IChO 2016 · Theory problem 5

Egyptian blue and Chinese blue

5500 years ago in ancient Egypt people learned for the first time how to synthesize a blue pigment. Now we know this pigment as Egyptian blue. About 2000 years later in ancient China another pigment was widely used, which is now referred to as Chinese blue. The two pigments are similar in structure, but have different elemental compositions.

Figure 1

Ushabti figurines from Egyptian pharaoh tomb covered with Egyptian blue
and a Chinese blue soap dinspenser sold at Alibaba

The ancient method of preparation for these pigments can easily by reproduced in a modern laboratory.

When considering the amounts, assume that all of the compounds in this task are pure, and the yields are quantitative.

To make Egyptian blue, one should heat 10.0 g of mineral A with 21.7 g of \(\ce{SiO2}\) and 9.05 g of mineral B at 800 – 900°C for a prolonged time. A volume of 16.7 \(\mathrm{dm^3}\) of a mixture of two gaseous products are released (the volume is measured at 850°C and \(1.013\times10^5\) Pa (1.013 bar) pressure. In result, 34.0 g of the pigment was obtained. No other products are formed. As the gas mixture is cooled, one component of the mixture condenses. As the remaining gas is further cooled to 0°C, the gaseous volume reduces to 3.04 \(\mathrm{dm^3}\).

5.1.1 Calculate the mass of the gaseous mixture formed upon heating of A with B and \(\ce{SiO2}\).

5.1.2 Determine the quantitative composition of this gas mixture.

When 10.0 g of mineral A is heated with 21.7 g of \(\ce{SiO2}\) in the absence of B, it forms 8.34 \(\mathrm{dm^3}\) of gaseous products at a temperature of 850°C and pressure of \(1.013\cdot10^5\) Pa (= 1.013 bar). Mineral A contains only one metal.

5.1.3 Calculate the molar mass and determine the formula of mineral B. Hint: it is an ionic solid insoluble in water and containing no water of crystallization.

In order to obtain Chinese blue, one should take 17.8 g of mineral C instead of mineral B (keeping the amounts of mineral A and \(\ce{SiO2}\) same as for Egyptian blue), and run the reaction at higher temperatures. Besides the pigment, the same gaseous products in the same quantities are formed as in the preparation of Egyptian blue.

5.1.4 Determine the formula of mineral C.

5.1.5 Determine the formulae of Egyptian blue and Chinese blue.

5.1.6 Determine the formula of mineral A.

Elemental analysis of some samples of Chinese blue shows traces of sulfur. This led to a conclusion that those were synthesized using another common mineral instead of C.

5.2.1 Suggest a formula for the mineral used in place of C.

5.2.2 Could the temperature of synthesis of Chinese blue be decreased if this mineral is used instead of C?

If during the synthesis of Chinese blue we take a smaller amount of silica than in the process above, we will obtain a purple pigment: Chinese violet. It was used, in particular, for coloring the famous Terracotta army soldiers.

Figure 2

Terracotta army from Xian, China and reconstruction of its original coloring.

5.3 Write down the formula of a binary compound that forms under the conditions required for Chinese violet and is responsible for the change of the color.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 5.1.1: \(m_{\text{gas}}=\boxed{6.75\ \mathrm g}\).
  • 5.1.2: Carbon dioxide, \(\ce{CO2}\), O=C=O, and water vapor, \(\ce{H2O}\), O. Their amounts are approximately \(0.136\ \mathrm{mol}\) and \(0.0456\ \mathrm{mol}\), respectively: about 75 mol% carbon dioxide and 25 mol% water, or a \(3:1\) molar ratio.
  • 5.1.3: \(\boxed{\mathbf B=\ce{CaCO3}}\), calcium carbonate; \(M_B\approx\boxed{1.00\times10^2\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}}\).
  • 5.1.4: \(\boxed{\mathbf C=\ce{BaCO3}}\), barium carbonate, the mineral witherite.
  • 5.1.5: Egyptian blue: \(\boxed{\ce{CaCuSi4O10}}\). Chinese blue: \(\boxed{\ce{BaCuSi4O10}}\).
  • 5.1.6: \(\boxed{\mathbf A=\ce{Cu2CO3(OH)2}}\), malachite, copper(II) carbonate hydroxide.
  • 5.2.1: \(\boxed{\ce{BaSO4}}\), barium sulfate, the mineral barite.
  • 5.2.2: No. Barite is more thermally resistant than barium carbonate; the direct synthesis would require more severe heating.
  • 5.3: \(\boxed{\ce{Cu2O}}\), copper(I) oxide, a red binary phase.

Solution

The minerals and pigments are extended crystalline solids, rather than discrete molecules. The ion SMILES below specify individual ionic constituents; they do not describe the crystal lattices or metal–oxygen coordination geometries.

Use the ideal-gas equation with \[ R=8.314\ \mathrm{Pa\,m^3\,mol^{-1}\,K^{-1}}, \qquad T_{\mathrm{hot}}=1123.15\ \mathrm K, \qquad T_{\mathrm{cold}}=273.15\ \mathrm K. \]

5.1.1 — Mass of the gaseous mixture

Since the pigment and the two gases are the only products, conservation of mass gives \[ \begin{aligned} m_{\mathrm{gas}} &=m_A+m_{\ce{SiO2}}+m_B-m_{\mathrm{pigment}}\\ &=10.0+21.7+9.05-34.0\\ &=\boxed{6.75\ \mathrm g}. \end{aligned} \]

5.1.2 — Identity and quantitative composition of the gases

At 850°C, both products are gaseous: \[ n_{\mathrm{total}} =\frac{pV}{RT} =\frac{(1.013\times10^5)(16.7\times10^{-3})} {(8.314)(1123.15)} =0.18117\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Taking the pressure at 0°C to be unchanged, the amount of gas remaining after condensation is \[ n_{\mathrm{remaining}} =\frac{(1.013\times10^5)(3.04\times10^{-3})} {(8.314)(273.15)} =0.13560\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Thus the condensable component originally amounted to \[ n_{\mathrm{condensable}} =0.18117-0.13560 =0.04556\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Water is the expected condensable product from heating a hydroxylated or hydrated mineral. Assigning this component to water, \(\ce{H2O}\), gives the molar mass of the remaining gas: \[ M_{\mathrm{remaining}} =\frac{6.75-(0.04556)(18.015)}{0.13560} =43.7\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

This identifies carbon dioxide, whose molar mass is approximately \(44.01\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\).

Component Amount from the gas volumes Mole fraction
Carbon dioxide, \(\ce{CO2}\), O=C=O \(0.136\ \mathrm{mol}\) \(0.749\)
Water vapor, \(\ce{H2O}\), O \(0.0456\ \mathrm{mol}\) \(0.251\)

Consequently, \[ \boxed{n(\ce{CO2}):n(\ce{H2O})\simeq3:1}. \]

The corresponding masses from the gas-volume calculations are approximately \(5.97\ \mathrm g\) and \(0.821\ \mathrm g\). Their sum, \(6.79\ \mathrm g\), differs slightly from the gravimetric result \(6.75\ \mathrm g\), consistently with the rounding of the supplied measurements.

5.1.3 — Molar mass and formula of mineral B

The gas released from A alone amounts to \[ n_{\mathrm{gas},A} =\frac{(1.013\times10^5)(8.34\times10^{-3})} {(8.314)(1123.15)} =0.090475\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Therefore, the contribution from B is \[ n_{\mathrm{gas},B} =0.181167-0.090475 =0.090692\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

This exceeds the total water content of the mixture, so B cannot be a simple hydroxide whose only gaseous decomposition product is water. An anhydrous carbonate releasing carbon dioxide is the natural candidate.

For one mole of gas per mole of carbonate, \[ M_B=\frac{9.05}{0.090692} =99.8\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

The carbonate group contributes approximately \(60.01\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\), leaving \[ 99.8-60.01=39.8\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}} \] for the metal. This matches calcium, \(40.08\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\).

Hence \[ \boxed{\mathbf B=\ce{CaCO3}}, \qquad M(\ce{CaCO3})=100.09\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

The oxide-forming decomposition is \[ \ce{CaCO3 ->[\Delta] CaO + CO2}. \]

Calcium carbonate is insoluble in water and requires no water of crystallization, agreeing with the hint. Its constituent ions are calcium ion, \(\ce{Ca^2+}\), [Ca+2], and carbonate ion, \(\ce{CO3^2-}\), [O-]C(=O)[O-].

5.1.4 — Formula of mineral C

Replacing B by C leaves both gas quantities unchanged. The corresponding carbonate therefore supplies the same number of moles of carbon dioxide.

Using the identified composition of B, \[ n_B=\frac{9.05}{100.09} =0.09042\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Thus \[ M_C=\frac{17.8}{0.09042} =196.9\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

Subtracting the carbonate contribution gives \[ 196.9-60.01=136.9\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}, \] which matches barium, \(137.33\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\), within the precision of the data.

Therefore \[ \boxed{\mathbf C=\ce{BaCO3}}, \] barium carbonate, or witherite. Its tabulated formula mass is approximately \(197.34\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\).

The corresponding oxide-forming reaction is \[ \ce{BaCO3 ->[\Delta] BaO + CO2}. \]

Barium ion, \(\ce{Ba^2+}\), has SMILES [Ba+2].

5.1.5 — Formulae of the two blue pigments

The calcium and silicon amounts in Egyptian blue are \[ n(\ce{Ca})=0.09042\ \mathrm{mol}, \qquad n(\ce{Si})=\frac{21.7}{60.09} =0.3611\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Hence \[ n(\ce{Si}):n(\ce{Ca})\simeq4:1. \]

The blue color suggests copper(II) as the remaining metal. Check this identification by expressing the pigment composition in oxide equivalents.

The calcium oxide equivalent has mass \[ m(\ce{CaO})=(0.09042)(56.08)=5.07\ \mathrm g. \]

The remaining oxide equivalent therefore has mass \[ m_{\mathrm{remaining\ oxide}} =34.0-21.7-5.07 =7.23\ \mathrm g. \]

If this is copper(II) oxide, \[ n(\ce{CuO}) =\frac{7.23}{79.55} =0.0909\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Thus \[ n(\ce{Ca}):n(\ce{Cu}):n(\ce{Si}) =0.09042:0.0909:0.3611 \simeq1:1:4. \]

Calcium and copper are both divalent, while silicon has oxidation state \(+4\). Charge balance therefore requires ten oxygen atoms: \[ 2+2+4(4)-2N_{\mathrm O}=0 \quad\Longrightarrow\quad N_{\mathrm O}=10. \]

Consequently, \[ \boxed{\text{Egyptian blue: }\ce{CaCuSi4O10}}. \]

Replacing calcium by the same molar quantity of barium gives \[ \boxed{\text{Chinese blue: }\ce{BaCuSi4O10}}. \]

The oxide-component formation equations are \[ \ce{CaO + CuO + 4SiO2 -> CaCuSi4O10}, \] \[ \ce{BaO + CuO + 4SiO2 -> BaCuSi4O10}. \]

Copper(II) ion, \(\ce{Cu^2+}\), has SMILES [Cu+2]; oxide ion, \(\ce{O^2-}\), has SMILES [O-2]. These isolated-ion representations do not encode the extended silicate structures.

5.1.6 — Formula of mineral A

The carbon dioxide attributable to A is \[ n(\ce{CO2})_A =0.13560-0.09042 =0.04518\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

All the water comes from A: \[ n(\ce{H2O})_A=0.04556\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

These quantities are approximately equal. The copper amount is approximately twice either quantity: \[ n(\ce{Cu}):n(\ce{CO2})_A:n(\ce{H2O})_A \simeq2:1:1. \]

This corresponds to two copper(II) ions, one carbonate ion and two hydroxide ions per formula unit: \[ \boxed{\mathbf A=\ce{Cu2CO3(OH)2}}, \] the mineral malachite.

Hydroxide ion, \(\ce{OH-}\), has SMILES [OH-].

Its decomposition is \[ \ce{Cu2CO3(OH)2 ->[\Delta] 2CuO + CO2 + H2O}. \]

There are two moles of gaseous products per mole of malachite. The independent experiment therefore gives \[ n_A=\frac{0.090475}{2}=0.045237\ \mathrm{mol}, \] and \[ M_A=\frac{10.0}{0.045237} =221.1\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

This agrees with \[ M\!\left(\ce{Cu2CO3(OH)2}\right) =2(63.55)+60.01+2(17.008) =221.13\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

The complete balanced syntheses are \[ \boxed{\ce{Cu2CO3(OH)2 + 2CaCO3 + 8SiO2 -> 2CaCuSi4O10 + 3CO2 + H2O}}, \] \[ \boxed{\ce{Cu2CO3(OH)2 + 2BaCO3 + 8SiO2 -> 2BaCuSi4O10 + 3CO2 + H2O}}. \]

Both directly reproduce the \(3:1\) carbon dioxide-to-water ratio.

5.2.1 — Sulfur-containing mineral

The replacement mineral must supply barium and contain sulfur. The common mineral satisfying these requirements is barite, barium sulfate: \[ \boxed{\ce{BaSO4}}. \]

Its anion is sulfate, \(\ce{SO4^2-}\), with SMILES [O-]S(=O)(=O)[O-]. Residual sulfate-containing material can account for sulfur traces in the pigment samples.

5.2.2 — Effect on the synthesis temperature

\[ \boxed{\text{No, for the direct thermal synthesis described.}} \]

Barium sulfate is more thermally resistant than barium carbonate. Replacing the carbonate with sulfate makes conversion into the barium silicate pigment more difficult and calls for stronger heating, rather than a lower synthesis temperature.

5.3 — Binary compound associated with the violet color

The inferred binary compound is copper(I) oxide: \[ \boxed{\ce{Cu2O}}. \]

At sufficiently high temperature, copper(II) oxide can release oxygen: \[ \ce{4CuO ->[\Delta] 2Cu2O + O2}. \]

With less silica available to incorporate copper into the silicate phase, formation of a separate copper oxide phase becomes possible. Copper(I) oxide is red; its presence alongside a blue phase can contribute a violet or purple appearance.

Copper(I) ion, \(\ce{Cu+}\), has SMILES [Cu+]. Molecular oxygen, \(\ce{O2}\), has SMILES O=O; this connectivity notation does not specify its triplet ground-state spin.

The solution was checked against the official solution.