IChO 2004 · Theory problem 3

Monovalent alkaline earth compounds?

In the past there have been several reports on compounds of monovalent calcium. Until recently the nature of these “compounds” was not known but they are still of great interest to solid state chemists.

Attempts to reduce \(\ce{CaCl2}\) to \(\ce{CaCl}\) have been made with

(a) Calcium  (b) Hydrogen  (c) Carbon

3.1 Give the corresponding reaction equations that could potentially lead to the formation of \(\ce{CaCl}\).

After an attempt to reduce \(\ce{CaCl2}\) with the stoichiometric 1 : 1 molar amount of \(\ce{Ca}\) one obtains an inhomogeneous grey substance. A closer look under the microscope reveals silvery metallic particles and colourless crystals.

3.2 What substance are the metallic particles and the colourless crystals?

When \(\ce{CaCl2}\) is attempted to be reduced with elemental hydrogen a white product forms. Elemental analysis shows that the sample contains 52.36 % (by mass) of calcium and 46.32 mass % of chlorine.

3.3 Determine the empirical formula of the compound formed.

When \(\ce{CaCl2}\) is attempted to be reduced with elemental carbon a red crystalline product forms. The molar ratio of \(\ce{Ca}\) and \(\ce{Cl}\) determined by elemental analysis is \(n(\ce{Ca}) : n(\ce{Cl}) = 1.5 : 1\). During the hydrolysis of the red crystalline substance the same gas is evolved as during the hydrolysis of \(\ce{Mg2C3}\).

3.4 a) Show the two acyclic constitutional isomers of the gas that are formed by hydrolysis.

b) What compound is formed by the reaction of \(\ce{CaCl2}\) with carbon?

(Provided that monovalent calcium does not exist.)

As none of these attempts lead to the formation of \(\ce{CaCl}\) more consideration has to be given as to the hypothetical structure of \(\ce{CaCl}\). One can assume that \(\ce{CaCl}\) is likely to crystallize in a simple crystal structure.

It is the radius ratio of cation \(r(\ce{M^{m+}})\) and anion \(r(\ce{X^{x-}})\) of salts that often determines the crystal structure of a particular compound as shown for \(\ce{MX}\) compounds in the table below.

Coordination number of \(\ce{M}\) Surrounding of \(\ce{X}\) Radius ratio \(r_{\mathrm M}/r_{\mathrm X}\) Structure type estimated \(\Delta_{\mathrm L}H^0\) for \(\ce{CaCl}\)
3 Triangular 0.155 – 0.225 \(\ce{BN}\) \(-663.8\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\)
4 Tetrahedral 0.225 – 0.414 \(\ce{ZnS}\) \(-704.8\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\)
6 Octahedral 0.414 – 0.732 \(\ce{NaCl}\) \(-751.9\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\)
8 Cubic 0.732 – 1.000 \(\ce{CsCl}\) \(-758.4\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\)

\(\Delta_{\mathrm L}H^0(\ce{CaCl})\) is defined for the reaction \(\ce{Ca+(g) + Cl-(g) -> CaCl(s)}\)

3.5 a) What type of structure is \(\ce{CaCl}\) likely to have?

[\(r(\ce{Ca+}) \approx 120\ \mathrm{pm}\) (estimated), \(r(\ce{Cl-}) \approx 167\ \mathrm{pm}\))]

Not only the lattice energy \(\Delta_{\mathrm L}H^0\) for \(\ce{CaCl}\) is important for the decision whether \(\ce{CaCl}\) is thermodynamically stable or not. In order to decide whether it is stable against decomposition into its elements, the standard enthalpy of formation \(\Delta_{\mathrm f}H^0\) of \(\ce{CaCl}\) has to be known.

b) Calculate the value of \(\Delta_{\mathrm f}H^0(\ce{CaCl})\) with the aid of a Born-Haber-cycle.

heat of fusion \(\Delta_{\mathrm{fusion}}H^0(\ce{Ca})\) \(9.3\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\)
ionization enthalpy \(\Delta_{\mathrm{1.\,IE}}H(\ce{Ca})\) \(\ce{Ca -> Ca+}\) \(589.7\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\)
ionization enthalpy \(\Delta_{\mathrm{2.\,IE}}H(\ce{Ca})\) \(\ce{Ca+ -> Ca^2+}\) \(1145.0\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\)
heat of vaporization \(\Delta_{\mathrm{vap}}H^0(\ce{Ca})\) \(150.0\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\)
dissociation energy \(\Delta_{\mathrm{diss}}H(\ce{Cl2})\) \(\ce{Cl2 -> 2Cl}\) \(240.0\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\)
enthalpy of formation \(\Delta_{\mathrm f}H^0(\ce{CaCl2})\) \(-796.0\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\)
electron affinity \(\Delta_{\mathrm{EA}}H(\ce{Cl})\) \(\ce{Cl + e- -> Cl-}\) \(-349.0\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\)

To decide whether \(\ce{CaCl}\) is thermodynamically stable to disproportionation into \(\ce{Ca}\) and \(\ce{CaCl2}\) the standard enthalpy of this process has to be calculated. (The change of the entropy \(\Delta S\) is very small in this case, so its influence is negligible.)

3.6 Does the disproportionation of \(\ce{CaCl}\) take place from a thermodynamic point of view? Base your decision on a calculation!

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 3.1 (a) \(\ce{CaCl2 + Ca -> 2CaCl}\).
  • 3.1 (b) \(\ce{2CaCl2 + H2 -> 2CaCl + 2HCl}\).
  • 3.1 (c) \(\ce{4CaCl2 + C -> 4CaCl + CCl4}\).
  • 3.2 Metallic particles: calcium, \(\ce{Ca}\). Colourless crystals: calcium chloride, \(\ce{CaCl2}\).
  • 3.3 Calcium hydride chloride, \(\boxed{\ce{CaHCl}}\), containing divalent calcium.
  • 3.4 (a) Propyne, \(\ce{CH3-C#C-H}\), SMILES CC#C; and propadiene (allene), \(\ce{H2C=C=CH2}\), SMILES C=C=C.
  • 3.4 (b) Calcium carbide chloride, \(\boxed{\ce{Ca3C3Cl2}}\).
  • 3.5 (a) The \(\ce{NaCl}\) (rock-salt) structure, with coordination number 6 and octahedral coordination.
  • 3.5 (b) \(\boxed{\Delta_{\mathrm f}H^\circ(\ce{CaCl})=-231.9\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}}\).
  • 3.6 Yes. For \(\ce{2CaCl(s) -> Ca(s) + CaCl2(s)}\), \(\boxed{\Delta_{\mathrm r}H^\circ=-332.2\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}}\). With the stated negligible entropy contribution, disproportionation is thermodynamically favorable.

Solution

SMILES below describe discrete molecules or formal constituent ions. They do not specify the extended crystal lattices of the solids.

3.1 — Hypothetical reactions forming calcium(I) chloride

(a) Calcium

\[ \boxed{\ce{CaCl2 + Ca -> 2CaCl}} \]

Calcium in oxidation state \(+II\) gains one electron, while elemental calcium loses one electron. Both would therefore become calcium(I).

(b) Hydrogen

\[ \boxed{\ce{2CaCl2 + H2 -> 2CaCl + 2HCl}} \]

The two hydrogen atoms change from oxidation state \(0\) to \(+I\), supplying the two electrons needed to reduce two calcium atoms from \(+II\) to \(+I\).

The molecular species are hydrogen, SMILES [H][H], and hydrogen chloride, SMILES [H]Cl.

(c) Carbon

\[ \boxed{\ce{4CaCl2 + C -> 4CaCl + CCl4}} \]

Carbon changes from oxidation state \(0\) to \(+IV\), supplying four electrons to reduce four calcium atoms from \(+II\) to \(+I\). Carbon tetrachloride has SMILES ClC(Cl)(Cl)Cl.

These equations express the proposed formation of \(\ce{CaCl}\); they do not establish that it actually occurs.

3.2 — Identification of the two phases

The silvery particles are calcium metal, \(\ce{Ca}\), and the colourless crystals are calcium chloride, \(\ce{CaCl2}\).

A mixture containing one mole of each has two moles of calcium atoms and two moles of chlorine atoms. Thus its overall atomic ratio is \(1:1\), even though it consists of separate elemental-calcium and calcium-chloride phases. That bulk ratio alone is not evidence for a homogeneous \(\ce{CaCl}\) compound.

Calcium chloride contains calcium(II) ions, \(\ce{Ca^2+}\), SMILES [Ca+2], and chloride ions, \(\ce{Cl-}\), SMILES [Cl-].

3.3 — Empirical formula of the white product

The mass percentage not accounted for by calcium and chlorine is assigned to hydrogen:

\[ w(\ce{H})=100.00-52.36-46.32=1.32\%. \]

Using standard approximate atomic molar masses, \(M(\ce{Ca})=40.08\), \(M(\ce{Cl})=35.45\), and \(M(\ce{H})=1.008\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\), a \(100.00\ \mathrm g\) sample contains:

Element Mass Amount
Calcium \(52.36\ \mathrm g\) \(52.36/40.08=1.306\ \mathrm{mol}\)
Chlorine \(46.32\ \mathrm g\) \(46.32/35.45=1.307\ \mathrm{mol}\)
Hydrogen \(1.32\ \mathrm g\) \(1.32/1.008=1.31\ \mathrm{mol}\)

Consequently,

\[ n(\ce{Ca}):n(\ce{Cl}):n(\ce{H})\approx1:1:1, \]

and the empirical formula is

\[ \boxed{\ce{CaHCl}}. \]

This is calcium hydride chloride. Its constituent ions are calcium(II), chloride, and hydride, \(\ce{H-}\), SMILES [H-]. Their charges balance as

\[ (+2)+(-1)+(-1)=0. \]

A formal ionic SMILES for this composition is [Ca+2].[H-].[Cl-].

The corresponding balanced reaction is

\[ \ce{CaCl2 + H2 -> CaHCl + HCl}. \]

Hydrogen forms both hydride and hydrogen chloride; calcium remains in oxidation state \(+II\).

3.4 (a) — The two acyclic hydrolysis products

In magnesium carbide, \(\ce{Mg2C3}\), two magnesium(II) ions require a three-carbon carbide unit with total charge \(4-\). This is formally the tricarbon(4−) ion, \(\ce{C3^4-}\); one Lewis-form SMILES is [C-2]=C=[C-2]. This representation specifies a formal bond and charge assignment, not coordination within the solid.

Hydrolysis supplies four hydrogen atoms to this unit:

\[ \ce{Mg2C3 + 4H2O -> 2Mg(OH)2 + C3H4}. \]

Here water has SMILES O; magnesium(II), \(\ce{Mg^2+}\), has SMILES [Mg+2]; and hydroxide, \(\ce{OH-}\), has SMILES [OH-].

The hydrocarbon therefore has molecular formula \(\ce{C3H4}\). Its degree of unsaturation is

\[ \frac{2(3)+2-4}{2}=2. \]

For an acyclic three-carbon molecule, the two possibilities are a triple bond or two cumulated double bonds:

Name Structure SMILES
Propyne \(\ce{CH3-C#C-H}\) CC#C
Propadiene (allene) \(\ce{H2C=C=CH2}\) C=C=C

The triple-bonded portion of propyne is linear. In propadiene, the three-carbon skeleton is linear and the two terminal \(\ce{CH2}\) groups lie in perpendicular planes; the SMILES alone does not display this geometry.

3.4 (b) — Formula of the red crystalline compound

The measured calcium-to-chlorine ratio is

\[ n(\ce{Ca}):n(\ce{Cl})=1.5:1=3:2. \]

Three calcium(II) ions and two chloride ions have net charge

\[ 3(+2)+2(-1)=+4. \]

The hydrolysis result identifies the remaining anion as a \(\ce{C3^4-}\) unit. One such unit exactly balances this charge, giving

\[ \boxed{\ce{Ca3C3Cl2}}. \]

Thus the product is a calcium(II) carbide chloride, with formal ionic composition

\[ (\ce{Ca^2+})_3(\ce{Cl-})_2(\ce{C3^4-}). \]

Its balanced hydrolysis can be written

\[ \ce{Ca3C3Cl2 + 4H2O -> CaCl2 + 2Ca(OH)2 + C3H4}. \]

This accounts for both the elemental ratio and the three-carbon hydrocarbon evolved.

3.5 (a) — Predicted crystal structure

Using the supplied radii,

\[ \frac{r(\ce{Ca+})}{r(\ce{Cl-})} =\frac{120\ \mathrm{pm}}{167\ \mathrm{pm}} =0.719. \]

This lies within the table’s interval

\[ 0.414\leq \frac{r_{\mathrm M}}{r_{\mathrm X}}\leq0.732. \]

The predicted structure is therefore the \(\ce{NaCl}\), or rock-salt, structure. Each calcium(I) ion is surrounded octahedrally by six chloride ions, and each chloride ion has six calcium(I) nearest neighbours.

Calcium(I), \(\ce{Ca+}\), has SMILES [Ca+]. The formal ionic composition of hypothetical calcium(I) chloride is [Ca+].[Cl-]; its octahedral crystal coordination must be described separately.

The appropriate lattice-formation enthalpy is

\[ \boxed{\Delta_{\mathrm L}H^\circ=-751.9\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}}. \]

3.5 (b) — Born–Haber calculation

The standard formation reaction is

\[ \ce{Ca(s) + 1/2Cl2(g) -> CaCl(s)}. \]

Molecular chlorine has SMILES ClCl; a gaseous chlorine atom is represented by [Cl], and a gaseous calcium atom by [Ca].

The following steps sum to the formation reaction:

Step Reaction Enthalpy contribution, \(\mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\)
Fusion of calcium \(\ce{Ca(s) -> Ca(l)}\) \(+9.3\)
Vaporization of calcium \(\ce{Ca(l) -> Ca(g)}\) \(+150.0\)
First ionization of calcium \(\ce{Ca(g) -> Ca+(g) + e-}\) \(+589.7\)
Atomization of half a mole of chlorine \(\ce{1/2Cl2(g) -> Cl(g)}\) \(+\tfrac12(240.0)=+120.0\)
Electron attachment to chlorine \(\ce{Cl(g) + e- -> Cl-(g)}\) \(-349.0\)
Formation of the ionic lattice \(\ce{Ca+(g) + Cl-(g) -> CaCl(s)}\) \(-751.9\)

By Hess’s law,

\[ \begin{aligned} \Delta_{\mathrm f}H^\circ(\ce{CaCl}) &=\Delta_{\mathrm{fusion}}H^\circ +\Delta_{\mathrm{vap}}H^\circ +\Delta_{\mathrm{1.\,IE}}H\\ &\quad+\frac12\Delta_{\mathrm{diss}}H(\ce{Cl2}) +\Delta_{\mathrm{EA}}H(\ce{Cl}) +\Delta_{\mathrm L}H^\circ\\[2pt] &=9.3+150.0+589.7+120.0-349.0-751.9\\ &=\boxed{-231.9\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}}. \end{aligned} \]

The second ionization enthalpy is not used because the hypothetical compound contains calcium(I).

3.6 — Disproportionation

The balanced disproportionation reaction is

\[ \boxed{\ce{2CaCl(s) -> Ca(s) + CaCl2(s)}}. \]

One calcium(I) centre is reduced to elemental calcium, while the other is oxidized to calcium(II).

The standard formation enthalpy of elemental calcium in its standard state is zero. Therefore,

\[ \begin{aligned} \Delta_{\mathrm r}H^\circ &=\Delta_{\mathrm f}H^\circ(\ce{Ca}) +\Delta_{\mathrm f}H^\circ(\ce{CaCl2}) -2\Delta_{\mathrm f}H^\circ(\ce{CaCl})\\ &=0-796.0-2(-231.9)\\ &=\boxed{-332.2\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}}. \end{aligned} \]

This is per mole of reaction as written, consuming two moles of \(\ce{CaCl}\); equivalently, it is \(-166.1\ \mathrm{kJ}\) per mole of \(\ce{CaCl}\).

With the problem’s assumption that the entropy contribution is negligible,

\[ \Delta_{\mathrm r}G^\circ =\Delta_{\mathrm r}H^\circ-T\Delta_{\mathrm r}S^\circ \approx-332.2\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}<0. \]

Thus disproportionation is thermodynamically favorable. Although formation of hypothetical \(\ce{CaCl}\) from its elements is exothermic, the mixture of calcium metal and calcium chloride is still more favorable.

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.