IChO 1996 · Theory 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.

Answers

  • 5.1(a) \[ E_{\mathrm I}=0.771\ \mathrm V+(0.0590\ \mathrm V) \log_{10}\frac{[\ce{Fe^3+}]_{\mathrm I}}{[\ce{Fe^2+}]_{\mathrm I}}. \]

  • 5.1(b) \[ E_{\mathrm{II}}=E^\circ_{\mathrm{CN}}+(0.0590\ \mathrm V) \log_{10} \frac{[\ce{[Fe(CN)6]^3-}]_{\mathrm{II}}} {[\ce{[Fe(CN)6]^4-}]_{\mathrm{II}}}, \qquad E^\circ_{\mathrm{CN}}=0.361\ \mathrm V. \]

  • 5.2 Volts, \(\mathrm V\).

  • 5.3 \[ \boxed{\frac{\beta[\ce{[Fe(CN)6]^3-}]} {\beta[\ce{[Fe(CN)6]^4-}]}=8.90\times10^6}. \]

  • 5.4(a) \(0\leq T\leq1\), or \(0\%\) to \(100\%\).

  • 5.4(b) \(0\leq A<\infty\); \(A\to+\infty\) as \(T\to0^+\).

  • 5.5(a) \(A=\varepsilon lc\): a straight line through the origin, with slope \(\varepsilon l\).

  • 5.5(b) \(T=10^{-\varepsilon lc}\): a decreasing, upward-convex exponential curve, starting at \(T=1\) and approaching zero.

  • 5.5(c) \(\varepsilon\) is independent of concentration: a horizontal line.

  • 5.6(a) \[ \boxed{[\ce{Fe^2+}]_{\mathrm I}=0.183\ \mathrm M}. \]

  • 5.6(b) The determined ferricyanide concentration is \[ \boxed{[\ce{[Fe(CN)6]^3-}]_{\mathrm{II}} =1.76\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm M}. \] This is the concentration of iron(III) bound in ferricyanide. The literal free \([\ce{Fe^3+}]_{\mathrm{II}}\) cannot be determined from the supplied data.

  • 5.7 Prussian blue, iron(III) hexacyanidoferrate(II), conventionally represented as \(\ce{Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3}\): \[ \boxed{\ce{4Fe^3+ + 3[Fe(CN)6]^4- -> Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3(s)}}. \]

Solution

Use base-10 logarithms and the concentration form of the Nernst equation intended by the problem. In aqueous solution, the shorthand \(\ce{Fe^2+}\) and \(\ce{Fe^3+}\) denotes hydrated ions.

The names and SMILES of the species used below are:

Species Name SMILES
\(\ce{Fe^2+}\) Iron(II) ion [Fe+2]
\(\ce{Fe^3+}\) Iron(III) ion [Fe+3]
\(\ce{H2O}\) Water O
\(\ce{[Fe(H2O)6]^2+}\) Hexaaquairon(II) ion [Fe+2](<-[OH2])(<-[OH2])(<-[OH2])(<-[OH2])(<-[OH2])<-[OH2]
\(\ce{[Fe(H2O)6]^3+}\) Hexaaquairon(III) ion [Fe+3](<-[OH2])(<-[OH2])(<-[OH2])(<-[OH2])(<-[OH2])<-[OH2]
\(\ce{CN^-}\) Cyanide ion [C-]#N
\(\ce{[Fe(CN)6]^4-}\) Hexacyanidoferrate(II), ferrocyanide [Fe+2](<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)<-[C-]#N
\(\ce{[Fe(CN)6]^3-}\) Hexacyanidoferrate(III), ferricyanide [Fe+3](<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)<-[C-]#N

These coordination SMILES use dative-bond arrows. The six-coordinate complexes are octahedral; the cyanide ligands bind to the central iron through carbon. The SMILES shown do not specify the octahedral geometry.

5.1 — Nernst equations

(a) Solution I. The reduction half-reaction is

\[ \ce{[Fe(H2O)6]^3+ + e^- <=> [Fe(H2O)6]^2+}. \]

One electron is transferred, so

\[ E_{\mathrm I} =E^\circ_{\mathrm{aq}} +(0.0590\ \mathrm V) \log_{10}\frac{[\ce{Fe^3+}]_{\mathrm I}} {[\ce{Fe^2+}]_{\mathrm I}}, \]

where \(E^\circ_{\mathrm{aq}}=0.771\ \mathrm V\).

(b) Solution II. The corresponding half-reaction is

\[ \ce{[Fe(CN)6]^3- + e^- <=> [Fe(CN)6]^4-}. \]

Therefore,

\[ E_{\mathrm{II}} =E^\circ_{\mathrm{CN}} +(0.0590\ \mathrm V) \log_{10} \frac{[\ce{[Fe(CN)6]^3-}]_{\mathrm{II}}} {[\ce{[Fe(CN)6]^4-}]_{\mathrm{II}}}. \]

The given concentration equalities make the two oxidized-to-reduced concentration ratios equal. Subtracting the two Nernst equations gives

\[ E_{\mathrm I}-E_{\mathrm{II}} =E^\circ_{\mathrm{aq}}-E^\circ_{\mathrm{CN}}, \]

hence

\[ E^\circ_{\mathrm{CN}} =0.771-(0.652-0.242) =\boxed{0.361\ \mathrm V}. \]

5.2 — Units of the pre-logarithm factor

The logarithm is dimensionless, so its coefficient must have the same units as the electrode potential: volts.

Equivalently, for a one-electron reaction the coefficient is \(2.303RT/F\), with units

\[ \frac{\mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}}}{\mathrm{C\,mol^{-1}}} =\mathrm{J\,C^{-1}} =\mathrm V. \]

5.3 — Ratio of stability constants

Using aqueous-ion shorthand, the complex-formation equilibria are

\[ \ce{Fe^3+ + 6CN^- <=> [Fe(CN)6]^3-}, \]

\[ \ce{Fe^2+ + 6CN^- <=> [Fe(CN)6]^4-}. \]

Define their overall formation constants by

\[ \beta_{\mathrm{III}} =\frac{[\ce{[Fe(CN)6]^3-}]} {[\ce{Fe^3+}][\ce{CN^-}]^6}, \qquad \beta_{\mathrm{II}} =\frac{[\ce{[Fe(CN)6]^4-}]} {[\ce{Fe^2+}][\ce{CN^-}]^6}. \]

Dividing and rearranging gives

\[ \frac{[\ce{Fe^3+}]}{[\ce{Fe^2+}]} = \frac{[\ce{[Fe(CN)6]^3-}]} {[\ce{[Fe(CN)6]^4-}]} \frac{\beta_{\mathrm{II}}}{\beta_{\mathrm{III}}}. \]

Substitution into the aquo-ion Nernst equation shows that

\[ E^\circ_{\mathrm{CN}} =E^\circ_{\mathrm{aq}} -(0.0590\ \mathrm V) \log_{10}\frac{\beta_{\mathrm{III}}}{\beta_{\mathrm{II}}}. \]

Consequently,

\[ \log_{10}\frac{\beta_{\mathrm{III}}}{\beta_{\mathrm{II}}} =\frac{0.771-0.361}{0.0590} =6.94915, \]

and

\[ \boxed{\frac{\beta_{\mathrm{III}}}{\beta_{\mathrm{II}}} =8.90\times10^6}. \]

Thus cyanide stabilizes iron(III) relative to its free aqueous ion much more strongly than it stabilizes iron(II), lowering the reduction potential of the complexed couple.

5.4 — Ranges of transmittance and absorbance

(a) Transmittance is the ratio of transmitted to incident light intensity:

\[ T=\frac{I}{I_0}. \]

For an absorbing sample,

\[ \boxed{0\leq T\leq1}. \]

The endpoints correspond to complete attenuation and complete transmission.

(b) Absorbance is

\[ A=-\log_{10}T. \]

Thus \(T=1\) gives \(A=0\), and \(A\) increases without bound as \(T\) approaches zero:

\[ \boxed{0\leq A<\infty}. \]

At exactly zero transmission, absorbance is infinite in the limiting sense.

5.5 — Concentration-dependence graphs

At fixed wavelength and optical pathlength, the Lambert-Beer law is

\[ A=\varepsilon lc, \qquad T=10^{-A}=10^{-\varepsilon lc}. \]

For each graph, place concentration \(c\) on the horizontal axis.

(a) Absorbance. The vertical axis is dimensionless \(A\). Draw a straight line through \((0,0)\), increasing with slope \(\varepsilon l\).

(b) Transmittance. The vertical axis is \(T\), either as a fraction or a percentage. Draw a smooth decreasing curve beginning at \((0,1)\), or \((0,100\%)\). It is convex upward and approaches \(T=0\) asymptotically, without reaching zero at a finite concentration.

(c) Molar absorption. The vertical axis is \(\varepsilon\), in \(\mathrm{M^{-1}\,cm^{-1}}\). Draw a horizontal line because \(\varepsilon\) is independent of concentration within the Lambert-Beer regime. For ferricyanide at 420 nm, this line is at

\[ \varepsilon=1100\ \mathrm{M^{-1}\,cm^{-1}}. \]

5.6 — Concentrations

Only ferricyanide absorbs at the stated wavelength. Solution I therefore provides a nonabsorbing reference under the stated assumptions.

Convert the experimental quantities:

\[ T=\frac{10.7}{100}=0.107, \qquad l=5.02\ \mathrm{mm}=0.502\ \mathrm{cm}. \]

The absorbance is

\[ A=-\log_{10}(0.107)=0.970616. \]

Hence the ferricyanide concentration is

\[ [\ce{[Fe(CN)6]^3-}]_{\mathrm{II}} =\frac{A}{\varepsilon l} =\frac{0.970616} {(1100\ \mathrm{M^{-1}\,cm^{-1}})(0.502\ \mathrm{cm})} =1.75773\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm M. \]

By the given equality,

\[ [\ce{Fe^3+}]_{\mathrm I} =1.75773\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm M. \]

(a) Iron(II) in solution I. Its Nernst equation gives

\[ \log_{10} \frac{[\ce{Fe^3+}]_{\mathrm I}} {[\ce{Fe^2+}]_{\mathrm I}} =\frac{0.652-0.771}{0.0590} =-2.01695, \]

so

\[ \frac{[\ce{Fe^3+}]_{\mathrm I}} {[\ce{Fe^2+}]_{\mathrm I}} =9.61725\times10^{-3}. \]

Therefore,

\[ [\ce{Fe^2+}]_{\mathrm I} =\frac{1.75773\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm M} {9.61725\times10^{-3}} =0.182768\ \mathrm M, \]

or

\[ \boxed{[\ce{Fe^2+}]_{\mathrm I}=0.183\ \mathrm M}. \]

(b) Iron(III) in solution II. Each ferricyanide ion contains one iron(III) centre. Thus the concentration of iron(III) contained in ferricyanide is

\[ \boxed{1.76\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm M}. \]

However, this is not the concentration of free aqueous \(\ce{Fe^3+}\). Taken literally, the printed question is underdetermined. The potential of solution II fixes only the free-ion ratio:

\[ \frac{[\ce{Fe^3+}]_{\mathrm{II}}} {[\ce{Fe^2+}]_{\mathrm{II}}} = 10^{(0.242-0.771)/0.0590} =1.08\times10^{-9}. \]

Neither free-ion concentration is independently specified. The given equality relates \([\ce{Fe^2+}]_{\mathrm I}\) to ferrocyanide in II, not to free \([\ce{Fe^2+}]_{\mathrm{II}}\). An absolute complex-formation constant together with sufficient ligand-equilibrium information would be needed to determine the latter concentrations.

If “solution II” was intended to read “solution I,” then the requested free iron(III) concentration would also be \(1.76\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm M\).

5.7 — Identification of the blue product

Iron(III) ions from solution I react with ferrocyanide ions from solution II to form Prussian blue, iron(III) hexacyanidoferrate(II). Its conventional idealized anhydrous formula is \(\ce{Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3}\):

\[ \boxed{\ce{4Fe^3+ + 3[Fe(CN)6]^4- -> Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3(s)}}. \]

The equation is charge-balanced: \(4(+3)+3(-4)=0\).

Prussian blue is an extended coordination solid containing carbon-bound iron(II) centres linked through cyanide to nitrogen-bound iron(III) centres. Charge transfer between these differently oxidized iron centres produces the intense blue colour.

A disconnected formula-unit SMILES, representing only the idealized composition, is:

[Fe+3].[Fe+3].[Fe+3].[Fe+3].[Fe+2](<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)<-[C-]#N.[Fe+2](<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)<-[C-]#N.[Fe+2](<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)(<-[C-]#N)<-[C-]#N

This is not a molecular structure for the solid: it does not encode the cyanide bridges to the additional iron(III) centres, the extended lattice, or its hydration and vacancies.

The solution was checked against the official solution.