IChO 2012 · Theory problem 4

The superconductor YBCO

In the 1980’s a class of ceramic materials was discovered that exhibits superconductivity at the unusually high temperature of 90 K. One such material contains yttrium, barium, copper and oxygen and is called “YBCO”. It has a nominal composition of \(\ce{YBa2Cu3O7}\), but its actual composition is variable according to the formula \(\ce{YBa2Cu3O_{7-\delta}}\) \((0 < \delta < 0.5)\).

4.1 One unit cell of the idealized crystal structure of YBCO is shown below. Identify which circles correspond to which elements in the structure.

Figure 1

The true structure is actually orthorhombic \((a \ne b \ne c)\), but it is approximately tetragonal, with \(a \approx b \approx (c/3)\).

4.2 A sample of YBCO with \(\delta = 0.25\) was subjected to X-ray diffraction using \(\ce{Cu}\mathrm{K}\alpha\) radiation \((\lambda = 154.2\ \mathrm{pm})\). The lowest-angle diffraction peak was observed at \(2\theta = 7.450^\circ\). Assuming that \(a = b = (c/3)\), calculate the values of \(a\) and \(c\).

4.3 Estimate the density of this sample of YBCO (with \(\delta = 0.25\)) in \(\mathrm{g\,cm^{-3}}\). If you were unable to calculate the values for \(a\) and \(c\) from part 4.2, then use \(a = 500\ \mathrm{pm}\) and \(c = 1500\ \mathrm{pm}\).

When YBCO is dissolved in aqueous \(\ce{HCl}\) \((c = 1.0\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}})\) bubbles of gas are observed (identified as \(\ce{O2}\) by gas chromatography). After boiling for 10 min to expel the dissolved gases, the solution reacts with excess \(\ce{KI}\) solution, turning yellow-brown. This solution can be titrated with thiosulfate solution to a starch endpoint. If YBCO is added under \(\ce{Ar}\) directly to a solution in which concentrations of both \(\ce{KI}\) and \(\ce{HCl}\) are equal to \(1.0\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\), the solution turns yellow-brown but no gas evolution is observed.

4.4 Write a balanced net ionic equation for the reaction when solid \(\ce{YBa2Cu3O_{7-\delta}}\) dissolves in aqueous \(\ce{HCl}\) with evolution of \(\ce{O2}\).

4.5 Write a balanced net ionic equation for the reaction when the solution from 4.4 reacts with excess \(\ce{KI}\) in acidic solution after the dissolved oxygen is expelled.

4.6 Write a balanced net ionic equation for the reaction when the solution from 4.5 is titrated with thiosulfate \((\ce{S2O3^2-})\).

4.7 Write a balanced net ionic equation for the reaction when solid \(\ce{YBa2Cu3O_{7-\delta}}\) dissolves in aqueous \(\ce{HCl}\) containing excess \(\ce{KI}\) in an \(\ce{Ar}\) atmosphere.

Two identical samples of YBCO with an unknown value of \(\delta\) were prepared. The first sample was dissolved in \(5\ \mathrm{cm^3}\) of aqueous \(\ce{HCl}\) \((c = 1.0\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}})\), evolving \(\ce{O2}\). After boiling to expel gases, cooling, and addition of \(10\ \mathrm{cm^3}\) of \(\ce{KI}\) solution \((c = 0.7\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}})\) under \(\ce{Ar}\), titration with thiosulfate to the starch endpoint required \(1.542 \cdot 10^{-4}\ \mathrm{mol}\) thiosulfate. The second sample of YBCO was added under \(\ce{Ar}\) directly to \(7\ \mathrm{cm^3}\) of a solution in which \(c(\ce{KI}) = 1.0\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\) and \(c(\ce{HCl}) = 0.7\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\). Titration of this solution required \(1.696 \cdot 10^{-4}\ \mathrm{mol}\) thiosulfate to reach the endpoint.

4.8 Calculate the amount of substance of \(\ce{Cu}\) (in mol) in each of these samples of YBCO.

4.9 Calculate the value of \(\delta\) for these samples of YBCO.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

Iodine in excess iodide is represented as triiodide, \(\ce{I3-}\). Names and SMILES for the reaction species are provided in the Solution.

  • 4.1 Filled black circles: copper; empty circles: oxygen; crossed circles: barium; dotted circle: yttrium.
  • 4.2 \(\boxed{a=b=395.6\ \mathrm{pm},\qquad c=1.187\times10^3\ \mathrm{pm}}\).
  • 4.3 \(\boxed{\rho=5.92\ \mathrm{g\,cm^{-3}}}\).
  • 4.4 \[ \begin{aligned} &\ce{YBa2Cu3O_{7-\delta}(s) + 13H+}\\ &\quad\ce{-> Y^3+ + 2Ba^2+ + 3Cu^2+} +\frac{13}{2}\ce{H2O} +\frac{1-2\delta}{4}\ce{O2(g)}. \end{aligned} \]
  • 4.5 \[ \boxed{\ce{2Cu^2+ + 5I- -> 2CuI(s) + I3-}} \]
  • 4.6 \[ \boxed{\ce{I3- + 2S2O3^2- -> 3I- + S4O6^2-}} \]
  • 4.7 \[ \begin{aligned} &\ce{YBa2Cu3O_{7-\delta}(s)} +(14-2\delta)\ce{H+} +(9-3\delta)\ce{I-}\\ &\quad\ce{-> Y^3+ + 2Ba^2+ + 3CuI(s)} +(7-\delta)\ce{H2O} +(2-\delta)\ce{I3-}. \end{aligned} \]
  • 4.8 \(\boxed{n(\ce{Cu})=1.542\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm{mol}}\) in each sample.
  • 4.9 \(\boxed{\delta\approx0.350}\).

Solution

4.1 — Identifying the atoms

An atom at a unit-cell corner contributes \(1/8\) to that cell; one on an edge contributes \(1/4\); one on a face contributes \(1/2\); and one inside contributes \(1\).

Circle type Positions in the drawing Effective number per cell Element
Filled black 8 corners and 8 other positions on vertical edges \(8/8+8/4=3\) Copper, \(\ce{Cu}\)
Empty 12 edge positions and 8 face positions \(12/4+8/2=7\) Oxygen, \(\ce{O}\)
Crossed 2 interior positions \(2\) Barium, \(\ce{Ba}\)
Dotted 1 interior position \(1\) Yttrium, \(\ce{Y}\)

These counts give exactly one nominal formula unit of \(\ce{YBa2Cu3O7}\) per unit cell, so \(Z=1\). Oxygen vacancies change the oxygen content to \(7-\delta\).

YBCO is an extended crystal, so no discrete molecular SMILES represents its structure. The figure specifies its periodic arrangement.

4.2 — Lattice parameters

For a tetragonal lattice, \[ \frac{1}{d_{hkl}^{\,2}} =\frac{h^2+k^2}{a^2}+\frac{l^2}{c^2}. \]

Because \(c=3a\), the largest interplanar spacing is \(d_{001}=c\). It produces the lowest-angle reflection.

Bragg’s law for this reflection is \[ \lambda=2c\sin\theta, \qquad \theta=\frac{7.450^\circ}{2}=3.725^\circ. \]

Thus \[ c=\frac{154.2\ \mathrm{pm}}{2\sin3.725^\circ} =1186.743\ \mathrm{pm}, \] and \[ a=b=\frac{c}{3}=395.581\ \mathrm{pm}. \]

Therefore, \[ \boxed{a=b=395.6\ \mathrm{pm},\qquad c=1187\ \mathrm{pm}}. \]

4.3 — Density

For \(\delta=0.25\), the composition is \(\ce{YBa2Cu3O6.75}\). Using standard atomic molar masses in \(\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\), \[ \begin{aligned} M &=88.91+2(137.33)+3(63.55)+6.75(16.00)\\ &=662.22\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \end{aligned} \]

Since \(1\ \mathrm{pm}=10^{-10}\ \mathrm{cm}\), the cell volume, retaining unrounded lattice parameters, is \[ V=a^2c =1.8570673\times10^{-22}\ \mathrm{cm^3}. \]

With one formula unit per cell, \[ \rho=\frac{ZM}{N_{\mathrm A}V} =\frac{662.22} {(6.02214076\times10^{23})(1.8570673\times10^{-22})} \ \mathrm{g\,cm^{-3}}. \]

Hence \[ \boxed{\rho=5.92\ \mathrm{g\,cm^{-3}}}. \]

Species names and SMILES for parts 4.4–4.9

The following representations apply to every occurrence of these species in the equations.

Species Name SMILES
\(\ce{H+}\) Proton [H+]
\(\ce{Y^3+}\) Yttrium(III) ion [Y+3]
\(\ce{Ba^2+}\) Barium(II) ion [Ba+2]
\(\ce{Cu^2+}\) Copper(II) ion [Cu+2]
\(\ce{Cu+}\) Copper(I) ion [Cu+]
\(\ce{I-}\) Iodide ion [I-]
\(\ce{I2}\) Molecular iodine II
\(\ce{I3-}\) Triiodide ion I[I-]I
\(\ce{H2O}\) Water O
\(\ce{O2}\) Dioxygen O=O
\(\ce{CuI}\) Copper(I) iodide, ionic formula unit [Cu+].[I-]
\(\ce{S2O3^2-}\) Thiosulfate ion [O-]S(=O)(=O)[S-]
\(\ce{S4O6^2-}\) Tetrathionate ion [O-]S(=O)(=O)SSS(=O)(=O)[O-]

Triiodide is linear; its SMILES is a formal connectivity representation and does not describe its three-centre bonding. The copper(I) iodide representation does not encode the extended solid lattice. The sulfur oxyanion SMILES show individual resonance representations.

4.4 — Dissolution in acid with oxygen evolution

Using formal oxidation states \(+3\) for yttrium, \(+2\) for barium and \(-2\) for oxygen, charge neutrality gives \[ 3+2(2)+3\overline v_{\mathrm{Cu}}-2(7-\delta)=0. \] Consequently, \[ 3\overline v_{\mathrm{Cu}}=7-2\delta. \]

After dissolution in acid, the three copper atoms are present as copper(II), with total oxidation number \(6\). Their reduction therefore consumes \[ (7-2\delta)-6=1-2\delta \] electrons per formula unit.

Oxidation of lattice oxygen from oxidation state \(-2\) to dioxygen supplies four electrons per molecule of \(\ce{O2}\). Thus the oxygen yield is \[ \frac{1-2\delta}{4} \] molecules per formula unit.

The dissolved cations have total charge \[ 3+2(2)+3(2)=13, \] so \(13\) protons are required. Balancing hydrogen and oxygen gives \[ \begin{aligned} &\ce{YBa2Cu3O_{7-\delta}(s) + 13H+}\\ &\quad\ce{-> Y^3+ + 2Ba^2+ + 3Cu^2+} +\frac{13}{2}\ce{H2O} +\frac{1-2\delta}{4}\ce{O2(g)}. \end{aligned} \]

4.5 — Reaction of dissolved copper with iodide

Copper(II) oxidizes iodide to iodine while being reduced to copper(I), which precipitates as copper(I) iodide: \[ \ce{2Cu^2+ + 4I- -> 2CuI(s) + I2}. \]

In excess iodide, \[ \ce{I2 + I- <=> I3-}. \]

Adding these equations gives \[ \boxed{\ce{2Cu^2+ + 5I- -> 2CuI(s) + I3-}}. \]

Thus two moles of copper produce one mole of triiodide. Removing dissolved oxygen beforehand prevents it from producing additional iodine.

4.6 — Titration with thiosulfate

Thiosulfate reduces triiodide to iodide and is oxidized to tetrathionate: \[ \boxed{\ce{I3- + 2S2O3^2- -> 3I- + S4O6^2-}}. \]

One mole of triiodide therefore consumes two moles of thiosulfate.

4.7 — Direct dissolution in acid containing iodide

Here iodide supplies the electrons needed to reduce all copper to copper(I). The total copper oxidation number decreases from \(7-2\delta\) to \(3\), requiring \[ (7-2\delta)-3=4-2\delta \] electrons per formula unit.

Formation of one triiodide ion releases two electrons: \[ \ce{3I- -> I3- + 2e-}. \]

Therefore, each formula unit produces \[ \frac{4-2\delta}{2}=2-\delta \] triiodide ions. Three additional iodide ions enter the three formula units of copper(I) iodide, so the total iodide requirement is \[ 3+3(2-\delta)=9-3\delta. \]

All \(7-\delta\) oxygen atoms become water, requiring \(14-2\delta\) protons. The balanced equation is \[ \begin{aligned} &\ce{YBa2Cu3O_{7-\delta}(s)} +(14-2\delta)\ce{H+} +(9-3\delta)\ce{I-}\\ &\quad\ce{-> Y^3+ + 2Ba^2+ + 3CuI(s)} +(7-\delta)\ce{H2O} +(2-\delta)\ce{I3-}. \end{aligned} \]

Iodide oxidation accounts for the electron transfer, consistent with the absence of oxygen evolution.

4.8 — Amount of copper

In the first procedure, all copper becomes copper(II) before iodide is added. Combining the stoichiometries of 4.5 and 4.6, \[ 2\ \mathrm{mol\ copper} \longrightarrow 1\ \mathrm{mol\ triiodide} \longrightarrow 2\ \mathrm{mol\ thiosulfate}. \]

Hence the mole ratio of copper to thiosulfate is \(1:1\): \[ n(\ce{Cu})=1.542\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

The samples are identical, so \[ \boxed{n(\ce{Cu})=1.542\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm{mol}\text{ in each sample}}. \]

The corresponding amount of YBCO formula units in each sample is \[ n_0=\frac{n(\ce{Cu})}{3} =\frac{1.542\times10^{-4}}{3} =5.140\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

4.9 — Oxygen deficiency

The direct-dissolution procedure produces \(2-\delta\) moles of triiodide per mole of YBCO. Each mole of triiodide consumes two moles of thiosulfate, giving \[ n_{\mathrm{thio},2}=(4-2\delta)n_0. \]

Therefore, \[ 1.696\times10^{-4} =(4-2\delta)(5.140\times10^{-5}), \] and \[ \begin{aligned} \delta &=\frac12\left( 4-\frac{1.696\times10^{-4}}{5.140\times10^{-5}} \right)\\ &=0.3501945\ldots. \end{aligned} \]

Thus \[ \boxed{\delta\approx0.350}. \]

This lies within the stated range \(0<\delta<0.5\). The supplied acid and iodide are in excess: each procedure requires less than \(7\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm{mol}\) of protons and \(4.1\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm{mol}\) of iodide, compared with the supplied \(4.9\)–\(5.0\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}\) of acid and \(7.0\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}\) of iodide.

The solution was checked against the official solution.