IChO 2016 · Theory problem 3

Determination of iodine in iodized salt

Iodine deficiency is of special concern in Georgia because it occupies a region where iodine is scarce in soil and water. Iodine deficiency can be effectively and inexpensively prevented if salt for human consumption is fortified with small amounts of iodine. Methods for analyzing salt for iodine content are thus important. Current regulations in Georgia are that iodized salt must contain between 25 - 55 ppm iodine (1 ppm = 1 mg iodine/kg salt).

Most salt is iodized by fortification with potassium iodate (\(\ce{KIO3}\)). Iodate content can be determined in salt samples using iodometric titration. In a typical procedure, 10.000 g of an iodized salt sample is dissolved in 100 \(\mathrm{cm^3}\) aqueous \(\ce{HCl}\) (\(c=1.0\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\)) to which 1.0 g \(\ce{KI}\) has been added. The solution is then titrated with aqueous sodium thiosulfate solution (\(c=0.00235\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\)) to a starch endpoint; this requires 7.50 \(\mathrm{cm^3}\) of titrant.

3.1.1 Write a balanced net ionic equation for the reaction when iodate reacts with excess iodide in acidic solution.

3.1.2 Write a balanced net ionic equation for the reaction taking place during the titration with thiosulfate.

3.1.3 Calculate the iodization level, in ppm, of this salt sample.

A less common agent for iodizing salt is potassium iodide, which cannot be easily measured by iodometric titration.

One possible method for analyzing iodide in the presence of chloride is potentiometric titration. However, this method is not very precise in the presence of large amounts of chloride. In this method, a silver wire is immersed in the solution (containing iodide and chloride) to be analyzed and silver ion is gradually added to the solution. The potential of the silver wire is measured relative to a reference electrode consisting of a silver wire in a solution of \(\ce{AgNO3}\) (\(c=1.000\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\)). The measured potentials are negative and the absolute values of these potentials are reported. The solution to be analysed has a volume of 1.000 \(\mathrm{dm^3}\) (which you may assume does not change as silver ion is added) and \(t=25.0\ ^\circ\mathrm{C}\).

The results of this experiment are governed by three equilibria: the solubility of \(\ce{AgI(s)}\) [\(K_{\mathrm{spI}}\)] and \(\ce{AgCl(s)}\) [\(K_{\mathrm{spCl}}\)] and the formation of \(\ce{AgCl2^-(aq)}\) [\(K_{\mathrm f}\)]. (Iodide also forms complex ions with silver but this may be neglected at the very low concentrations of iodide present in this experiment).

Figure 1

Below are shown the results of two experiments measuring the observed potential as a function of added number of moles of silver ion. Experiment A (solid circles) was carried out with 1.000 \(\mathrm{dm^3}\) of iodide solution with concentration \(1.00\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\) and containing no chloride ion. Experiment B (open circles) was done using 1.000 \(\mathrm{dm^3}\) of solution with a concentration of iodide \(1.00\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\) and that of chloride equal to \(1.00\times10^{-1}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\).

Figure 2
\(\mu\mathrm{mol}\ \ce{Ag+}\) added \(\lvert E\rvert,\ \mathrm{V}\), exp. A \(\lvert E\rvert,\ \mathrm{V}\), exp. B
1.00 0.637 0.637
3.00 0.631 0.631
5.00 0.622 0.622
7.00 0.609 0.610
9.00 0.581 0.584
10.0 0.468 0.558
11.0 0.355 0.531
12.0 0.337 0.517
13.0 0.327 0.517
15.0 0.313 0.517

3.2.1 Select an appropriate data from the experiments and use it to calculate the solubility product of \(\ce{AgI}\), (\(K_{\mathrm{spI}}\).).

3.2.2 Select an appropriate data from the experiments and use it to calculate the solubility product of \(\ce{AgCl}\), (\(K_{\mathrm{spCl}}\).).

3.2.3 Select an appropriate data from the experiments and use it to calculate \(K_{\mathrm f}\). You may need to use values of \(K_{\mathrm{spI}}\) or \(K_{\mathrm{spCl}}\) to do this calculation. If you were unable to carry out the calculations in 3.2.1 or 3.2.2 you may use the arbitrary values of \(K_{\mathrm{spI}}=1.00\times10^{-15}\) and \(K_{\mathrm{spCl}}=1.00\times10^{-9}\) without penalty.

An analytical method that is more practical, because it is not sensitive to the presence of chloride, uses the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction. This is the reaction of \(\ce{H3AsO3}\) with \(\ce{Ce(IV)}\) to give \(\ce{Ce(III)}\) in acidic solution, which is strongly catalyzed by iodide ion.

3.3.1 Write balanced net ionic equations for the reaction of cerium(IV) with \(\ce{H3AsO3}\) in acidic solution, as well as reactions of cerium(IV) with a species containing the element iodine and \(\ce{H3AsO3}\) with a species containing the element iodine, that could reasonably account for the catalysis of the net reaction by iodide.

The reaction of \(\ce{Ce(IV)}\) with \(\ce{H3AsO3}\) can be monitored by measuring the absorbance at 405 nm, as \(\ce{Ce(IV)}\) is orange and absorbs significantly at 405 nm, while the other reactants and products are colorless and do not absorb appreciably. Three runs were carried out, all in \(0.50\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\) \(\ce{H2SO4}\) at 25.0°C using the following initial concentrations:

Run \([\ce{H3AsO3}]_0\), \((\mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}})\) \([\ce{Ce(IV)}]_0\), \((\mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}})\) \([\ce{I^-}]_0\), \((\mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}})\)
1 0.01250 0.00120 \(1.43\cdot10^{-6}\)
2 0.00625 0.00060 \(1.43\cdot10^{-6}\)
3 0.01250 0.00120 \(7.16\cdot10^{-7}\)

An analyst initiated the reactions by mixing the reagents in a cuvette. After a short variable delay absorbance measurements were started, with the first measurement recorded at \(t=0\ \mathrm{s}\). The data obtained are shown below:

Figure 3
\(t,\ \mathrm{s}\) \(A_{405}\), Run 1 \(A_{405}\), Run 2 \(A_{405}\), Run 3
0 0.621 0.287 0.818
20 0.348 0.149 0.608
40 0.198 0.083 0.455
60 0.113 0.046 0.340
80 0.064 0.025 0.254
100 0.037 0.014 0.191

Under these conditions (\(0.5\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\) \(\ce{H2SO4}\), 25.0°C), the rate law for the reaction can be written as

\[ \text{Rate}=k[\ce{H3AsO3}]^m[\ce{Ce(IV)}]^n[\ce{I^-}]^p \]

where \(m\), \(n\) and \(p\) are integers.

3.3.2. Determine the values of \(m\), \(n\), and \(p\) and calculate the value of \(k\) (be sure to specify its units).

A 1.000 g sample of iodized salt is dissolved in water to give 10.00 \(\mathrm{cm^3}\) of solution. A 0.0500 \(\mathrm{cm^3}\) aliquot of this solution is added to a mixture of 1.000 \(\mathrm{cm^3}\) \(0.025\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\) \(\ce{H3AsO3}\) in \(0.5\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\) \(\ce{H2SO4}\) and 0.800 \(\mathrm{cm^3}\) \(0.5\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\) \(\ce{H2SO4}\). To this mixture is added 0.200 \(\mathrm{cm^3}\) \(0.0120\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\) \(\ce{Ce(NH4)2(NO3)6}\) in \(0.5\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\) \(\ce{H2SO4}\) and the absorbance at 405 nm is measured as a function of time at 25.0°C:

Figure 4
\(t,\ \mathrm{s}\) \(A_{405}\)
0 0.756
20 0.531
40 0.373
60 0.262
80 0.185
100 0.129

3.3.3. Calculate the iodization level, in ppm, of this salt sample.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

Species names and SMILES are supplied in the corresponding solution parts. Equilibrium constants below use the concentration convention.

  • 3.1.1 \[ \boxed{\ce{IO3^- + 5I^- + 6H+ -> 3I2 + 3H2O}} \]

  • 3.1.2 \[ \boxed{\ce{I2 + 2S2O3^2- -> 2I^- + S4O6^2-}} \]

  • 3.1.3 \(\boxed{37.3\ \mathrm{ppm}}\) iodine.

  • 3.2.1 \[ \boxed{K_{\mathrm{spI}}\approx1.5\times10^{-16}\ \mathrm{mol^2\,dm^{-6}}} \]

  • 3.2.2 \[ \boxed{K_{\mathrm{spCl}}\approx1.8\times10^{-10}\ \mathrm{mol^2\,dm^{-6}}} \]

  • 3.2.3 \[ \boxed{K_{\mathrm f}\approx1.1\times10^5\ \mathrm{dm^6\,mol^{-2}}} \]

  • 3.3.1 Overall reaction: \[ \boxed{\ce{2Ce^4+ + H3AsO3 + H2O -> 2Ce^3+ + H3AsO4 + 2H+}} \] A plausible catalytic cycle is: \[ \boxed{\ce{2Ce^4+ + 2I^- -> 2Ce^3+ + I2}} \] \[ \boxed{\ce{H3AsO3 + I2 + H2O -> H3AsO4 + 2I^- + 2H+}} \]

  • 3.3.2 \[ \boxed{m=0,\qquad n=1,\qquad p=1} \] \[ \boxed{k\approx2.0\times10^4\ \mathrm{dm^3\,mol^{-1}\,s^{-1}}} \] Here the rate is defined as the disappearance rate of cerium(IV), \(-d[\ce{Ce^4+}]/dt\).

  • 3.3.3 \(\boxed{\text{Approximately }46\ \mathrm{ppm}}\) iodine.

Solution

The numerical calculations use \(M(\ce{I})=126.90\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\). At \(25.0^\circ\mathrm C\), \(2.303RT/F=0.05916\ \mathrm V\).

The SMILES below specify connectivity or ionic composition. They do not encode aqueous solvation, crystal lattices, or the electron transfers described in words.

3.1.1

Iodate contains iodine in oxidation state \(+5\), whereas iodide contains iodine in oxidation state \(-1\). Both form molecular iodine, whose oxidation state is zero. Thus, one iodate ion accepts the five electrons supplied by five iodide ions. Balancing oxygen and hydrogen in acidic solution gives

\[ \boxed{\ce{IO3^- + 5I^- + 6H+ -> 3I2 + 3H2O}}. \]

The species are iodate, \(\ce{IO3^-}\), [O-]I(=O)=O; iodide, \(\ce{I^-}\), [I-]; proton, \(\ce{H+}\), [H+]; molecular iodine, \(\ce{I2}\), II; and water, \(\ce{H2O}\), O.

3.1.2

Iodine is reduced to iodide, while two thiosulfate ions are oxidized to one tetrathionate ion:

\[ \ce{I2 + 2e^- -> 2I^-}, \]

\[ \ce{2S2O3^2- -> S4O6^2- + 2e^-}. \]

Adding these half-reactions gives

\[ \boxed{\ce{I2 + 2S2O3^2- -> 2I^- + S4O6^2-}}. \]

Thiosulfate, \(\ce{S2O3^2-}\), has SMILES [O-]S(=O)(=O)[S-]. Tetrathionate, \(\ce{S4O6^2-}\), has SMILES [O-]S(=O)(=O)SSS(=O)(=O)[O-].

3.1.3

One mole of iodate generates three moles of iodine, each consuming two moles of thiosulfate. Therefore,

\[ n(\ce{IO3^-})=\frac{n(\ce{S2O3^2-})}{6}. \]

The amount of thiosulfate used is

\[ n(\ce{S2O3^2-}) =(0.00235\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}) (7.50\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{dm^3}) =1.7625\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Thus,

\[ n(\ce{IO3^-})=2.9375\times10^{-6}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Each iodate ion contains one iodine atom. The iodine originally present in the salt therefore has mass

\[ m_{\mathrm I} =(2.9375\times10^{-6})(126.90) =3.7277\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm g =0.37277\ \mathrm{mg}. \]

The iodide added as a reagent is not counted as iodine originally present in the sample. Hence,

\[ \text{iodization level} =\frac{0.37277\ \mathrm{mg}}{0.010000\ \mathrm{kg}} =\boxed{37.3\ \mathrm{ppm}}. \]

This is within the stated range of 25–55 ppm.

3.2.1

For the silver electrode,

\[ \ce{Ag+ + e^- <=> Ag(s)}. \]

Silver(I) ion has SMILES [Ag+]; elemental silver is represented as [Ag].

The two electrodes have the same standard electrode potential, which cancels when their potentials are subtracted. With the reference concentration equal to \(1.000\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\),

\[ E=0.05916\log_{10} \left(\frac{[\ce{Ag+}]}{1.000\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}}\right). \]

Since the reported number is \(\lvert E\rvert=-E\),

\[ \boxed{ [\ce{Ag+}] =10^{-\lvert E\rvert/0.05916}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}} }. \]

Choose experiment A at \(10.0\ \mu\mathrm{mol}\) of added silver. The initial amount of iodide is also

\[ (1.000\ \mathrm{dm^3})(1.00\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}) =10.0\ \mu\mathrm{mol}. \]

Thus, this is the equivalence point. There are no chloride complexes, and the equal analytical amounts of silver and iodide require

\[ [\ce{Ag+}]=[\ce{I^-}]. \]

Using \(\lvert E\rvert=0.468\ \mathrm V\),

\[ [\ce{Ag+}] =10^{-0.468/0.05916} =1.23\times10^{-8}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \]

For the dissolution equilibrium

\[ \ce{AgI(s) <=> Ag+ + I^-}, \]

we obtain

\[ K_{\mathrm{spI}} =[\ce{Ag+}][\ce{I^-}] =(1.23\times10^{-8})^2 =\boxed{1.5\times10^{-16}\ \mathrm{mol^2\,dm^{-6}}}. \]

Silver(I) iodide, \(\ce{AgI}\), has the ionic-composition SMILES [Ag+].[I-]; this does not represent its crystal lattice.

3.2.2

In experiment B, the potential becomes constant at \(\lvert E\rvert=0.517\ \mathrm V\). This plateau indicates precipitation of silver chloride:

\[ \ce{AgCl(s) <=> Ag+ + Cl^-}. \]

The large chloride concentration remains approximately \(0.100\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\), so coexistence with solid silver chloride fixes the free silver concentration.

From the plateau potential,

\[ [\ce{Ag+}] =10^{-0.517/0.05916} =1.82\times10^{-9}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \]

Consequently,

\[ K_{\mathrm{spCl}} =[\ce{Ag+}][\ce{Cl^-}] =(1.82\times10^{-9})(0.100) =\boxed{1.8\times10^{-10}\ \mathrm{mol^2\,dm^{-6}}}. \]

Chloride has SMILES [Cl-]. Silver(I) chloride, \(\ce{AgCl}\), has the ionic-composition SMILES [Ag+].[Cl-].

3.2.3

Choose experiment B at \(10.0\ \mu\mathrm{mol}\) of added silver, where \(\lvert E\rvert=0.558\ \mathrm V\). The free silver concentration is

\[ [\ce{Ag+}] =10^{-0.558/0.05916} =3.70\times10^{-10}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \]

At this point, silver chloride has not yet precipitated, because

\[ [\ce{Ag+}][\ce{Cl^-}] \approx3.70\times10^{-11} <K_{\mathrm{spCl}}. \]

Solid silver iodide is present, giving

\[ [\ce{I^-}] =\frac{K_{\mathrm{spI}}}{[\ce{Ag+}]} =\frac{1.51\times10^{-16}}{3.70\times10^{-10}} =4.08\times10^{-7}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \]

The total amounts of silver and iodide are equal. Subtracting their mass balances cancels the silver iodide precipitate, leaving

\[ [\ce{I^-}] =[\ce{Ag+}]+[\ce{AgCl2^-}]. \]

Therefore,

\[ [\ce{AgCl2^-}] =4.08\times10^{-7}-3.70\times10^{-10} \approx4.07\times10^{-7}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \]

For

\[ \ce{Ag+ + 2Cl^- <=> AgCl2^-}, \]

the formation constant is

\[ K_{\mathrm f} =\frac{[\ce{AgCl2^-}]} {[\ce{Ag+}][\ce{Cl^-}]^2}. \]

The chloride bound in the complex is negligible compared with \(0.100\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\), so

\[ K_{\mathrm f} =\frac{4.07\times10^{-7}} {(3.70\times10^{-10})(0.100)^2} =\boxed{1.1\times10^5\ \mathrm{dm^6\,mol^{-2}}}. \]

The complex is dichloridoargentate(I), \(\ce{AgCl2^-}\), with dative-bond SMILES [Cl-]->[Ag+]<-[Cl-]. Its coordination geometry is linear; that geometry is not specified by the SMILES.

3.3.1

Arsenic is oxidized from \(+3\) to \(+5\), releasing two electrons. Each cerium(IV) ion accepts one electron:

\[ \ce{H3AsO3 + H2O -> H3AsO4 + 2H+ + 2e^-}, \]

\[ \ce{2Ce^4+ + 2e^- -> 2Ce^3+}. \]

The overall reaction is therefore

\[ \boxed{\ce{2Ce^4+ + H3AsO3 + H2O -> 2Ce^3+ + H3AsO4 + 2H+}}. \]

The species introduced here are:

Species Name SMILES
\(\ce{H3AsO3}\) Arsenous acid O[As](O)O
\(\ce{H3AsO4}\) Arsenic acid O=[As](O)(O)O
\(\ce{Ce^4+}\) Cerium(IV) ion [Ce+4]
\(\ce{Ce^3+}\) Cerium(III) ion [Ce+3]

The oxygen atoms around arsenic have a trigonal pyramidal arrangement in arsenous acid and an approximately tetrahedral arrangement in arsenic acid.

A plausible catalytic cycle consists of oxidation of iodide by cerium(IV),

\[ \boxed{\ce{2Ce^4+ + 2I^- -> 2Ce^3+ + I2}}, \]

followed by reduction of iodine by arsenous acid,

\[ \boxed{\ce{H3AsO3 + I2 + H2O -> H3AsO4 + 2I^- + 2H+}}. \]

Adding these reactions cancels both iodine and iodide and reproduces the overall reaction. Iodide is regenerated, allowing it to act as a catalyst. These balanced steps describe a plausible redox cycle; they need not be elementary reactions.

3.3.2

By the Beer–Lambert law,

\[ A_{405}=\varepsilon l[\ce{Ce^4+}], \]

so the absorbance is directly proportional to the cerium(IV) concentration.

Arsenous acid is in substantial excess. Even complete consumption of cerium(IV) would consume only

\[ \frac{[\ce{Ce^4+}]_0}{2[\ce{H3AsO3}]_0} =\frac{0.00120}{2(0.01250)} =0.0480 \]

of the arsenous acid in run 1, or 4.80%. The same fraction applies to the other runs. Its concentration can therefore be treated as approximately constant while identifying the kinetic orders.

The plots of \(\ln A_{405}\) against time are approximately straight lines. Thus, cerium(IV) follows first-order decay:

\[ -\frac{d[\ce{Ce^4+}]}{dt} =k_{\mathrm{obs}}[\ce{Ce^4+}], \qquad \ln A_{405}(t)=\ln A_{405}(0)-k_{\mathrm{obs}}t. \]

Hence,

\[ \boxed{n=1}. \]

The variable delay before the first measurement affects the intercept, not the slope. Therefore, the measured \(A_{405}(0)\) must not be identified with the absorbance immediately after mixing.

Linear fits using all six points give:

Run \(k_{\mathrm{obs}}\), \(\mathrm{s^{-1}}\)
1 \(2.820\times10^{-2}\)
2 \(3.007\times10^{-2}\)
3 \(1.455\times10^{-2}\)

For example, the endpoints of run 1 give essentially the same result:

\[ k_{\mathrm{obs},1} =\frac{\ln(0.621/0.037)}{100\ \mathrm s} =2.820\times10^{-2}\ \mathrm{s^{-1}}. \]

With \(n=1\),

\[ k_{\mathrm{obs}} =k[\ce{H3AsO3}]^m[\ce{I^-}]^p. \]

Runs 1 and 2 have the same iodide concentration. Halving the arsenous acid concentration leaves \(k_{\mathrm{obs}}\) approximately unchanged. Since the orders are integers,

\[ \boxed{m=0}. \]

Runs 1 and 3 have the same initial arsenous acid and cerium(IV) concentrations. Halving the iodide concentration approximately halves \(k_{\mathrm{obs}}\):

\[ \frac{k_{\mathrm{obs},1}}{k_{\mathrm{obs},3}} \approx1.94, \qquad \frac{[\ce{I^-}]_{0,1}}{[\ce{I^-}]_{0,3}} \approx2.00. \]

Therefore,

\[ \boxed{p=1}. \]

The rate law, using the cerium(IV) disappearance rate, is

\[ \boxed{ -\frac{d[\ce{Ce^4+}]}{dt} =k[\ce{Ce^4+}][\ce{I^-}] }. \]

The individual estimates of \(k\) are

\[ k_1=\frac{0.02820}{1.43\times10^{-6}} =1.97\times10^4\ \mathrm{dm^3\,mol^{-1}\,s^{-1}}, \]

\[ k_2=\frac{0.03007}{1.43\times10^{-6}} =2.10\times10^4\ \mathrm{dm^3\,mol^{-1}\,s^{-1}}, \]

\[ k_3=\frac{0.01455}{7.16\times10^{-7}} =2.03\times10^4\ \mathrm{dm^3\,mol^{-1}\,s^{-1}}. \]

These support the representative value

\[ \boxed{k\approx2.0\times10^4\ \mathrm{dm^3\,mol^{-1}\,s^{-1}}}. \]

3.3.3

For the unknown sample, the absorbance again decreases exponentially. From the endpoints,

\[ k_{\mathrm{obs,sample}} =\frac{\ln(0.756/0.129)}{100\ \mathrm s} =1.768\times10^{-2}\ \mathrm{s^{-1}}. \]

Since \(k_{\mathrm{obs}}=k[\ce{I^-}]\),

\[ [\ce{I^-}]_{\mathrm{mixture}} =\frac{1.768\times10^{-2}}{2.0\times10^4} \approx8.84\times10^{-7}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \]

The total reaction volume includes the salt aliquot:

\[ V_{\mathrm{mixture}} =0.0500+1.000+0.800+0.200 =2.050\ \mathrm{cm^3}. \]

Thus, the amount of iodide in the aliquot is

\[ n_{\mathrm{aliquot}} =(8.84\times10^{-7})(2.050\times10^{-3}) \approx1.81\times10^{-9}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

The aliquot represents the fraction \(0.0500/10.00\) of the stock solution, so the original 1.000 g salt sample contains

\[ n_{\mathrm I} =n_{\mathrm{aliquot}}\frac{10.00}{0.0500} \approx3.62\times10^{-7}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Its iodine mass is therefore

\[ m_{\mathrm I} =(3.62\times10^{-7})(126.90) \approx4.60\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm g =0.0460\ \mathrm{mg}. \]

Finally,

\[ \text{iodization level} =\frac{0.0460\ \mathrm{mg}}{0.001000\ \mathrm{kg}} \approx\boxed{46\ \mathrm{ppm}}. \]

This sample also lies within the specified range of 25–55 ppm.

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.