtained are used to calculate the content of bismuth in the sample taken for analysis.

    2.10 a) How many moles of thiosulphate are equivalent to 1 mol of bismuth in the initial sample?

    b) What is the least mass of bismuth which can be determined by this method (assume that reliable determination requires no less than \(1\ \mathrm{cm^3}\) of standard 0.00200 M \(\ce{Na2S2O3}\) solution)?

    2.11 By how many times the multiplicative method just described is more sensitive than Berg’s gravimetric method?

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Avogadro's number from the decay of radium

    In 1908 Rutherford together with H.Geiger measured the rate of emission of \(\alpha\)-particles (\(x\)) by radium (in the nature this element is represented by a single nuclide \(\ce{^{226}_{88}Ra}\)) and found that 1.00 g of radium emits \(x = 3.42\times10^{10}\) \(\alpha\) - particles per second.

    In 1911 Rutherford and American physical chemist B.Boltwood measured the rate of formation of helium from radium. This experiment permits to obtain the most accurate value of Avogadro’s number available at that time, given that the value of molar volume of ideal gas was well established. To achieve this goal a sample of radium salt purified from decay products and containing \(m = 192\) mg of \(\ce{Ra}\) was put into a device and the volume of the evolved helium was measured. After 83 days (\(t = 83.0\) days) of the experiment 6.58 \(\mathrm{mm^3}\) of \(\ce{He}\) was collected (\(V_{\mathrm{He}} = 6.58\ \mathrm{mm^3}\) corrected to \(0^\circ\mathrm{C}\) and 1 atm).

    To understand the results of this experiment we shall need the kinetic scheme of radioactive decay of \(\ce{Ra}\) which is given below (half-lives are over the arrows, the type of decay is below the arrows).

    Figure 1

    (RaA - RaE are intermediate products of radon decay).

    3.1 Write the first six radioactive decays using a modern notation showing atomic and mass numbers of all nuclei involved.

    As a rough first approximation half-lives of all radium decay products, except those of RaD and \(\ce{Po}\), may be assumed to be negligible compared to the time of measurement \(t\). Using this approximation perform the following calculations.

    3.2 a) How many helium atoms were formed from each decayed radium atom after 83 days?

    b) How many helium atoms were formed in total during the experiment?

    3.3 Calculate an approximate value of Avogadro’s number from the above data.

    For a more accurate computation of Avogadro’s number the half-life of radon \(T_{1/2}(\ce{Rn}) = 3.83\) days cannot be neglected as it is comparable with the duration of experiment \(t\) and not all of radon atoms decayed to the end of experiment.

    3.4 Choose which of the plots given below displays the time dependence of the number \(N_{\mathrm{Rn}}\) of radon atoms in the course of the experiment.

    Figure 2

    3.5 Choose which of the plots given below shows the time dependence of the volume of helium in the course of the experiment.

    Figure 3

    3.6 Choose the relation between the decay rate \(k\) of any given nuclide and its half-life \(T_{1/2}\).

    3.7 a) Using a short kinetic scheme

    Figure 4

    (where \(k_1\) and \(k_2\) are the rate constants of the corresponding reactions) and the plot which you have selected in question 4, write a relation between the number of radon atoms at the end of experiment \(N'_{\mathrm{Rn}}\) and the number of radium atoms \(N_{\mathrm{Ra}}\).

    b) Calculate \(N'_{\mathrm{Rn}}\) using the rate of radium decay given above (\(x = 3.42\times10^{10}\) \(\alpha\)-particles per gram of radium per second).

    3.8 How many helium atoms could be formed from radon atoms remaining at the end of experiment \(N'_{\mathrm{Rn}}\), if all these atoms had decayed to RaD?

    3.9 Using the solutions of the above questions calculate a better approximation to:

    a) the number of helium atoms formed;

    b) the Avogadro’s number.

    Official English text of the problem.

  4. Problem 4: Chromate-dichromate equilibria and precipitation

    The precipitation is widely used in classical methods of the quantitative and qualitative analysis for the separation of ions. The possibility of separation is determined by the equilibrium concentrations of all species in a solution to be analyzed.

    Potassium dichromate is one of the most widely used precipitating reagents. The following equilibria are established in aqueous solutions of Cr(VI).

    Figure 1

    4.1 Calculate the equilibrium constants

    Figure 2

    The ionic product of water \(K_{\mathrm W}=1.0\times10^{-14}\).

    4.2 In what direction shall the equilibrium state 1b shift upon the addition of the following reagents to the aqueous solution of potassium dichromate?

    a) \(\ce{KOH}\)

    b) \(\ce{HCl}\)

    c) \(\ce{BaCl2}\)

    d) \(\ce{H2O}\)

    The solubility product of \(\ce{BaCrO4}\) is \(1.2\times10^{-10}\). \(\ce{BaCr2O7}\) is well soluble in water.

    4.3 Calculate the pH value of the following solutions

    a) \(0.010\ \mathrm M\ \ce{K2CrO4}\)

    b) \(0.010\ \mathrm M\ \ce{K2Cr2O7}\)

    c) \(0.010\ \mathrm M\ \ce{K2Cr2O7}+0.100\ \mathrm M\ \ce{CH3COOH}\)

    Dissociation constant of acetic acid \(K_{\mathrm a}=1.8\times10^{-5}\).

    4.4 Calculate the equilibrium concentrations of the following ions in the solution of \(0.010\ \mathrm M\ \ce{K2Cr2O7}+0.100\ \mathrm M\ \ce{CH3COOH}\)

    a) \(\ce{CrO4^2-}\)

    b) \(\ce{Cr2O7^2-}\)

    \(\ce{Pb^2+}\) and \(\ce{Ag+}\) form poorly soluble compounds with chromate and dichromate ions.

    The solubility products of these compounds are indicated below.

    \(\ce{PbCrO4}\) \(K_{s1}=1.2\times10^{-14}\)
    \(\ce{Ag2CrO4}\) \(K_{s2}=1.3\times10^{-12}\)
    \(\ce{Ag2Cr2O7}\) \(K_{s3}=1.1\times10^{-10}\)

    To the aqueous solution of the mixture of \(1.0\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm M\ \ce{Pb(NO3)2}\) and \(2.0\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm M\ \ce{AgNO3}\) an equal volume of \(0.020\ \mathrm M\) solution of \(\ce{K2Cr2O7}\) in \(0.200\ \mathrm M\ \ce{CH3COOH}\) was added.

    4.5 a) Shall \(\ce{Pb^2+}\) be precipitated?

    b) Shall \(\ce{Ag+}\) be precipitated?

    c) Shall a quantitative separation of \(\ce{Pb^2+}\) and \(\ce{Ag+}\) ions be thus achieved?

    The quantitative precipitation is achieved if the residual concentration of the ion being precipitated is not higher than \(1\times10^{-6}\ \mathrm M\).

    Official English text of the problem.

  5. Problem 5: Potentiometry and spectrophotometry of iron and its cyanide complexes

    Potentiometric and spectrophotometric methods are widely used for the determination of equilibrium concentrations and equilibrium constants in solution. Both methods are frequently used in combination to achieve simultaneous determination of several species.

    Solution I contains a mixture of \(\ce{FeCl2}\) (aq)) and \(\ce{FeCl3(aq)}\), and solution II contains a mixture of \(\ce{K4Fe(CN)6}\) and \(\ce{K3Fe(CN)6}\). The concentrations of iron-containing species satisfy the relations \([\ce{Fe^2+}]_{\mathrm I}=[\ce{Fe(CN)6^4-}]_{\mathrm{II}}\) and \([\ce{Fe^3+}]_{\mathrm I}=[\ce{Fe(CN)6^3-}]_{\mathrm{II}}\). The potential of platinum electrode immersed into the solution I is 0.652 V, while the potential of platinum electrode immersed into solution II is 0.242 V. The transmittance of the solution II measured relative to the solution I at 420 nm is 10.7 % (optical pathlength \(l=5.02\ \mathrm{mm}\)). The complexes \(\ce{Fe(CN)6^4-}\), \(\ce{Fe(H2O)6^3+}\), and \(\ce{Fe(H2O)6^2+}\) do not absorb light at 420 nm.

    Molar absorption at this wavelength \(\varepsilon([\ce{Fe(CN)6^3-}])=1100\ \mathrm{M^{-1}\,cm^{-1}}\).

    Standard redox potential for \(\ce{Fe(H2O)6^3+}/\ce{Fe(H2O)6^2+}\) is 0.771 V.

    The factor before the logarithm in the Nernst equation is 0.0590.

    5.1 Write Nernst equations for redox systems of
    a) solution I,
    b) solution II.

    5.2 What are the units of the pre-logarithm factor 0.0590 in the Nernst equation?

    5.3 Calculate the ratio of the stability constants \(\beta[\ce{Fe(CN)6^3-}]/\beta[\ce{Fe(CN)6^4-}]\).

    5.4 What is the absolute range of variation for the following physical values
    a) transmittance \(T\);
    b) absorbance \(A\).

    5.5 Sketch the graphs of concentration dependences satisfying the Lambert-Beer law for
    a) absorbance \(A\);
    b) transmittance \(T\);
    c) molar absorption \(\varepsilon\).

    5.6 Calculate the concentrations of
    a) \(\ce{Fe^2+}\) in solution I;
    b) \(\ce{Fe^3+}\) in solution II.

    5.7 Mixing solutions I and II gives intense blue colour. What species is characterized by this colour? Write the reaction equation.

    Official English text of the problem.

  6. Problem 6: Two isomeric alkenes: ozonolysis, oxidation, bromination and epoxidation

    Two isomeric hydrocarbons A and B contain 85.7 mass % of carbon.

    6.1 Write a general formula which satisfies this condition.

    The hydrocarbons A and B possess the following properties. The reaction of each of the compounds with ozone with subsequent treatment of the product with zinc dust in the presence of acid gives a single organic product C. The oxidation of compound C gives a single product, the carboxylic acid D. According to spectral data all hydrogen atoms in this acid except the one in carboxylic group are contained in methyl groups. The density of vapours of D corrected to normal conditions (0 °C, 1 atm) is \(9.1\ \mathrm{g\,dm^{-3}}\).

    Compound A is more reactive than compound B in the reaction with cold neutral potassium permanganate. A single compound F is formed from A, and a 1 : 1 mixture of isomers G1 and G2 is formed from B.

    6.2 Draw the structural formulae of the compound D both in aqueous solution and in vapour phase.

    6.3 Write the formula of compound C.

    6.4 Draw the structures of isomers A and B.

    6.5 a) Write the reactions of the transformation of A or B into C and D.
    b) Write the reactions of the transformation of A and B into F, G1 and G2.

    6.6 Compounds G1 and G2 readily react with acetone in the presence of acids and form compounds H1 and H2. Draw the structures of H1 and H2.

    6.7 Compounds A and B react with bromine. One of the products of these reactions is non-polar (dipole moment of this molecule is practically equal to zero) and optically inactive. Draw the stereochemical formula of this product, and write the reaction of its formation. Determine the absolute configuration of chiral atoms in this molecule (if any) and mark them according to \(R,S\) nomenclature by \(R\) or \(S\) letters.

    Alkenes react with peroxoacids with the addition of oxygen to double bond to form a three-member oxygen-containing ring. This epoxidation reaction is highly stereospecific to retain the relative positions of substituents at the bond to which the oxygen atom is attached.

    The epoxidation of compound A by peroxoacetic acid yields a single compound K. Under the same conditions B gives a mixture of isomers L1 and L2 (the ratio is 1:1).

    6.8 Is the compound K optically active? Draw the stereochemical formula of K. Are the individual compounds L1 and L2 optically active? Draw the stereochemical formulae of L1 and L2.

    Official English text of the problem.

  7. Problem 7: Stereochemistry of 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic acids

    Stereochemistry of organic compounds can sometimes be determined by studying their chemical behaviour. The stereochemical configuration of one of the isomers of 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic acids (compound X)

    Figure 1

    was established by the following experiments.

    On heating this substance decomposes producing water and a new compound Y. Compound Y slowly dissolves in excess of aqueous \(\ce{NaOH}\) with the formation of product \(X_1\) same to that is formed in the reaction of X with \(\ce{NaOH}\). The resulting solution of \(X_1\) is treated by \(\ce{I2}\) to give compounds containing iodine. Acidification of the solution leads to a mixture of two isomeric compounds, A and B in the 3 : 1 ratio. The titration of 0.3913 g of compound A by 0.1000 M aqueous solution of \(\ce{NaOH}\) in the presence of phenolphthalein takes 12.70 \(\mathrm{cm^3}\) of alkali. The same amount of 0.1000 M solution of \(\ce{NaOH}\) is required for the titration of 0.3913 g of compound B. On heating compound A slowly transforms into compound C, which contains no iodine and is able to react with water. Under the same conditions compound B does not undergo this transformation, but on heating with hydrochloric acid slowly transforms into A.

    All reactions must be written as balance equations. No mechanisms are required.

    7.1 Mark by asterisks (*) the asymmetric carbon atoms in the structure of 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic acids.

    7.2 Draw the stereochemical formulas of all stereoisomers of compound X, and the structures of products of their dehydration in those cases when it is possible.

    7.3 Write the reactions of \(\ce{NaOH}\) with a stereoisomer of X and a stereoisomer of Y.

    7.4 Calculate the molar mass of compound A. Write the reactions leading from \(X_1\) to A.

    7.5 Write the reaction of the formation of C from A and the reaction of C with water.

    7.6 Draw the stereochemical formula of compound X which satisfies all of the data given in the problem.

    7.7 Write the reactions leading from B to A.

    7.8 Are the compounds A and B diastereomers?

    Official English text of the problem.