IChO 2021 · Theory problem 6

The Solid-State Chemistry of Transition Metals

Figure 1

Volcano at Sakurajima island

PART A

Japan is one of the countries with the highest numbers of volcanos worldwide. When silicate minerals crystallize from magma, a part of the transition-metal ions (\(\ce{M^{n+}}\)) in the magma is incorporated into the silicate minerals. The \(\ce{M^{n+}}\) studied in the problem are coordinated by oxide ions (\(\ce{O^2-}\)) and adopt a four-coordinate tetrahedral (\(T_d\)) geometry in the magma and six-coordinate octahedral (\(O_h\)) geometry in the silicate minerals, both of which exhibit a high-spin electron configuration. The distribution coefficient of \(\ce{M^{n+}}\) between the silicate minerals and magma, \(D\), can be expressed by:

\[ D=\frac{[\mathrm M]_{\mathrm s}}{[\mathrm M]_{\mathrm l}} \]

where \([\mathrm M]_{\mathrm s}\) and \([\mathrm M]_{\mathrm l}\) are the concentrations of \(\ce{M^{n+}}\) in the silicate minerals and the magma, respectively. The table below shows the \(D\) values of \(\ce{Cr^2+}\) and \(\ce{Mn^2+}\) as examples.

\(\ce{Cr^2+}\) \(\ce{Mn^2+}\)
\(D\) 7.2 1.1

Let \(\Delta_{\mathrm O}\) and \(\mathrm{CFSE}^{\mathrm O}\) be the energy separation of the d-orbitals of \(\ce{M^{n+}}\) and the crystal-field stabilization energy in a \(O_h\) field, respectively. Let \(\Delta_{\mathrm T}\) and \(\mathrm{CFSE}^{\mathrm T}\) be those in a \(T_d\) field.

6.1 Calculate \(\left|\mathrm{CFSE}^{\mathrm O}-\mathrm{CFSE}^{\mathrm T}\right|=\Delta\mathrm{CFSE}\) in terms of \(\Delta_{\mathrm O}\) for \(\ce{Cr^2+}\), \(\ce{Mn^2+}\), and \(\ce{Co^2+}\); assume \(\Delta_{\mathrm T}=4/9\Delta_{\mathrm O}\).

6.2 A linear relationship is observed by plotting \(\ln D\) against \(\Delta\mathrm{CFSE}/\Delta_{\mathrm O}\) in the Cartesian coordinate system shown below. Estimate \(D\) for \(\ce{Co^2+}\).

Figure 2

Metal oxides \(\ce{MO}\) (M: Ca, Ti, V, Mn, or Co) crystallize in a rock-salt structure wherein the \(\ce{M^{n+}}\) adopts an \(O_h\) geometry with a high-spin electron configuration. The lattice enthalpy of these oxides is mainly governed by the Coulomb interactions based on the radius and charge of the ions and some contributions from the CFSE of \(\ce{M^{n+}}\) in the \(O_h\) field.

6.3 Choose the appropriate set of lattice enthalpies [\(\mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\)] from one of the options (a) to (f).

\(\ce{CaO}\) \(\ce{TiO}\) \(\ce{VO}\) \(\ce{MnO}\) \(\ce{CoO}\)
(a) 3460 3878 3913 3810 3916
(b) 3460 3916 3878 3810 3913
(c) 3460 3913 3916 3810 3878
(d) 3810 3878 3913 3460 3916
(e) 3810 3916 3878 3460 3913
(f) 3810 3913 3916 3460 3878

PART B

A mixed oxide A, which contains \(\ce{La^3+}\) and \(\ce{Cu^2+}\), crystallizes in a tetragonal unit cell shown in Fig.1. In the \(\ce{[CuO6]}\) octahedron, the Cu–O length along the z-axis (\(l_z\)) is longer than that of the x-axis (\(l_x\)), and \(\ce{[CuO6]}\) is distorted from the regular \(O_h\) geometry. This distortion removes the degeneracy of the \(e_g\) orbitals (\(d_{x^2-y^2}\) and \(d_{z^2}\)).

Figure 3

Fig. 1

A can be synthesized by thermal decomposition (pyrolysis) of complex B, which is formed by mixing metal chlorides in dilute aqueous ammonia solution containing squaric acid \(\ce{C4H2O4}\), i.e., a diacid. The pyrolysis behavior of B in dry air shows a weight loss of 29.1% up to \(200\,^\circ\mathrm C\) due to the loss of crystallization water, followed by another weight loss up to \(700\,^\circ\mathrm C\) due to the release of \(\ce{CO2}\). The total weight loss during the formation of A from B is 63.6%. It should be noted that only water and \(\ce{CO2}\) are released in the pyrolysis reaction.

6.4 Write the chemical formulae for A and B.

6.5 Calculate \(l_x\) and \(l_z\) using Fig. 1.

6.6 For \(\ce{Cu^2+}\) in the distorted \(\ce{[CuO6]}\) octahedron in A of Fig. 1, write the names of the split \(e_g\) orbitals (\(d_{x^2-y^2}\) and \(d_{z^2}\)) in (i) and (ii), and draw the electron configuration in the dotted box in your answer sheet.

A is an insulator. When one \(\ce{La^3+}\) is substituted with one \(\ce{Sr^2+}\), one hole is generated in the crystal lattice that can conduct electricity. As a result, the \(\ce{Sr^2+}\)-doped A shows superconductivity below 38 K. When a substitution reaction took place for A, \(2.05\times10^{27}\) holes \(\mathrm{m^{-3}}\) were generated.

6.7 Calculate the percentage of \(\ce{Sr^2+}\) substituted for \(\ce{La^3+}\) based on the mole ratio in the substitution reaction. Note that the valences of the constituent ions and the crystal structure are not altered by the substitution reaction

PART C

\(\ce{Cu2(CH3CO2)4}\) is composed of four \(\ce{CH3CO2^-}\) coordinated to two \(\ce{Cu^2+}\) (Fig. 2A). \(\ce{Cu2(CH3CO2)4}\) exhibits high levels of structural symmetry, with two axes passing through the carbon atoms of the four \(\ce{CH3CO2^-}\) and an axis passing through the two \(\ce{Cu^2+}\), all of which are oriented orthogonal relative to each other. When a dicarboxylate ligand is used instead of \(\ce{CH3CO2^-}\), a “cage complex” is formed. The cage complex \(\ce{Cu4(L1)4}\) is composed of planar dicarboxylate L1 (Fig. 2B) and \(\ce{Cu^2+}\) (Fig. 2C). The angle \(\theta\) between the coordination directions of the two carboxylates, indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2B, determines the structure of the cage complex. The \(\theta\) is \(0^\circ\) for L1. Note that hydrogen atoms are not shown in Fig. 2.

Figure 4

Fig. 2

6.8 The \(\theta\) of the planar dicarboxylate L2 below is fixed to \(90^\circ\). If the composition of the cage complex formed from L2 and \(\ce{Cu^2+}\) is \(\ce{Cu_{n}(L2)_{m}}\), give the smallest integer combination of \(n\) and \(m\). Assume that only the \(\ce{CO2^-}\) groups of L2 form a coordination bond to \(\ce{Cu^2+}\) ions.

Figure 5

A zinc complex, \(\ce{Zn4O(CH3CO2)6}\), contains four tetrahedral \(\ce{Zn^2+}\), six \(\ce{CH3CO2^-}\), and one \(\ce{O^2-}\) (Fig. 3A). In \(\ce{Zn4O(CH3CO2)6}\), the \(\ce{O^2-}\) is located at the origin, and the three axes passing through the carbon atoms of \(\ce{CH3CO2^-}\) are oriented orthogonal relative to each other. When \(p\)-benzenedicarboxylate (Fig. 3B, L3, \(\theta=180^\circ\)) is used instead of \(\ce{CH3CO2^-}\), the \(\ce{Zn^2+}\) clusters are linked to each other to form a crystalline solid (X) that is called a “porous coordination polymer” (Fig. 3C). The composition of X is \(\ce{[Zn4O(L3)3]_{n}}\), and it has a cubic crystal structure with nano-sized pores. One pore is represented as a sphere in Fig. 3D, and each tetrahedral \(\ce{Zn^2+}\) cluster is represented as a dark gray polyhedron in Fig. 3C and 3D. Note that hydrogen atoms are not shown in Fig. 3.

Figure 6

Fig. 3

6.9 X has a cubic unit cell with a side length of \(a\) (Fig. 3C) and a density of \(0.592\,\mathrm{g\,cm^{-3}}\). Calculate \(a\) in [cm].

6.10 X contains a considerable number of pores, and 1 g of X can accommodate \(3.0\times10^2\) mL of \(\ce{CO2}\) gas in the pores at 1 bar and \(25\,^\circ\mathrm C\). Calculate the average number of \(\ce{CO2}\) molecules per pore.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 6.1: \(\ce{Cr^2+}\): \(\dfrac{19}{45}\Delta_{\mathrm O}\); \(\ce{Mn^2+}\): \(0\); \(\ce{Co^2+}\): \(\dfrac{4}{15}\Delta_{\mathrm O}\).
  • 6.2: \(D(\ce{Co^2+})\approx\boxed{3.6}\).
  • 6.3: Option (a): \(3460,\ 3878,\ 3913,\ 3810,\ 3916\,\mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\), respectively.
  • 6.4: \(\boxed{\mathbf A=\ce{La2CuO4}}\); \(\boxed{\mathbf B=\ce{La2Cu(C4O4)4.18H2O}}\).
  • 6.5: \(\boxed{l_x=0.1917\,\mathrm{nm},\quad l_z=0.2068\,\mathrm{nm}}\).
  • 6.6: Higher \(e_g\) level: \(d_{x^2-y^2}\), one electron; lower \(e_g\) level: \(d_{z^2}\), two electrons. The three \(t_{2g}\)-derived orbitals are all doubly occupied.
  • 6.7: \(\boxed{10.0\%}\) of the original La sites are substituted; approximately \(\ce{La1.80Sr0.20CuO4}\).
  • 6.8: \(\boxed{n=m=12}\), giving \(\ce{Cu12(L2)12}\).
  • 6.9: \(\boxed{a=2.59\times10^{-7}\,\mathrm{cm}}\).
  • 6.10: \(\boxed{9.3\text{ molecules of }\ce{CO2}\text{ per pore}}\), on average.

Solution

For the extended solids and coordination assemblies, the SMILES below identify their constituent ions and ligands. Their spatial arrangements and connections are described separately; component SMILES do not encode the periodic lattice or cage geometry.

6.1 — Crystal-field stabilization energies

The metal ions are chromium(II), \(\ce{Cr^2+}\), [Cr+2]; manganese(II), \(\ce{Mn^2+}\), [Mn+2]; and cobalt(II), \(\ce{Co^2+}\), [Co+2]. Their configurations are \(d^4\), \(d^5\), and \(d^7\), respectively.

Taking the orbital barycentre as zero, the octahedral orbital energies are

\[ E(t_{2g})=-\frac25\Delta_{\mathrm O}, \qquad E(e_g)=+\frac35\Delta_{\mathrm O}, \]

whereas the tetrahedral orbital energies are

\[ E(e)=-\frac35\Delta_{\mathrm T}, \qquad E(t_2)=+\frac25\Delta_{\mathrm T}. \]

Filling all orbitals according to the specified high-spin configurations gives:

Ion Octahedral configuration \(\mathrm{CFSE}^{\mathrm O}\) Tetrahedral configuration \(\mathrm{CFSE}^{\mathrm T}\)
\(\ce{Cr^2+}\), \(d^4\) \(t_{2g}^{3}e_g^{1}\) \(-\frac35\Delta_{\mathrm O}\) \(e^{2}t_2^{2}\) \(-\frac25\Delta_{\mathrm T}\)
\(\ce{Mn^2+}\), \(d^5\) \(t_{2g}^{3}e_g^{2}\) \(0\) \(e^{2}t_2^{3}\) \(0\)
\(\ce{Co^2+}\), \(d^7\) \(t_{2g}^{5}e_g^{2}\) \(-\frac45\Delta_{\mathrm O}\) \(e^{4}t_2^{3}\) \(-\frac65\Delta_{\mathrm T}\)

Using \(\Delta_{\mathrm T}=\frac49\Delta_{\mathrm O}\),

\[ \begin{aligned} \Delta\mathrm{CFSE}(\ce{Cr^2+}) &=\left|-\frac35+\frac25\frac49\right|\Delta_{\mathrm O} =\boxed{\frac{19}{45}\Delta_{\mathrm O}},\\[2mm] \Delta\mathrm{CFSE}(\ce{Mn^2+}) &=\boxed{0},\\[2mm] \Delta\mathrm{CFSE}(\ce{Co^2+}) &=\left|-\frac45+\frac65\frac49\right|\Delta_{\mathrm O} =\boxed{\frac4{15}\Delta_{\mathrm O}}. \end{aligned} \]

The numbers of paired electrons are unchanged between the two geometries for each ion, so a pairing-energy term would cancel in these differences.

6.2 — Distribution coefficient of cobalt(II)

Set

\[ x=\frac{\Delta\mathrm{CFSE}}{\Delta_{\mathrm O}}, \qquad y=\ln D. \]

The two known points are

\[ \ce{Mn^2+}:\ (0,\ln1.1)=(0,0.09531), \]

\[ \ce{Cr^2+}:\ \left(\frac{19}{45},\ln7.2\right) =(0.42222,1.97408). \]

Thus the straight line to draw on the supplied axes is

\[ y=0.09531+4.44972x. \]

For cobalt(II), \(x=4/15\), so

\[ \begin{aligned} \ln D_{\ce{Co^2+}} &=\ln1.1+ \frac{4/15}{19/45}\left(\ln7.2-\ln1.1\right)\\ &=\ln1.1+\frac{12}{19}\ln\left(\frac{7.2}{1.1}\right)\\ &=1.28190. \end{aligned} \]

Therefore,

\[ \boxed{D_{\ce{Co^2+}}=e^{1.28190}=3.6035\approx3.6}. \]

On the graph, mark the cobalt point at approximately \((0.267,1.282)\).

6.3 — Lattice enthalpies

All five oxides contain divalent metal ions and oxide ions, \(\ce{O^2-}\), [O-2]. Their relevant electronic configurations are:

Oxide and name Ionic-component SMILES Metal configuration Octahedral CFSE
\(\ce{CaO}\), calcium oxide [Ca+2].[O-2] \(d^0\) \(0\)
\(\ce{TiO}\), titanium(II) oxide [Ti+2].[O-2] \(d^2\) \(-0.8\Delta_{\mathrm O}\)
\(\ce{VO}\), vanadium(II) oxide [V+2].[O-2] \(d^3\) \(-1.2\Delta_{\mathrm O}\)
\(\ce{MnO}\), manganese(II) oxide [Mn+2].[O-2] High-spin \(d^5\) \(0\)
\(\ce{CoO}\), cobalt(II) oxide [Co+2].[O-2] High-spin \(d^7\) \(-0.8\Delta_{\mathrm O}\)

The lattices are extended rock-salt structures, with each metal surrounded octahedrally by six oxide ions.

Neither calcium(II) nor high-spin manganese(II) has CFSE. The smaller manganese(II) ion gives stronger Coulomb attraction, so

\[ U(\ce{CaO})<U(\ce{MnO}). \]

This eliminates options (d)–(f).

Titanium(II) and cobalt(II) have the same CFSE coefficient, while the later, smaller cobalt(II) ion gives stronger electrostatic binding. Thus

\[ U(\ce{CoO})>U(\ce{TiO}), \]

which selects (a) among the remaining choices. The stronger CFSE of \(d^3\) vanadium(II) also supports \(\ce{VO}\) lying above \(\ce{TiO}\).

The positive lattice-enthalpy values in the question are therefore

\[ \boxed{ \begin{array}{c|ccccc} &\ce{CaO}&\ce{TiO}&\ce{VO}&\ce{MnO}&\ce{CoO}\\ \hline U/(\mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}})&3460&3878&3913&3810&3916 \end{array}} \]

6.4 — Formulae of A and B

First count the ions in the unit cell, accounting for sharing with neighbouring cells.

Species Count in Fig. 1 Number per unit cell
\(\ce{Cu^2+}\) Eight corners and one interior site \(8(\frac18)+1=2\)
\(\ce{La^3+}\) Eight edge sites and two interior sites \(8(\frac14)+2=4\)
\(\ce{O^2-}\) Sixteen edge sites, four face sites, and two interior sites \(16(\frac14)+4(\frac12)+2=8\)

The unit-cell composition is therefore \(\ce{La4Cu2O8}\), giving

\[ \boxed{\mathbf A=\ce{La2CuO4}}. \]

This is lanthanum(III) copper(II) oxide, also called lanthanum cuprate. Its constituent ions are lanthanum(III), [La+3]; copper(II), [Cu+2]; and oxide, [O-2]. A composition-only ionic SMILES is [La+3].[La+3].[Cu+2].[O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[O-2].

Squaric acid, \(\ce{C4H2O4}\), has SMILES O=C1C(=O)C(O)=C1O. Its doubly deprotonated ligand is the squarate dianion, \(\ce{C4O4^2-}\), O=C1C(=O)C([O-])=C1[O-]; this SMILES shows one resonance form.

The total metal charge per \(\ce{La2Cu}\) unit is

\[ 2(+3)+(+2)=+8, \]

requiring four squarate dianions. Hence write

\[ \mathbf B=\ce{La2Cu(C4O4)4}\cdot x\ce{H2O}. \]

Using conventional atomic masses,

\[ M_A=2(138.91)+63.55+4(16.00) =405.37\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

Since the final residue is \(100-63.6=36.4\%\) of the initial mass,

\[ M_B=\frac{405.37}{0.364} =1113.65\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

Crystallization water accounts for 29.1% of this mass:

\[ x=\frac{0.291(1113.65)}{18.016}=17.99\approx18. \]

Thus

\[ \boxed{\mathbf B=\ce{La2Cu(C4O4)4.18H2O}}, \]

lanthanum(III) copper(II) squarate octadecahydrate. Its components are two [La+3] ions, one [Cu+2] ion, four squarate dianions with the SMILES above, and eighteen water molecules, O. The empirical formula does not determine all metal–ligand connections in B.

The balanced overall pyrolysis in air is

\[ \boxed{\ce{ La2Cu(C4O4)4.18H2O + 10O2 -> La2CuO4 + 16CO2 + 18H2O }}. \]

Here dioxygen is O=O, carbon dioxide is O=C=O, and water is O.

Oxygen uptake is necessary: the net mass loss during oxidation is the mass of escaping carbon dioxide minus the mass of oxygen absorbed. With \(M_B=1113.818\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\), the predicted losses are

\[ \frac{18(18.016)}{1113.818}\times100=29.115\%, \]

and

\[ \left(1-\frac{405.37}{1113.818}\right)\times100=63.605\%, \]

both matching the supplied values.

6.5 — Copper–oxygen distances

Along \(x\), oxygen lies halfway between neighbouring copper sites:

\[ l_x=\frac{0.3833}{2} =\boxed{0.1917\,\mathrm{nm}}. \]

Along \(z\), adjacent copper planes are separated by \(c/2\). The marked \(0.2520\,\mathrm{nm}\) interval lies between their facing apical-oxygen planes, giving

\[ l_z+0.2520+l_z=\frac{1.3313}{2}. \]

Therefore,

\[ l_z=\frac{1.3313/2-0.2520}{2} =0.206825\,\mathrm{nm} \approx\boxed{0.2068\,\mathrm{nm}}. \]

As specified in the problem, \(l_z>l_x\).

6.6 — Splitting and electron configuration

Copper(II) is \(d^9\). Elongation along \(z\) weakens the interaction between the axial oxide ligands and \(d_{z^2}\), lowering this orbital relative to \(d_{x^2-y^2}\).

Thus, within the split \(e_g\) pair,

\[ \boxed{E(d_{x^2-y^2})>E(d_{z^2})}. \]

The required drawing has:

Level Orbital Electrons
Higher split \(e_g\) level \(d_{x^2-y^2}\) \(\uparrow\)
Lower split \(e_g\) level \(d_{z^2}\) \(\uparrow\downarrow\)
Three \(t_{2g}\)-derived orbitals \(d_{xy},d_{xz},d_{yz}\) \(\uparrow\downarrow\) in each

In words, draw two separated horizontal \(e_g\) lines, put one electron on the upper \(d_{x^2-y^2}\) line and a pair on the lower \(d_{z^2}\) line. The other six d electrons form three pairs.

If answer-sheet label (i) denotes the upper line and (ii) the lower line, then

\[ \text{(i)}=d_{x^2-y^2}, \qquad \text{(ii)}=d_{z^2}. \]

6.7 — Percentage substitution by strontium

The unit-cell volume is

\[ \begin{aligned} V_{\mathrm{cell}} &=(0.3833\,\mathrm{nm})^2(1.3313\,\mathrm{nm})\\ &=0.1955931\,\mathrm{nm^3}\\ &=1.955931\times10^{-28}\,\mathrm{m^3}. \end{aligned} \]

The number of holes per cell is

\[ N_h=(2.05\times10^{27}\,\mathrm{m^{-3}}) (1.955931\times10^{-28}\,\mathrm{m^3}) =0.400966. \]

Each strontium(II) ion, \(\ce{Sr^2+}\), [Sr+2], produces one hole, so this also equals the average number of substituted La sites per cell.

There are four La sites per undoped cell. Consequently,

\[ \boxed{ \text{substitution percentage} =\frac{0.400966}{4}\times100 =10.0\%. } \]

There are two formula units per cell, so the Sr content per formula unit is

\[ x=\frac{0.400966}{2}=0.20048. \]

The approximate composition is therefore

\[ \ce{La_{2-x}Sr_xCuO4} \approx\ce{La1.80Sr0.20CuO4}. \]

The holes provide the specified charge compensation without assigning a changed formal valence to the constituent ions.

6.8 — Smallest cage formed by L2

The reference acetate ligand is acetate (ethanoate), \(\ce{CH3CO2^-}\), CC(=O)[O-].

L2 is 9H-carbazole-3,6-dicarboxylate, with SMILES O=C([O-])c1ccc2[nH]c3ccc(C(=O)[O-])cc3c2c1. Its two carboxylates coordinate; the N–H group remains uncoordinated. The imposed planar conformation and \(90^\circ\) angle are geometric information not fixed by the SMILES alone.

Each copper-carboxylate paddlewheel contains two copper ions and has four carboxylate connection directions arranged as a square around its Cu–Cu axis.

With a \(90^\circ\) linker, the smallest closed assembly places six paddlewheel units at the vertices of an octahedron. Equivalently, put their centres on the \(+x,-x,+y,-y,+z,-z\) directions. Each vertex connects to its four adjacent vertices, and opposite vertices are unconnected.

Therefore:

\[ n=6\times2=12 \]

copper ions, and

\[ m=\frac{6\times4}{2}=12 \]

dicarboxylate ligands, because each ligand connects two paddlewheels.

Hence

\[ \boxed{n=m=12,\qquad \ce{Cu12(L2)12}}. \]

These are the counts in a complete cage. Charge balance alone establishes only \(n=m\).

6.9 — Cubic unit-cell edge

L3 is terephthalate (benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate), \(\ce{C8H4O4^2-}\), with SMILES O=C([O-])c1ccc(C(=O)[O-])cc1.

The metal building block contains four zinc(II) ions, [Zn+2], arranged tetrahedrally about a central oxide ion, [O-2]. Its six linker connections extend along three mutually perpendicular axes. The resulting solid is a zinc(II) oxide–terephthalate coordination polymer.

Figure 3C shows two cluster spacings along each unit-cell edge, so the depicted cell contains

\[ Z=2^3=8 \]

\(\ce{Zn4O(L3)3}\) formula units.

The formula-unit molar mass is

\[ \begin{aligned} M &=4(65.38)+16.00+ 3\left[8(12.01)+4(1.008)+4(16.00)\right]\\ &=769.856\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \end{aligned} \]

Using \(N_{\mathrm A}=6.02214076\times10^{23}\,\mathrm{mol^{-1}}\),

\[ \rho=\frac{ZM}{N_{\mathrm A}a^3}, \]

and therefore

\[ \begin{aligned} a &=\left(\frac{8(769.856)} {(6.02214076\times10^{23})(0.592)}\right)^{1/3} \mathrm{cm}\\ &=2.58509\times10^{-7}\,\mathrm{cm}. \end{aligned} \]

Thus

\[ \boxed{a=2.59\times10^{-7}\,\mathrm{cm}} \]

or approximately \(2.59\,\mathrm{nm}\).

6.10 — Average number of carbon dioxide molecules per pore

Each elementary cubic pore is bounded by eight cluster nodes, while each node belongs to eight neighbouring pores. Thus the numbers of pores and cluster nodes are equal: eight pores per depicted unit cell, or one pore per \(\ce{Zn4O(L3)3}\) formula unit.

For \(1.00\,\mathrm g\) of X,

\[ N_{\mathrm{pores}} =\frac{1.00\,\mathrm g}{769.856\,\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}}N_{\mathrm A} =7.8224\times10^{20}. \]

The supplied gas volume is

\[ V=3.0\times10^2\,\mathrm{mL}=0.300\,\mathrm L, \qquad T=298.15\,\mathrm K. \]

Using the ideal-gas equation with \(R=0.08314\,\mathrm{L\,bar\,mol^{-1}\,K^{-1}}\),

\[ n_{\ce{CO2}} =\frac{PV}{RT} =\frac{(1\,\mathrm{bar})(0.300\,\mathrm L)} {(0.08314\,\mathrm{L\,bar\,mol^{-1}\,K^{-1}}) (298.15\,\mathrm K)} =0.0121025\,\mathrm{mol}. \]

The average occupancy is consequently

\[ \begin{aligned} \frac{N_{\ce{CO2}}}{N_{\mathrm{pores}}} &=\frac{0.0121025\,N_{\mathrm A}} {(1.00/769.856)N_{\mathrm A}}\\ &=9.3172. \end{aligned} \]

To the precision of the gas-volume data,

\[ \boxed{9.3\text{ carbon dioxide molecules per pore, on average}.} \]

The solution was checked against the official solution.