48th International
Chemistry Olympiad

Preparatory Problems

2016
Tbilisi, Georgia

Preparatory problems for the 40th International Chemistry Olympiad
Editor: Gábor Magyarfalvi
ISBN 978-963-463-965-7
Copyright © 2008 by 40th International Chemistry Olympiad, Some rights reserved
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40th International Chemistry Olympiad
Institute of Chemistry
Eötvös Loránd University
Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A
H-1117 Budapest
Hungary
Phone: +36-1-372-29-10
Fax: +36-1-372-29-31
E-mail: info@icho.hu
Web: www.icho.hu

248th International Chemistry Olympiad

Preparatory Problems

Contents
Problem Authors

4

Preface5Constants and Formulae

6

Fields of Advanced Difficulty

7

Theoretical Problems

9

Practical Problems

42

Worked Solutions

50

Restructured Syllabus

98

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 20163

Problem Authors

4

Zoltán Fekete

University of Szeged

Sarolta Igaz

Okker Education Ltd.

Dávid Komáromy

Eötvös Loránd University

András Kotschy

Servier Research Institutefor Medicinal Chemistry, Budapest

György Kóczán

Enzix LLC

Gábor Lente

University of Debrecen

Gábor Magyarfalvi

Eötvös Loránd University

Attila Nagy

Eötvös Loránd University

István Pálinkó

University of Szeged

András Stirling

Chemical Research Center of the
Hungarian Academy of Sciences

László Túri

Eötvös Loránd University

Judit Zádor

Eötvös Loránd University, currently at Sandia
National Laboratories, USA48th International Chemistry Olympiad

Preparatory Problems

Preface for 40-th Olympiad
We have developed this set of problems with the intention of making the preparation
for the Olympiad easier for both students and mentors. Our intention was to shift thefocus of the problems from current research topics to interesting applications of basic
chemical principles that are easily accessible at the level of secondary education.
We aimed to comply with the presently valid IChO syllabus, but the Olympiad exams
and the preparatory problems were prepared with a restructured syllabus in mind.
We recommend the use of the version of the syllabus found at the end of this booklet
during the preparations.
We restricted ourselves to the inclusion of only a few topics that are not usually
covered in secondary schools. There are six such advanced topics that we expect
the participants to be familiar with. These fields are listed explicitly and theirapplication is demonstrated in the problems. In our experience each of these topics
can be introduced to well-prepared students in 2-3 hours.
The official solutions are only available to the future mentors of each country at thetime of publication of this set, Solutions will be published in May 2008 on the web.
We welcome any comments, corrections or questions about the problems via email
at gmagyarf@chem.elte.hu.
We have enjoyed preparing the problems and we hope that you will also enjoy
solving them. See you in Budapest!

Acknowledgement
I thank the hard and dedicated teamwork of the problem authors. They are former
Olympiad participants or mentors and they will form the core of the Science
Committee of the IChO. I am grateful to other members of the future SC, namely
Márton Boros, Zsolt Gengelicki, Dóra Kőhalmi, Áron Kramarics, Krisztián Lőrincz,
Katalin Ősz, Zsuzsanna Sánta and Zsófia Szalay for their invaluable review efforts.
I also thank Miklós Riedel for his thorough review of the manuscript and Jon Baker
for correcting the English of the problem set.
Budapest, 20 January 2008
Gábor Magyarfalvi
editor

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 20165

Constants and Formulae
Avogadro
constant:

NA = 6.022·1023 mol–1

Ideal gas equation:

pV = nRT

Gas constant:

R = 8.314 J K–1 mol–1

Gibbs energy:

G = H – TS

Faraday constant:

F = 96485 C mol–1or Go  RT ln K  nFEcell

Planck constant:h = 6.626·10–34 J s

Nernst equation:

RT coxln
zF credE  Eo  E k  A exp   A 
 RT 
I
Zero of the Celsius
A  log 0   cl
273.15 K
Lambert-Beer law:scale:
I
In equilibrium constant calculations all concentrations are referenced to a standard
concentration of one mole per dm3.

c = 3.000·108 m s–1

Speed of light:

Arrhenius equation:

Periodic table with relative atomic masses
1

18

1

2

H

He

1.008

2

13

14

15

16

17

4.003

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Li

Be

B

C

N

O

F

Ne

6.94

9.01

10.81

12.01

14.01

16.00

19.00

20.18

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Na Mg

Al

Si

P

S

Cl

Ar

22.99

24.30

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

26.98

28.09

30.97

32.06

35.45

39.95

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

Ca Sc

Ti

V

Cr

Mn

Fe

Co

Ni

Cu

Zn

Ga Ge

As

Se

Br

Kr

39.10

K

40.08 44.96 47.87

50.94

52.00

54.94

55.85

58.93

58.69

63.55

65.38

69.72

72.64

74.92

78.96

79.90

83.80

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

Rb

Sr

Y

Zr

Nb Mo

Tc

Ru

Rh

Pd

Ag

Cd

In

Sn

Sb

Te

I

Xe

85.47

87.62 88.91 91.22

55

56

Cs

Ba

132.91 137.33
87

88

Fr

Ra

-

-

5771

89103

92.91

95.96

-

72

73

74

75

76

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

85

86

Hf

Ta

W

Re

Os

Ir

Pt

Au

Hg

Tl

Pb

Bi

Po

At

Rn

-

-

-

178.49 180.95 183.84 186.21 190.23 192.22 195.08 196.97 200.59 204.38 207.2 208.98
104

105

106

107

108

109

110

111

Rf

Db

Sg

Bh

Hs

Mt

Ds

Rg

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

61

62

57

58

59

60

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

La

Ce

Pr

Nd Pm Sm Eu

Gd

Tb

Dy

Ho

Er

Tm Yb

Lu

138.91 140.12 140.91 144.24-

150.36 151.96 157.25 158.93 162.50 164.93 167.26 168.93 173.05 174.97

89

90

91

92

93

94

97

98

99

102

103

Ac

Th

Pa

U

Np

Pu Am Cm Bk

Cf

Es Fm Md No

Lr

-

6

101.07 102.91 106.42 107.87 112.41 114.82 118.71 121.76 127.60 126.90 131.29

232.04 231.04 238.03

-

-

95
-

96
-

-

-

-

100
-

101
-

-

-

48th International Chemistry Olympiad

Preparatory Problems

Fields of Advanced Difficulty
Theoretical
Relation between equilibrium constants, electromotive force and standard Gibbs
energy;Inorganic electrochemistry, redox titrations and redox equilibria;

Integrated rate law for first-order reactions, half-life, Arrhenius equation,
determination of activation energy, analysis of moderately complex reaction
mechanisms;
Solid state structures;

Stereoselective transformations (diastereoselective, enantioselective), optical purity;

Monosaccharides, equilibrium between linear and cyclic forms, pyranoses andfuranoses, Haworth projection and conformational formulae, glycosides;

Practical
Advanced inorganic qualitative analysis;

Basic synthesis techniques: filtration, drying of precipitates, thin layer
chromatography;

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 2016

7

8

48th International Chemistry Olympiad

Preparatory Problems

Theoretical problems
Problem 1
During a new construction at 221 Baker Street, an amazing discovery was made. A small
cabinet was found containing previously unknown documents. They revealed that Dr.
Watson kept notes about his adventures with Mr. Sherlock Holmes into the 1950s. Aninteresting, but incomplete story read as follows:....and was able to spring into a cab and drive to Baker
Street, half afraid that I might be too late to assist at the
dénouement of the little mystery. I found Sherlock Holmes
alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin form curled
up in the recesses of his arm-chair. A formidable array ofbottles and test-tubes, with the pungent smell of hydrochloric
acid, told me that he had spent his day in the chemical work
which was so dear to him. It was obvious to me that mycompanion had already examined the carefully closed metal
box we had found in a recess behind a sliding panel justabove the right bell-pull in poor Browning’s sitting-room.
’No doubt the murderers were after this box,’ said he. ’They
searched the house from cellar to garret. I would have been
at a loss myself if I had not met Irene Adler some time ago...’My attention was captured by the open box on themantelpiece. It was empty.
’It is far better to keep the contents of the box in mineral oil,’Holmes explained and showed me a bottle. ’This will keep it
safe from air but also makes it more flammable.’
The yellowish liquid in the bottle covered a few thumb-sized pellets.
’Is this a dangerous poison?’ I asked.
’Not at all, Watson. Have you ever seen a poison in so big a pellet? It would hardly be healthy to swallow, butthat is not the point. Now look at this.’He took out a pellet, dried it with great care, and dropped it into a bowl of water. Instead of slowly dissolving
or sinking, the pellet began a strange dance on the surface of the water, hissed ominously, gave out bubbles
and some malodorous product. The acrid fumes took me by the throat and set me coughing.
’Holmes, this will kill us both,’ I screamed.
’You should have seen the reaction with hydrochloric acid. Anyway, I told you it is not particularly poisonous,’
said Holmes coughing. With dramatic suddenness he struck a match, and as he held the match nearer, thebubbles caught fire and gleamed with the most beautiful crimson flame I have ever seen.
’Magnificent, is it not? One ounce of this substance when reacting with water or hydrochloric acid gives morethan three cubic feet of gas. To be precise, 3.068 cubic feet at 80.0 degrees and atmospheric pressure.’’You measured this?’ I cried.
’Of course I measured it,’ said Holmes with an impatient gesture. He took a small bottle labelled
phenolphthalein and put a few drops of its contents into the bowl of water, which turned pink immediately, itscolour resembling the gleam of the flames.
’Is this why this substance is so precious?’’Not really,’ murmured Holmes. ’The Powers of Evil created these pellets, Watson, or I am very much
mistaken. The murder of Browning was nothing but a trifle in this case.’
Half crazy with fear, I looked at the marble-like pellets in the bottle.
’I do not really understand, Holmes.’’I made accurate measurements. I dissolved exactly one ounce of this substance in water, then boiled away
the water. The remaining white solid I could not dry completely, so I re-dissolved it in water and added somehydrofluoric acid until the colour of phenolphthalein was gone. I boiled away the water again, and drying thewhite residue was not a problem this time. Its mass was precisely three and one eighth ounces. Three andone eighth. Do you see, Watson?’’I am still in the dark,’ I answered with some embarrassment.
’I do not wish to make a mystery,’ said he, laughing. ’The matter is elementary; simplicity itself. You
remember our little adventure with Professor Urey?’

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 2016

9

The notes end here. Sherlock Holmes uses imperial units of measurement: 1 foot equals
30.48 cm, 1 ounce is 28.350 g, the atmospheric pressure has been constant (101325 Pa)
over the last few centuries. The temperature is measured in degrees Fahrenheit (°F): 0 °C
equals 32 °F, whereas 100 °C is 212 °F.
Help Watson figure out what was in the box. What could it possibly have been intendedfor?

Problem 2
Compound A is a stable salt of metal H. It contains 11.97 % N, 3.45 % H and 41.03 % O(mass fractions), besides the metal. The following chart describes some reactions startingfrom A and H (Δ signifies heating). Above the arrows the necessary reactants are
displayed. All substances tagged with a letter contain the metal, but none of the byproducts do. (When a substance is labeled as dissolved in water, then it is ionic and you
have to show only the ion containing the metal.)

1

Δ

B(s)

A(s) 4 H2O

2 H+ / H2O

D(aq)
6

8 Cl2

3 Zn / H+

H+ / H2O

5

SO2/H+

F(aq)

H(s)

C(aq)

7 E(aq)H+

7 F(aq)

G(aq)

H+

E(aq)

11

12

13

H2O

H2O

H2O

I(l)

9

Δ

J(s)

10 H2

14 Δ

K(s)

I+K

a)

Identify the substances A-K and write down all the equations 1-14.

b)

Select the redox processes from the reactions.

c)Select those compounds from A-K that are not expected to have unpaired electrons.

d)On the basis of the above chart propose a reaction to obtain G starting from F, but
without using E.

e)Compound B is industrially very important. Show a reaction where its presence is
indispensable. What role does it play?

10

48th International Chemistry Olympiad

Preparatory Problemsf)What percentage of product I contains 35Cl if chlorine gas containing 99 % 37Cl and
1 % 35Cl is used in reaction 8?

g)

What percentage of J produced from this sample of I contains 35Cl?

Problem 3
The metallic radius of chromium is estimated to be 126 pm. The density of chromium is7.14 g/cm3 . Solid chromium belongs to the regular cubic crystal system.
a)

Determine the lattice type of chromium using only the data given above.

A test for the presence of Cl– ions used to be the following: a dry mixture of the unknown
material and potassium dichromate is heated with concentrated H2SO4. The gases
produced are passed into NaOH solution, where the appearance of a yellow color
indicates the presence of chlorine.
b)What is the volatile chromium compound produced in the reaction? Draw its
structure. Note that neither Cr nor Cl changes oxidation state during the reaction.

Acidifying a solution of potassium chromate gives rise to the formation of the orange
dichromate ion, then the deeper red tri- and tetrachromate ions. Using concentrated
sulfuric acid we obtain a red precipitate not containing potassium.
c)

Write the equations and draw the structure of the ions. Can you propose a structure
for the precipitate?

The Latimer diagrams for a series of chromium species in acidic (pH=0) and basic (pH=14)
media is given below:
1.72

Cr2O 72 

0.55

2.10
Cr(V)

Cr(IV)

Cr3+

–0.42

–0.11

–1.33
Cr(OH)3

–0,72
–0.72

d)

Cr

–0.74

0.95

CrO 24

Cr2+

Cr(OH)4–Cr–1.33

Find the missing three values.

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 2016

11

e)

Are Cr(V) and Cr(IV) stable with respect to disproportionation? Identify a simple
criterion based on the Latimer diagram. What is the equilibrium constant for thedisproportionation of Cr2+?

f)

Calculate the solubility constant of chromium(III) hydroxide and the overall stability
constant of tetrahydroxo-chromate(III) anion.

The Latimer diagram of a series of oxygen-related species in acidic (pH=0) and basic(pH=14) media is the following:
1.23
0.695

1.76

O2

H2O2
–0.13

H2O

1.51
HO2

0.40
–0.06

HO2–

O2

O2–
g)

0.87

OH–

0.20

What will happen if the pH of a solution containing chromate(VI), Cr(III) and hydrogen
peroxide is set to 0? What will happen if we set the pH to 14? Write down thereactions and the corresponding standard cell potential.

Problem 4
Silica and silica glass is held together by single covalent Si-O bonds.
a)What is the coordination number of the Si and O atoms in the structure?

The density of silica glass is 2.203 g/cm3.
b)What is the average volume of a SiO2 unit? How many bonds are there on the
average in such a volume?

A frequent crystal defect in silica glass is oxygen vacancy: oxygen atoms in the lattice are
missing and the neighboring Si atoms of the missing oxygen stabilize by forming a Si-Si
bond. An amorphous silica sample is characterized by the formula SiO 1.9.
c)12What percentage of the total number of the bonds are Si-Si bonds?

48th International Chemistry Olympiadd)Preparatory Problems

Give an expression for the nSi-Si/nSi-O ratio of a SiOx sample, as a function of x, where
nSi-Si is the number of Si-Si bonds and nSi-O is the number of Si-O bonds. Give thevalue of x where, on the average, all Si atoms form one Si-Si bond.

Problem 5
Pyrite (FeS2) forms NaCl-type crystals with Fe2+ ions occupying the positions of Na+, andS22- ions occupying the positions of the Cl– ions. The directions of the S-S bonds arealternating body-diagonal.
a)

Fe is octahedrally coordinated by sulfur atoms. What is the coordination of the sulfur
atoms?

b)

The density () of an ideal pyrite crystal is 5.011 g/cm3. Calculate the lattice constantof the smallest cubic unit cell.

It has been found that the lattice constant does not depend on the stoichiometry of thecrystal, i.e., the lattice remains stable if the y in the formula FeSy deviates slightly from 2
within a small range (1.95–2.05).
c)

Find the equation which gives the dependence of the density on y, assuming that
only the iron content varies. Find a similar equation for the case when only the S
content varies.

d)Plot the two curves in the same y- coordinate system. Identify the following regionsin the graphs: vacancies (Fe, or S deficiencies), interstitials (Fe, or S excess), perfectlattice.

In a natural pyrite sample it was found that only 99% of the iron positions are occupied,and 1 % additional sulfur atoms are in interstitial positions.
e)Calculate the composition of the crystal. Find the corresponding point in thepreviously constructed y- diagram.

Problem 6
Until the end of the 20th century, only two species (one molecule and one anion) were
known that are composed only of nitrogen atoms.
a)What are the empirical formulae of these two species?

The first inorganic compound containing a nitrogen-only species different from the above
was synthesized by Christe and co-workers in 1999.
The starting material of the synthesis is an unstable liquid A that is a weak, monoprotic
acid. It was liberated from its sodium salt (that contains 35.36 % sodium by mass) with alarge excess of stearic acid.
b)

Determine the molecular formula of A and draw two resonance structures of themolecule. (Show all bonding and non-bonding valence electron pairs.)

The other starting material (B) was prepared from the cis-isomer of a nitrogen halogenide
that contains 42.44 % nitrogen by mass.
Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 2016

13

c)

Determine the empirical formula of this halogenide. Draw the Lewis structure of thecis-isomer. Show all bonding and non-bonding valence electron pairs.

This nitrogen halogenide was reacted with SbF5 (a strong Lewis acid) in a 1:1 ratio at–196 °C. The resulting ionic substance (B) was found to comprise three types of atoms.
Elemental analysis shows that it contains 9.91 % N and 43.06 % Sb by mass; further, it
contains one cation and one anion. The shape of the latter was found to be octahedral.
d)Determine the empirical formula of the ionic substance B.

e)

Determine the empirical formula of the cation found in B and draw its Lewis structure.
Show resonance structures, if there are any. Show all bonding and non-bonding
electron pairs. Predict the bond angles expected in the contributing structures(approximately).

B reacts violently with water: 0.3223 g of the compound gave 25.54 cm3 (at 101325 Pa
and 0 °C) of a color- and odorless nitrogen oxide that contains 63.65 % nitrogen by mass.
f)

Identify the nitrogen oxide formed in the hydrolysis reaction and draw its Lewis
structure. Show resonance structures, if there are any. Show all bonding and nonbonding electron pairs.

g)Give the chemical equation for the reaction of B with water.

In the experiment described by Christe and co-workers, A was mixed with B in liquidhydrogen fluoride at –196 °C. The mixture was shaken for three days in a closed ampouleat –78 °C, finally it was cooled down again to –196 °C. A compound C was obtained, that
contained the same octahedral anion as B and the expected, V-shaped cation composed
only of N-atoms. C contained 22.90 % N by mass.
h)

Determine the empirical formula of C.

i)

The cation of C has many resonance structures. Show these structures, indicating all
bonding and non-bonding electron pairs. Predict the bond angles expected in thecontributing structures (approximately).

j)Give the chemical equation for the formation of C. The formation of which compoundmakes the process thermodynamically favorable?

The cation of C is a very strong oxidizing agent. It oxidizes water; the reaction gives rise to
the formation of two elemental gases. The resulting aqueous solution contains the same
compounds as in the case of hydrolysis of B.
k)Give the chemical equation for the hydrolysis of C.

In 2004, a further step was made. The ionic compound E was synthesized, whose nitrogencontent was 91.24 % by mass! The first step in the synthesis of E was the reaction of thechloride of a main group element with an excess of the sodium salt of A (in acetonitrile, at–20 °C), giving rise to the formation of the compound D and NaCl. Gas evolution was notobserved. In the second step, D was reacted with C in liquid SO2 at –64 °C, giving E as
the product. The cation : anion ratio in E is also 1:1 and it contains the same cation as C.
D and E contain the same complex anion, whose central atom is octahedrally coordinated.
l)

14

Determine the empirical formula of E, given that it contains two types of atoms.

48th International Chemistry Olympiadm)Preparatory Problems

Determine the empirical formula of D and identify the main group element used.

E is supposed to be a potential fuel for future space travel because of its extremely highendothermic character. (It is a so-called “high energy density material”). A further advanceis that the products of the decomposition of E are not toxic, so they do not pollute theatmosphere.
n)What are the reaction products of the decomposition of E in air?

Problem 7
Calculate the analytical concentration for each of the following solutions:a)

HCl solution, pH = 4.00 (solution A),b)acetic acid solution, pH = 4.00 (solution B),c)sulfuric acid solution, pH = 4.00 (solution C),d)citric acid solution, pH = 4.00 (solution D).

Calculate the pH for each of the following mixtures:e)equal volumes of solution A and NaOH solution (pOH = 4),f)equal volumes of solution B and NaOH solution (pOH = 4),g)equal volumes of solution C and NaOH solution (pOH = 4),h)equal volumes of solution D and NaOH solution (pOH = 4).

i)equal volumes of solution A and B,j)equal volumes of solution A and C.

Acetic acid: pKa = 4.76
Sulfuric acid: pKa2 = 1.99
Citric acid: pKa1 = 3.10, pKa2 = 4.35, pKa3 = 6.39

Problem 8
Numerous inorganic compounds undergo autodissociation in their liquid state. In liquidhydrogen fluoride (density, ρ = 1.002 g/cm3) the following equilibrium can describe theautoprotolysis:
3 HF  H2F+ + HF2–
The corresponding equilibrium constant is 8.0·10–12.
a)Calculate what fraction of the fluorine is present in the cationic species in liquid HF,
supposing that only these three species are present in the system.

Various reactions can take place in liquid HF.

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 2016

15

b)

Write the equation of the reactions of liquid HF with the following substances: H 2O,
SiO2, acetone.

In water HF behaves as a medium-strength acid and dissociates only partially. The mostimportant reactions determining the equilibrium properties of the solution are the following:
HF + H2O  H3O+ + F–

(1)

HF + F–  HF2–

(2)

The equilibrium constants of the two equilibria are
K1 = 1.1·10–3
K2 = 2.6·10–1c)Calculate the analytical concentration of HF in a solution having a pH = 2.00.

In early studies of aqueous HF, equilibrium (2) was not considered. However, pH
measurements, assuming only equilibrium (1) led to contradictions.
d)Show that, assuming only equilibrium (1), pH measurements can indeed lead to aconcentration-dependent equilibrium constant for (1).

Two chemists wanted to determine the acidity constant of HF (K1) from one and the same
solution with a known concentration. They measured the pH of the solution and thenobtained a K1 value by calculation. However, the better chemist knew about equilibrium(2), while she knew that the other did not. So, she was surprised when they both obtained
the same K1 value.
e)What was the concentration of the HF solution?

f)Calculate the equilibrium constant of the following equilibrium:
2 HF + H2O  H3O+ + HF2–

The dissociation equilibrium of a solute in a solvent can be significantly shifted by theaddition of a suitable substance into the solution.
g)

Propose three different inorganic compounds for increasing the dissociation of HF inwater.

Suitable compounds can also shift the autodissociation equilibrium of HF in its liquid state
by orders of magnitudes. A well-known such substance is SbF5.
h)Show how SbF5 shifts the autodissociation equilibrium of liquid HF.

The shift in the autodissociation also implies an important change in the Brønsted acidityof the solvent. In fact, the degree of solvation of the proton produced from the
autodissociation essentially affects the Brønsted acidity of the solvent.
i)

How is the Brønsted acidity of a given solvent determined by the extent of proton
solvation?

The mixture of HF-SbF5 belongs to the family of superacids, owing to their very highacidity. These acids are able to protonate very weak bases and thus have enabled the
preparation of exotic protonated species. These, in turn, have opened new syntheticroutes.

16

48th International Chemistry Olympiadj)Preparatory Problems

Formulate reaction equations for the reaction of methane and neopentane with the
HF-SbF5 superacid. Note that in both cases there is a gaseous product.

Problem 9
Ammonium sulfide ((NH4)2S) is a widely used reagent in qualitative analytical chemistry.
To prepare the reagent, hydrogen sulfide gas is bubbled through a 4-5 mol/dm3 ammonia
solution, and then some water is added. The solution prepared in this way is almost neverpure. It can contain either ammonia or ammonium hydrogen sulfide in excess when alower or higher than stoichiometric amount of gas is absorbed.
 10.00 cm3 of an ammonium sulfide reagent solution was diluted to 1.000 dm3.
10.00 cm3 of the resulting stock solution was transferred into a distillation flask and~40 cm3 of water was added. Then, 25.00 cm3 of 0.1 mol/dm3 cadmium nitratesolution was added into the collector flask (where the distilled components would
condense). Moreover, 20.00 cm3 of a 0.02498 mol/dm3 solution of sulfuric acid wasadded into the distillation flask.
 Approximately one half of the solution in the distillation flask was distilled into thecollector flask. (In the collector flask, the formation of a yellow precipitate could beseen.)
 The content of the distillation flask was washed completely into a titration flask. Afteradding a few drops of methyl red indicator it was titrated with 0.05002 mol/dm3 NaOH
solution. The volume of the titrant used to reach the equivalence point was
10.97 cm3.
 Bromine water was added to the solution in the collector flask (the precipitate
dissolved), and the excess of bromine was removed by boiling the solution for
15 minutes. Bromine oxidizes all sulfur containing anions into sulfate ions. The
hydrogen ions formed in the reactions in the collector flask were neutralized by
14.01 cm3 of 0.1012 mol/dm3 NaOH.
Calculate the exact composition of the reagent ammonium sulfide solution.

Problem 10
According to the website of the Hungarian Central Bank, the silvery white Hungarian 2
forint coin is composed of an alloy containing only copper and nickel. A curious chemist(who did not know that it is illegal to destroy money in Hungary) weighed a 2-Ft coin
(3.1422 g) and dissolved it completely in concentrated nitric acid in about 4 hours under afume hood. A brown gas was produced during this process and no other gaseous products
were formed.
a)What are the chemical equations for the dissolution reactions?

Our hero diluted the solution to 100.00 cm3 in a volumetric flask. To determine thecomposition of the coin, he devised a clever plan. First, he prepared a Na2S2O3 solution bydissolving 6 g of Na2S2O3·5H2O in 1.0 dm3 of water. Then he weighed 0.08590 g KIO3,
dissolved it in water and prepared 100.00 cm3 stock solution in a volumetric flask. He
measured 10.00 cm3 of this stock solution, added 5 cm3 20 % hydrochloric acid and 2 gsolid KI. The solution turned brown immediately. Then he titrated this sample with the

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 201617

Na2S2O3 solution. In a number of parallel measurements the average for the equivalence
point was 10.46 cm3.
b)

Write down the equations of all the reactions that have taken place and determine
the concentration of the Na2S2O3 solution. What could our hero have used as anindicator?

When our hero began to wash up, he noticed that some white precipitate appeared in thefirst sample. He remembered clearly that he added more Na2S2O3 solution to this sample
than was necessary to reach the end point.
c)What is the chemical equation of the process producing the precipitate?

Next, our hero returned to the greenish blue stock solution he prepared first. He measured
1.000 cm3 of this solution into a titration flask, added 20 cm3 of 5 % acetic acid and 2 gsolid KI. He waited about 5 minutes. The solution became brown and a light-colored
precipitate appeared.
d)What is the chemical equation of the process producing the colored species and theprecipitate? Why did our hero have to wait? Why would it have been a mistake towait hours rather than minutes?

Our hero then titrated the sample with his Na2S2O3 solution. The average for theequivalence point was 16.11 cm3. Now he could calculate the composition of the 2-Ft coin.
e)What is the mass percent composition of the coin?

As a good analytical chemist, he was not satisfied with one method and tried to determine
the composition of the coin with complexometry. In this measurement he did not take into
account the results obtained in the iodometric titration. First, he dissolved 3.6811 g
Na2EDTA·2H2O (M = 372.25 g/mol) to make 1.0000 dm3 solution. Then he measured
0.2000 cm3 of the original greenish blue stock solution, added 20 cm3 of water and 2 cm3of 25 % ammonia solution. The color of the solution became an intense violet.
f)Which species are responsible for this color? What is the purpose of the addition ofammonia?

The equivalence point was 10.21 cm3 as calculated from the average of a few parallel
experiments.
g)

Did this experiment confirm the earlier conclusion about the composition of the coin?

Our hero was still not satisfied and also began to suspect that he made an error when heweighed the coin, so he turned on the old spectrophotometer in the lab. The lab he worked
in was very well maintained so he found recently prepared and standardized 0.1024
mol/dm3 CuCl2 and 0.1192 mol/dm3 NiCl2 solutions in the lab. First, he measured theabsorbance spectrum of the CuCl2 solution using a 1.000-cm quartz cell and made notesof the absorbance values at a few wavelengths he thought suitable:
λ / nm 260
395
720
815
A
0.6847 0.0110 0.9294 1.428
Then he measured the absorbances of the NiCl2 solution at the same wavelengths in thesame cell:18

48th International Chemistry Olympiad

Preparatory Problems

λ / nm 260
395
720
815
A
0.0597 0.6695 0.3000 0.1182
He diluted 5.000 cm3 of his original greenish blue stock solution to 25.00 cm3 in a
volumetric flask and measured the absorbances. He obtained readings of 1.061 at 815 nm
and 0.1583 at 395 nm.
h)Why did he dilute the solution? What is the composition of the coin based on these
spectrophotometric data alone?

Next, he measured the absorbance at 720 nm and obtained 0.7405.
i)

Is this value in agreement with the previous conclusions?

Finally, he tuned the instrument to 260 nm. He was surprised to see a reading of 6.000.
j)What was his expected reading?

He decided to measure the absorbance at this wavelength in a smaller, 1.00-mm quartz
cell as well. Again, he obtained a reading of 6.000.
k)

Suggest a possible explanation for this finding and a method to confirm it usingchemicals and equipment that have already been used by our hero.

Problem 11
On January 30 in 2000, a dam failure in a gold mine spilled about 100 000 m 3 of cyanidecontaining waste water into the river Szamos. The pollution wave, which later reached theCentral European rivers Tisza and Danube, killed massive amounts of fish. On February
15, a popular Hungarian TV news show presented a simple experiment: first a NaCN
solution was prepared, the concentration of which was similar to those measured in thepollution wave. Fish were killed in this solution but survived when ferrous sulfate was also
added. The TV show suggested that ferrous sulfate should have been used to lower theenvironmental impact of the cyanide solution. However, when the same experiment was
repeated with an actual sample from the pollution wave, fish were killed even after ferrous
sulfate was added. Unfortunately, this second experiment was not covered in any eveningnews.
To clarify the underlying chemistry, an expert designed a detailed series of experiments inwhich the use of a cyanide selective combination electrode was an important element. He
first calibrated the electrode using 3 different concentrations at 3 different pH values. The
temperature was 25 °C in all experiments. The instrumental readings were as follows:

0.01 mol/dm3 NaOH
0.001 mol/dm3 NaOH
pH = 7.5 buffera)1.00 ppm NaCN 10.0 ppm NaCN 100 ppm NaCN
497.3 mV
438.2 mV
379.1 mV
497.7 mV
438.6 mV
379.5 mV
598.9 mV
539.8 mV
480.7 mV

Calculate the acid dissociation constant of HCN based on these measurements.

To 100 cm3 of a test solution, which contained 49.0 mg/dm3 NaCN and was buffered to pH= 7.5, 40.0 mg of solid FeSO4·7H2O has been added. At this pH, the reaction between
aqueous iron(II) and dissolved oxygen is quantitative under all conditions and gives an
Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 201619

iron(III) hydroxide precipitate. Ignore possible complexation reactions between the
precipitate and cyanide ions.
b)

Write the balanced equation for this redox reaction.

All the solutions used in the experiments initially contained 8.00 mg/dm 3 dissolved oxygen.
The electrode reading in this solution was 585.9 mV. Iron(II) only forms one complex withcyanide ion, which has a coordination number of 6.
c)Write the ionic equation describing the formation of this complex. Estimate thestability constant of the complex.

The following toxicity data (LC50: median lethal concentration for 24-hour exposure) for fish
can be found in tables:
LC50
cyanide ion*
2.1 mg/dm3
Na4[Fe(CN)6] ·3H2O 6·103 mg/dm3* total noncomplexed cyanide = [HCN] + [CN–]The loss of dissolved oxygen is not a major problem for fish in the very small volume of theexperiment, but it would probably be under natural conditions.
d)

Are the experimental results and the toxicity data in agreement with the result of theexperiment shown on the TV news show?

A little known fact about the pollution wave was that it also contained metals, primarily
copper (which is hardly surprising for a gold mine). Copper is often present in ourenvironment as copper(II), but it was present as copper(I) in the pollution wave because of
the presence of cyanide ions.
e)

Write the chemical equation for the reaction between copper(II) and cyanide ion.

An actual sample from the pollution wave had a pH of 7.5, its total cyanide content(including complexed, uncomplexed and protonated cyanide ions) was determined to be
26 ppm, its total copper content 21 ppm. The cyanide selective electrode gave a reading of
534.6 mV in this solution, and an electrochemical method showed that the concentration offree copper(I) is about 2·10–15 mol/dm3. Copper(I) forms complexes with cyanide ion in a
stepwise manner up to a coordination number of 3. The formation constant of [CuCN] is
negligible compared to that of the other two complex ions. Dissolved oxygen, theconcentration of which was 8.00 mg/dm3, coexists with cyanocopper(I) complexes.
f)

Is there any copper(I)-cyanide precipitate in the solution? (LCuCN = 3.5·10-19)g)

Determine the coordination number(s) of copper(I) complex(es) dominating in thesample studied. Estimate the stability constant(s) of the cyanocopper(I) complex(es).

The toxicity of copper(I) cyano complexes is very similar to that of NaCN; [Cu(CN)2]– hasan LC50 value of 4.5 mg/dm3. To 100 cm3 of the sample from the pollution wave, 40.0 mg
of solid FeSO4·7H2O was added. The cyanide selective electrode gave a reading of
592.3 mV in this solution.
h)20

Estimate the concentrations of various complexes in this sample. Is this solution
expected to be toxic? Does this expectation agree with the experiment not shown onTV?

48th International Chemistry Olympiad

Preparatory Problems

Problem 12
The Fe3+/Fe2+ and the H3AsO4/H3AsO3 systems are important redox systems in analyticalchemistry, because their electrochemical equilibrium can be shifted by complex formation
or by varying the pH.
a)Calculate the standard redox potential, Eº3 of the reaction Fe3+ + e– → Fe2+.

The standard redox potential of the Fe3+/ Fe2+ system in 1 mol/dm3 HCl is 0.710 V.
b)

Give an estimate for the stability constant of the complex [FeCl]2+.

Both Fe3+ and Fe2+ ions form a very stable complex with CN– ions.
c)Calculate the ratio of the cumulative stability constants for the formation of[Fe(CN)6]3– and [Fe(CN)6]4– ions.

d)

H3AsO4 and K4Fe(CN)6 are dissolved in water in a stoichiometric ratio. What will the[H3AsO4]/[H3AsO3] ratio be at equilibrium if pH = 2.00 is maintained?

e)

Are the following equilibrium concentrations possible in an aqueous solution? If yes,
calculate the pH of the solution.
[H3AsO4] = [H3AsO3] = [I3–] = [I–] = 0.100 mol/dm3.
Fe2+/Fe
Fe3+/Fe[Fe(CN)6]3–/[Fe(CN)6]4–
H3AsO4 /H3AsO3
I2/2 I–Eº1 = –0.440 V
Eº2 = – 0.036 V
Eº4 = +0.356 V
Eº5 = +0.560 V
Eº6 = +0.540 V

Problem 13
The solubility product of silver chloride is 2.10·10–11 at 9.7 °C and 1.56·10–10 at room
temperature (25 °C).
a)

Estimate the solubility product and the solubility (in mg/dm3) of AgCl at 50 °C.

Although AgCl is practically insoluble in water, it dissolves in solutions containing
complexing agents. For example, in the presence of a high excess of Cl– ions, a part of the
AgCl precipitate dissolves forming [AgCl2]– ions.
The equilibrium constant of the reaction Ag+(aq) + 2 Cl–(aq)  AgCl2–(aq) is β = 2.50·105 at
25 °C.
b)

Calculate the concentration of a KCl solution (at room temperature), in which thesolubility of AgCl is equal to its solubility in water at 50 °C.

If a substance is present in a solution in various oxidation states, it cannot be determined
directly by a redox titration. In this case, the sample has to be first reduced. For thispurpose, so-called reductors are used. A reductor is a column, containing a strong
reducing agent in the solid phase. An acidified sample is passed through the reductor,
collected, and titrated with a strong oxidizing titrant of known concentration (for example
KMnO4). The most common version is the so-called Jones-reductor that contains
amalgamated zinc granules.
Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 2016

21

c)

What reaction would take place if the zinc was not amalgamated?

d)Give the reactions that take place when the following solutions are passed through aJones-reductor:
0.01 mol/dm3 CuCl2
0.01 mol/dm3 CrCl3
0.01 mol/dm3 NH4VO3 (pH =1)e)Estimate the equilibrium constants of these reactions using the redox potentials in
the table.

When a milder reducing agent is required, sometimes the Ag/HCl-reductor (containing
porous silver granules and aqueous HCl) is used. This might seem surprising, since Ag
metal is not a good reducing agent. Considering only the standard potentials, the reductionof Fe3+ to Fe2+ by Ag is not a spontaneous reaction.
f)Consider a silver rod that is immersed in a 0.05 mol/dm3 Fe(NO3)3 solution. Calculate
the equilibrium concentration of the various metal ions. What percentage of Fe3+ ionshas been reduced?

Now let us suppose that the reduction of Fe3+ with Ag is carried out in a solution that also
contains 1.00 mol/dm3 HCl.
g)

What reaction takes place in this case? Calculate the equilibrium constant of thereaction.

h)Calculate [Fe3+] at equilibrium if the initial concentration of Fe3+ was 0.05 mol/dm3.

i)Which of the following substances are reduced in an Ag/HCl reductor?
0.01 mol/dm3 CrCl3
0.01 mol/dm3 TiOSO4 (cHCl = 1 mol/dm3 )Eº / V
Cu2+/Cu
0.34 Cr3+/Cr
2++
Cu /Cu0.16 Cr2+/Cr
VO2+/VO2+
1.00 Zn2+/Zn
2+
3+
VO /V
0.36 TiO2+/Ti3+
V3+/V2+–0.255 Ag+/Ag
2+
V /V–1.13 Fe3+/ Fe2+

Eº / V
–0.74
–0.90
–0.76
0.10
0.80
0.77

Problem 14
An experience dating back to antiquity and passed on by the great alchemists is that thefumes produced when heating proteins (e.g., slaughterhouse waste) with lime stain anacid-impregnated wooden stick deep red. The compound responsible for this interesting
reaction (B) can be produced as follows (several of its typical reactions are indicated aswell):

22

48th International Chemistry Olympiad

protein

H2O, heat

H2N-CH(C2H4-COOH)-COOH

Preparatory Problems

heat, H2O

glutamic acid

1. Ca(OH)2
2. heate ta l )K (mBr2 (4 eq)

B

H2 /P
d
HC
l /H
2O

A

pyroglutamic acidC
D
E
multiple products (red)A-E are all colorless (white) compounds. B and E are liquids with a characteristic odor.
a)Draw the structures of A-E.

b)

Explain the stability of B against bases and its rapid decomposition with acids.

c)Compare the basicity of B and E. Explain.

d)Suggest a reaction scheme for the acidic decomposition of B. Explain why the
products are colored.

Problem 15
Aromaticity is an important concept in organic chemistry. Compounds containing aromaticrings exhibit characteristic physico-chemical properties and reactivities. A simple rule, the
Hückel rule helps us to identify aromatic structures. This rule postulates that a cyclic
conjugated system is aromatic if the number of p electrons participating in the delocalized
π-bonds is 4n+2, where n is a nonnegative integer. The rule can be extended to coverpolycyclic and fused ring systems.
a)Give examples for aromatic structures, where n = 0, 1, 2.

The Hückel rule is also applicable to fused ring systems, as a sufficient condition for theiraromaticity.
b)Show that linearly fused, originally aromatic rings (where the individual rings areadded stepwise to the chain via 2 carbon atoms) are Hückel aromatic. Example:+

c)Show that fusion of two such fused chains via 2 carbon atoms also results in Hückel
aromatic structures. Example:

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 2016

23

+

d)

Give a criterion for a general fusion of two aromatic hydrocarbons to yield a Hückel
aromatic system. Example:+

e)Show with a counterexample that the Hückel rule is not a necessary condition foraromaticity.

Aromaticity can be a very strong driving force in chemical processes, although not always.
Let us consider the following examples:f)

Cyclopentadiene has pKa = 18, cyclopentene has pKa = 45. Explain the difference!

g)

Tautomerism may also result in aromatic structures. Show how the following
compound may undergo interconversion to yield an aromatic structure.

O

h)

N
O

However, some of the following aromatic structures prefer to rearrange into
structures not featuring an aromatic ring. Find these structures. Where do these nonaromatic structures have essential roles? Give additional examples of tautomerism,
where the molecule prefers to lose its aromatic character.
OH

OH
N

N

N
NH2

OCH3

N

N
OH

N
OH

Problem 16
The porphin molecule is the simplest member in the family of porphyrins. Its structure,
which contains four pyrrole rings, is completely planar. All its carbon and nitrogen atoms
are sp2 hybridized. A conjugated double-bond system can therefore be found in themolecule. The sigma-skeleton of porphin is depicted below:

24

48th International Chemistry Olympiada)Preparatory Problems

How many electrons participate in the conjugated double bond system? Is themolecule aromatic? Draw a porphin structure indicating the double bonds forming the
conjugated double-bond system.

Two of the central nitrogen atoms have a hydrogen substituent. These hydrogens areslightly acidic and under normal conditions, the protons can easily migrate to a neighboring
N atom, as shown below:b)What kind of isomers are I and II? How does the migration process affect the
conjugated double bond system: do less or more π electrons participate in isomer II
than in isomer I? Draw a porphin structure for II indicating the double bonds.

The hydrogen atoms bound to the carbon atoms of the porphin molecule can besubstituted by other groups. Suppose that we introduce a methyl group onto the porphin
ring. Under normal conditions, the inner-nitrogen H migration is unaffected by thissubstitution and takes place continuously in solvent.
c)

How many different monomethyl porphins can be produced?

We further introduce another methyl group into the porphin ring.
d)

How many isomers can be isolated in this case?

Metal complexes of porphin can be easily prepared. An important compound of this kind is
the magnesium complex which is a synthetic model of chlorophyll. Its sigma-structure isdisplayed below:e)How many electrons of the organic ring system participate in the conjugated bondsystem in this case? What is the number of independent methyl-Mg-porphins having
one methyl substituent on the organic ring?

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 201625

Numerous iron-porphin derivatives (P) can be synthesized. Such salts all feature theheterocyclic macrocycle of porphin, but they contain additional substituents on the organic
macrocycle as well. They are able to bind two additional ligands, coordinating them axiallyto the two sides of the iron atom. This complexation is a two-step process: the originally
four-coordinated iron binds a ligand (L) and becomes five-coordinated (PL), and then binds
a second ligand to become six-coordinated (PL2). It was found in various cases that thereaction rapidly yields the PL2 complex, whereas the PL complex was very difficult toobtain. For the complexation of a given iron-porphin derivative with pyridine in inert organic
solvent, scientists were able to show employing spectroscopic methods that the two steps
can be characterized via the following equilibria:f)

P + L = PL

K1=1500

PL + L = PL2

K2=19000

We see an atypical K1 < K2 relation. Why does such a relation between two
consecutive dissociation constants of a polyprotic acid never occur?

Assume that we perform this complexation reaction and reach an equilibrium
concentration of 0.1 mol/dm3 for ligand L.
g)Show that the five-coordinated intermediate is indeed present in negligible quantity.

Suppose we are able to generate PL in-situ in a solvent and due to its kinetic stability wereach a concentration of 0.1 mol/dm3 PL. After a given time however the system reaches
equilibrium.
h)

How does temperature affect the kinetic stability?

i)What will the concentrations of P, PL, PL2 and L be at equilibrium?

Problem 17a)How many stereoisomers do the following compounds have?
OH
P
N

+
N
O

A

26

B

C

D

E

F

-

48th International Chemistry Olympiadb)

Preparatory Problems

What is the most likely product of the following reactions following work up? How
many other stereoisomers might be formed?

1, BH32, H2O2

CO2H

OH

I2, KI, NaHCO3

O
OOH

+
Cl
O
N

O

Ph

O
P

Ph

OsO4

H2/Pt

Problem 18
Ascaridol (A) is a natural organic compound that has an exotic structure. It can be found in
the volatile oil of the goosefoot (Chenopodium album) and many other plants. The
following information is available:
 Pure A can only be distilled in high vacuum because at elevated temperatures it
explodes.
 The 13C NMR spectrum shows the presence of only one C=C double bond in A.
 A solution of A (in diethyl ether) does not react with sodium. Reduction with LiAlH4
leads to B.
 If B is reacted with NaBH4 in the presence of acetic acid, then reacted with H2O2 inbasic solution, the product is a mixture of two structural isomers.
 Reaction of B with one equivalent of hydrogen gas in the presence of a metal
catalyst leads to C. A reacts with twice as much hydrogen as B in the same reaction,
and also yields C. C does not react with chromic acid in acetone.

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 201627

 The dehydration of C leads to the elimination of two equivalents of H2O and twoorganic compounds D and E are formed. Treatment of D with ozone followed by areductive workup (Zn/H2O) leads to one equivalent of glyoxal (ethanedial) and one
equivalent of 6-methyl-heptane-2,5-dione. The same reaction with E leads to one
equivalent of 3-oxo-butanal and the same amount of 4-methyl-3-oxo-pentanal.
 It is assumed that under natural conditions A forms via the reaction of D and F
catalyzed by chlorophyll in the presence of light.
Determine the structure of A-F.

Problem 19
2,7-dimethylnaphtalene can be prepared by the reaction of a Grignard reagent A and an
acetal (B).
i)
MgBr
H3C

CH3

H3C

A

1. Grignard react.
2. acid workup

+
CHO

O

H3C

Zn dustPd, heat

CH3

ii)

O

O

O

B

N-chlorosuccinimide (2 eq.)

C

E

D

a)

Suggest reaction conditions for the preparation of A and B.

b)

Explain with a mechanism the formation of 2,7-dimethylnaphtalene.

c)2,7-dimethylnaphtalene is converted to E via the indicated reactions. (E is a fancy
compound with molecular formula C24H12.) Identify C, D and E.

Problem 20
a)Suggest a mechanism for the following transformation (Robinson-anellation).
O

O

O

+

28

base

48th International Chemistry Olympiadb)

Preparatory Problems

Rationalise the build-up of the gonane skeleton.

H+
OH

A prochiral α-chloro ketone was reduced to halohydrins enzimatically (R is an alkyl group).
One alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme (Rhodococcus ruber) produces the R isomer, andanother (Lactobacillus brevis) gives the S isomer. Under basic conditions enantiopure
epoxides were produced from the halohydrins.
c)

Give the stereostructures of the halohydrin intermediates and those of the epoxides.
Detail the mechanism of the ring closure reaction.
OH

ber
s ru
u
c
c
o

doc
Rho

O
Cl
R

*

Cl

OH

R

R

R

Lact
obac
illus
brev
is

O



*

O

OH

*

Cl

OH



R

R

*

S

Problem 21
Ketoses are a special group of sugars. D-ribulose derivatives play a vital role inphotosynthesis. An α-methyl glycoside of D-ribulose (A) can be prepared from D-ribulose
on treatment with methanol and an acid catalyst. Heating A in acetone with HCl leads to B,
a propylidene derivative. Acetone forms acetals with vicinal diols, if the orientation of the
two OH groups is suitable.

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 2016

29

H2C
O

OH

O OCH 3

HO

CH2OH
HO

H
OH

H

H

OH

H

HO

H

F

D-ribulose

CH2OH

O

OOCCH 3acetone/H+

B

acetic anhydride(cat.)C

H2O/H+

D

CH3-OH/H+

E

OCH 3
HO

HO

1-O-methyl--D-ribulose<2.5>Aa)During the synthesis of B two possible products can form. Draw their structures.
Which is the main product?

B is reacted with acetic anhydride (with catalyst) to obtain C. D is formed from C on
heating in dilute aqueous acid. D reacts with methanol and acid to form E.
b)Draw the structures of C-E.

c)

Is it possible to predict the conformation around carbon atom C1 of E?

Although acetonide formation is a versatile method for the temporary protection of OH
groups that are close enough, in many cases it gives multiple products (or the productcomposition is highly dependent on the reaction conditions). In general, this is the casewith sugars with 6-membered rings.
It has been shown that no acetonide can be formed when the neighbouring OH groups areboth axial. However, both diequatorial and axial-equatorial vicinal diols react withacetone/HCl.
d)Draw the two chair conformers of 1-O-methyl-6-O-acetyl-β-D-galactose<1.5> (F).
Designate the OH groups as axial (a) or equatorial (e). Mark the more stableconformer.

e)

How many acetonide isomers can form from this compound? How many different
chair conformers of these acetonides exist?

f)Draw the Haworth projection of L-galactose <1.5>

Problem 22
At present, fossil fuels are the most important energy sources for humankind. Their use isgenerating two major concerns. First, energy production from fossil fuels releases a lot ofcarbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is now understood to contribute to global
warming. In addition, natural supplies of fossil fuels are expected to be exhausted at the30

48th International Chemistry Olympiad

Preparatory Problems

present rate of use in a relatively short time on a historical scale. Many experts believe thatalternative sources, like hydrogen or methanol could find widespread use asenvironmentally friendly substitutes for fossil fuels.
Hydrogen is not a primary energy source; it would have to be produced using anothersource of power, e.g. nuclear or solar power. The best way would be to produce hydrogenfrom water, a process popularly called water splitting.
a)

Calculate how many kWh of electricity is needed to produce 1 kg hydrogen if theelectrolysis operates at a voltage of 1.6 V and 90 % efficiency. Evaluate this processeconomically based on current industrial electricity and hydrogen prices (use average
prices of 0.10 euro/kWh for electricity and 2 euro/kg for H2).

In addition to production, storage and transport of hydrogen also presents somechallenges. In this respect, volumetric and gravimetric energy densities are central
concepts. The volumetric energy density is the recoverable energy from a source divided
by its total volume. The gravimetric energy density is the recoverable energy from a source
divided by its mass.
b)

Calculate the volumetric and gravimetric energy density of hydrogen at atmosphericpressure and 298 K. (Assume that hydrogen follows the ideal gas law under these
conditions.)

Hydrogen is often transported in cylinders which are normally filled to 200 bar. A typical big
gas cylinder, made of steel (density 7.8 g/cm3) has a useful volume of 50 dm3 and weighs
93 kg when empty. At this high pressure, hydrogen no longer follows the ideal gas law.
A better description can be obtained from the van der Waals equation:a 
 p  2  (Vm  b )  RT
Vm 
where p is the pressure, Vm is the molar volume, R is the gas constant, T is thethermodynamic temperature, a and b are gas-specific constants. For hydrogen, a =2.48·102 Pa m6mol2 and b = 2.66·105 m3mol1. Compressed hydrogen cannot betransported without a cylinder.
c)

Estimate the volumetric and gravimetric energy density of compressed hydrogen.

Hydrogen can also be transported in the form of metal hydrides. NaBH4 is a promising
substance in this respect, as it reacts with water in the presence of a catalyst to givehydrogen.
d)

How many moles of hydrogen can be produced from 1 mol of NaBH4?

As water is a ubiquitous substance, it does not have to be transported together with themetal hydride.
e)

Estimate the volumetric and gravimetric energy density of NaBH4 as a hydrogensource. Its density is 1.07 g/cm3.

It is also important to compare these data with those of more conventional energy sources.
f)

To put the previously calculated energy densities in perspective, determine thevolumetric and gravimetric energy densities of the following energy sources:
i. Graphite as a model of coal. Calculate the density based on the fact that thebond length in graphite is 145.6 pm and the interlayer distance is 335.4 pm.

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 201631

ii. n-Octane (C8H18) as a model of gasoline. Its density is 0.70 g/cm3.
iii. Methanol, the use of which instead of hydrogen was proposed by the 1994
Nobel laureate György Oláh. Its density is 0.79 g/cm3.
iv. A Ni-MH rechargeable AA battery with a capacity of 1900 mAh and voltage of
1.3 V, which is shaped like a cylinder (diameter: 14.1 mm, height: 47.3 mm,weight: 26.58 g).
v. Water as a source of hydrogen in an imaginary fusion reactor simply converting
1H into 4He. The relative atomic masses are: A (1H) = 1.00782, A (4He) =r
r
4.00260
Hydrogen could also be stored as a cryogenic liquid at very low temperatures. The densityof liquid hydrogen at its boiling point (253 °C) is 0.071 g/cm3.
g)

Estimate the volumetric and gravimetric energy density of liquid hydrogen.

h)What is the advantage of using liquid methanol instead of hydrogen in a hypothetical
future economy?

Methanol can also be used in methanol fuel cells. The net reaction of the fuel cell is:
CH3OH (l) + 1.5 O2 (g)→ CO2 (g)+ 2 H2O (l)i)

Write down the cathode and the anode reactions.

j)Calculate the maximum voltage of the methanol fuel cell at 25 °C.

k)

The methanol fuel cell operates best at 120 °C. At this temperature, the cell reaction
potential is 1.214 V. Compare this number with your calculated data.

Thermodynamic parameters at 298 K:
H2O(l)
H2O(g)
H2O(l)
H2O(g)H2(g)ΔfHº = 286 kJ/mol
ΔfHº = 242 kJ/mol
Sº = 70 J mol–1 K–1
Sº = 189 J mol–1 K–1
Sº = 131 J mol–1 K–1

O2(g)
CO2(g)
C8H18(l)CH3OH(l)Sº = 205 J mol–1 K–1
ΔfGº = 394.4 kJ/mol
ΔfGº = 6.4 kJ/mol
ΔfGº = 166.3 kJ/mol

Problem 23
Most elements react with oxygen to form oxides in which the oxidation number of O is –2.
At first sight it seems a striking contradiction that some alkali metals, the strongest
reducing agents themselves, burn in air to give peroxides or superoxides with fairly strongoxidizing properties. Why is the oxygen only partially reduced in these reactions? To findout, we must start from some basic properties of the elements.
Alkali metals

Li

Na

K

ΔvapH

148 kJ/mol

99 kJ/mol

79 kJ/mol

Ionization energy
Ionic radius for M+

32

520 kJ/mol 496 kJ/mol 419 kJ/mol
76 pm

102 pm138 pm48th International Chemistry Olympiada)Explain the trend in the ionization energies of the metals.
Oxygen anions
ΔfH
Ionic radiusb)

Preparatory Problems

O2–

O22–

O2–

904 kJ/mol 553 kJ/mol –43 kJ/mol
140 pm173 pm158 pmThe enthalpy of formation of the free ions dramatically increases in the sequence
superoxide  peroxide  oxide. Why?

We know the energy required to convert the elements into separated ions. How muchenergy is released when these ions combine to form ionic crystals? The lattice energy ofan ionic solid can be estimated by the Kapustinskii equation. In its simplest form,
ΔU(lattice) = 107000

 z zr  rwhere  is the total number of ions in the empirical formula, z+ and z– are the charges of
the individual ions, r+ and r– are the ionic radii in pm, and the result is given in kJ/mol.
c)Calculate the molar lattice energies of the oxides, peroxides, and superoxides of thethree lightest alkali metals.
Calculate the amount of energy released in each of the nine possible reactions
leading to the oxides, peroxides, or superoxides of the elements. Always assume that
2 mols of a solid alkali metal react with oxygen to form a single product.

This simplified approach is by no means expected to give accurate estimates of theenthalpy of formation. It does, however, correctly reflect the main factors influencing thecourse of these reactions even without considering entropy changes. If your calculations
were error-free, your conclusions will be in line with the experimental observations.
d)

For the reaction of each alkali metal with an excess of oxygen, which is theenergetically most favoured product?

e)

Rationalize your results and try to explain, in terms of basic factors, why thecomposition of the most favoured product changes as we move down Group IA.
What products do you expect from the reaction of Rb and Cs with oxygen?

f)

Does this mean that peroxides and superoxides, which are powerful oxidizers,
cannot be reduced by one of the most powerful reducing agents, metallic potassium?

Let’s now turn to the rest of the periodic system. Most other elements that form ionicoxides have multiply charged cations of relatively smaller size – properties that are
generously rewarded in lattice energies.
g)

The alkali metals do not have this option. Why?

h)Consider a metal that forms a cation M2+ with a radius of 100 pm (the cations of mostmetals are smaller than this). Compare the lattice energies of its oxide and peroxide.
What products do you expect from the reaction of such metals with oxygen?

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 2016

33

i)

Only one of the non-radioactive Group IIA metals can form a peroxide when heatedin air at atmospheric pressure. Which one? Estimate a limit for the size of its cationon the basis of our model.

j)

In conclusion, you can see that the extremely strong reducing ability of the alkali
metals and the fact that some do not completely reduce oxygen when they burn in air
have a common underlying reason. What is this?

Problem 24
Let us examine three galvanic cells:
Pt(s) | H2(g) | HCl(aq) | Cl2(g) | Pt(s)Pb(s) | PbCl2(s) | HCl(aq) | H2(g) | Pt(s)Pb(s) | PbSO4(s) | K2SO4(aq) || KNO3(aq) || KCl(aq) | PbCl2(s) | Pb(s)a)

Write down the equation for the cell reactions.

b)

Estimate the standard cell reaction potential of the galvanic cells at 25 °C based onthermochemical data.

c)

Write down the cathode and the anode reactions in the galvanic cells if the measured
electromotive force equals the standard cell reaction potential.

d)Calculate the equilibrium constant for the cell reactions.

e)

How do the electromotive forces change with temperature?

Let us define a ‘thermal efficiency’ parameter as the theoretical maximum of the ratio
between the electrical work and the enthalpy change in the cell.
f)What are the values of this parameter for these cells? What can we conclude fromthese numbers?

Thermochemical data at 25 °C:
ΔfHº /kJ mol–1 Sº/J mol–1 K–1
Cl2(g)
0.0
223.1
H2(g)
0.0
130.7
HCl(aq)–167.256.5
K2SO4(aq)–1414.0
225.1
KCl(aq)–419.5
159.0
Pb(s)
0.0
26.4
PbCl2(s)–359.4
136.0
PbSO4(s)–920.0148.5

3448th International Chemistry Olympiad

Preparatory Problems

Problem 25
You lead an interstellar expedition to a remote planet, inhabited by aliens. Unfortunately,
the arrival of your spaceship initiates a reaction causing the atmosphere to decompose by
a first-order rate law with a half-life of 13 hours. Everyone will have to leave by the time
when only 13 % of the original atmosphere remains.
a)

How much time do you have until then?

Ethyl-propionate hydrolyzes in aqueous alkaline solution:
C2H5COOC2H5(aq) + OH–(aq) = C2H5COO–(aq) + C2H5OH(aq)Initial rate data were collected for different concentrations, as shown in the Table:[C2H5COOC2H5]
0.045
0.090
0.090
b)

[OH–] Initial rate (mmol dm–3 s–1)
0.300
1.09
0.300
2.15
0.150
1.11

Determine the partial orders of reaction, its kinetic equation and rate coefficient.

The initial rate of the reaction above doubles when the temperature is raised from 25 °C to
42 °C, with the same initial concentrations.
c)What is the Arrhenius activation energy?

The reaction
2 NO(g) + O2(g) = 2 NO2(g)obeys the following kinetic equation:r = k [NO]2 [O2]d)Explain how the rate of the reaction changes when the following concentration
changes are made:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

[O2] is quadrupled[NO] is quadrupled[NO] is halved[O2] is halved and [NO] is quadrupled[NO] is halved and [O2] is quadrupled

The initial rate of the above reaction remains the same when the temperature is raised
from 460 °C to 600 °C, with all the initial concentrations halved.
e)What is the Arrhenius activation energy?

The first-order decay of a compound was followed spectrophotometrically. After loading asolution with an initial concentration 0.015 mol/dm3 into a cuvette with a path-length of
0.99 cm, its absorbance (at a wavelength where only this species absorbs light) wasrecorded as a function of time.

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 201635

Absorbance

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
0

100

200

300

Time [s]f)From this plot:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

Estimate the molar absorption coefficient.
Estimate the initial rate and the rate constant.
Estimate the half-life from the rate constant.
Discuss whether the estimated half-life is consistent with the plot.
Calculate the time required to consume 99 % and 99.99 % of the compound.

Problem 26
Upper atmospheric (stratospheric) ozone protects us from harmful ultraviolet radiation
coming from the Sun. On the other hand, ozone in the lower atmosphere (troposphere)
damages the human respiratory system as well as crops and other plants, since ozone is astrong oxidizing agent.
Ozone formation in urban areas can be attributed mainly to the two-step reaction
mechanism:
NO2 + h → NO + O

k1

(1)

O + O 2 → O3

k2

(2)

The first step is the photolysis of NO2, which is a common air pollutant in cities. (N.B.: k1
includes the intensity of the solar radiation on an average sunny day.) The second step isthe reaction of the O atom formed with atmospheric oxygen. Under atmospheric conditions
reaction (2) is orders of magnitudes faster than reaction (1).
Let us suppose that a small amount of NO2 (e.g. 10–7 mole fraction of air) is introduced into
the atmosphere and only reactions (1) and (2) take place.
a)Which species is going to be in a quasi steady-state? Write down the algebraic
equation to calculate its concentration after an initial (so-called induction) period.

b)

Write down the differential and integral rate equations describing ozone formation.

36

48th International Chemistry Olympiad

Preparatory Problems

The rate coefficient of reaction (1) is 0.0070 s–1. The initial NO2 concentration is
2.5·1012 molecule cm–3.
c)

What is the ozone concentration after 1 minute?

d)What is the half-life of NO2?

e)What effect does temperature have on the rate of ozone formation? Why?

Ozone is not only formed but also removed from the troposphere, mainly by its reaction
with NO:NO + O3 → NO2 + O2

k3

(3)

Assuming reactions (1-3), O3, NO and NO2 will be in equilibrium.
k3 = 1.8·10–14 cm3 molecule–1 s–1
f)What is the [NO]/[NO2] ratio, if the equilibrium ozone concentration is9·1011 molecule cm–3?

g)

Assuming the same equilibrium ozone concentration, how does the above ratiochange if we raise the temperature from 10 °C to 25 °C? The activation energy ofreaction (3) is 10.8 kJ/mol.

Problem 27
The reaction of acetone with bromine produces bromoacetone.
a)Give the chemical equation of the reaction assuming that acetone is in excess.

In a mechanistic study, the reaction was followed in several kinetic experiments at 25 °C inaqueous solution by measuring the concentration of Br2 using a spectrophotometricmethod. The following kinetic curve was recorded when the initial concentrations were[Br2]0 = 0.520 mmol/dm3, [C3H6O]0 = 0.300 mol/dm3, and [HClO4]0 = 0.050 mol/dm3.
t (min)0
2
4
68
10 12 143
[Br2] (μmol/dm ) 520 471 415 377 322 269 223 173
t (min)16
3[Br2] (μmol/dm ) 124

18
69

20
20

22
0

24
0

26
0

28
0

30
0

b)

Which is the limiting reagent in this experiment?

c)What is the order of reaction with respect to the limiting reagent?

The time where the characteristic break point occurs on the kinetic curve is called thereaction time and was determined in aqueous solution at 25 °C. The following table gives
the reaction time in several different experiments (′ denotes minutes, ″ denotes seconds):

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 201637

[C3H6 O]0[Br2 ]03mmol/dm
0.151
0.138
0.395
0.520
0.520
0.520
0.520
0.520

reaction time[HClO4 ]0
3mmol/dm
300
300
300
100
200
500
300
300

3

mmol/dm
50
100
100
100
100
100
200
400

5′56″
2′44″
7′32″
30′37″
15′13″
6′09″
4′55″
2′28″

d)

Determine the orders of reaction with respect to all three components.

e)What is the rate equation of the process?

f)What is the value and unit of the rate constant?

A different, electrochemical method allowed detection of much smaller concentrations ofBr2. A kinetic curve, the initial concentrations for which were [Br2]0 = 1.80 μmol/dm3,[C3H6O]0 = 1.30 mmol/dm3, and [HClO4]0 = 0.100 mol/dm3, is given in the following table:
t (s)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
3
[Br2] (μmol/dm ) 1.80 1.57 1.39 1.27 1.06 0.97 0.82 0.73t (s)80
90 100 110 120 130 140 150[Br2] (μmol/dm3) 0.66 0.58 0.49 0.45 0.39 0.34 0.30 0.26g)Which is the limiting reagent in this experiment?

h)What is the order of reaction with respect to the limiting reagent?

The half life of the limiting reagent was determined in a few experiments, and isindependent of the concentration of the limiting reagent:[Br2]0 (μmol/dm3) [C3H6O]0 (mmol/dm3) [HClO4]0 (mol/dm3) t½ (s)
1.20
3.0
0.100
24
1.50
3.0
0.100
23
1.50
1.0
0.100
71
1.50
0.4
0.100
177
1.50
3.0
0.030
23
1.50
3.0
0.400
24
i)

Determine the order of reaction with respect to all three components.

j)What is the rate equation of the process?

k)

What is the value and unit of the rate constant?

l)Suggest a detailed mechanism to interpret the experimental findings.

3848th International Chemistry Olympiad

Preparatory Problems

Problem 28
Chlorine dioxide is a somewhat exceptional molecule because it contains an unpaired
electron.
a)Draw the Lewis structure of chlorine dioxide.

b)

Name at least two other stable molecules which do not contain metals but have an
odd number of electrons.

Chlorine dioxide is increasingly used in water treatment. In one study, the reaction ofchlorine dioxide with iodine was studied in aqueous solution. Light accelerated the process
greatly. Chloride and iodate ions were detected as final products.
c)Write the expected balanced equation for the process.

The ratio of the decreases in chlorine dioxide and iodine concentration was experimentally
determined to be 2.3.
d)What side reactions can cause this deviation from the expected stoichiometry?

e)Suggest a method to detect the possible side reactions.

Quantitative measurements on the photochemical reaction were carried out using a very
intense halogen lamp. Between the lamp and the photoreactor, an interference filter was
also used, which excluded all light with the exception of the 455–465 nm wavelength
region. This wavelength band is sufficiently narrow to consider the light beam as
monochromatic 460 nm light. Iodine has a molar absorption of ε = 740 dm3 mol–1 cm1 at
460 nm, whereas the molar absorption of chlorine dioxide is immeasurably low at thiswavelength. A 25.00 cm3 photoreactor with a 5.00 cm long light path length was used in allof the experiments. The reaction was studied in an acidic solution with initialconcentrations [I2]0 = 5.1·104 mol/dm3 and [ClO2]0 = 4.0·104 mol/dm3. Reference
experiments were also carried out in the absence of selected reagents. When the solution
contained chlorine dioxide but no iodine, no change was observable.
f)

Does this prove that chlorine dioxide does not photodecompose?

When the solution contained iodine but no chlorine dioxide, a very slow decay of iodine
was observed, but it was orders of magnitude smaller than in the presence of chlorine
dioxide. In the remaining experiments, the solution contained both reagents. In eachexperiment, the initial rate of the loss of chlorine dioxide (v0) was determined. The firstexperiment was carried out using the described experimental setup. In later experiments, agrey filter was inserted into the light beam before the photoreactor. The absorbance of thisgrey filter at 460 nm was measured in an independent experiment. In the final experiment,a steel sheet was inserted into the light beam that did not let any light through. The initialrates were determined in all of these experiments:
no filterν0 (nmol dm–3 s1)
g)

2.51

filter 1
filter 2
filter 3
steel sheet
A460 = 0.125 A460 = 0.316 A460 = 0.582
1.97
1.40
0.93
0.37

Why doesn’t the rate fall to 0 in the experiment with the metal sheet?

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 2016

39

The intensity of the light beam was determined by ferrioxalate actinometry. A
0.00600 mol/dm3 solution of K3[Fe(C2O4)3] was prepared in 0.05 mol/dm3 H2SO4.
25.00 cm3 of this solution was measured into the photoreactor. Previously, the absorbanceof this solution was measured to be 1.41 at 460 nm in a 1.000 cm quartz cell. The sample
was illuminated for 30.00 minutes. The following process takes place in the solution:
2 [Fe(C2O4)3]3 + h  2 Fe2+ + 2 CO2 + 5 C2O42
The quantum yield for the formation of iron(II) is 1.12.
After illumination, a 1.000 cm3 sample from the solution was measured into a 5.000 cm3
volumetric flask, which was then filled with a solution that contained 0.0100 mol/dm3 1,10phenanthroline and 0.50 mol/dm3 1:1 acetate/acetic acid buffer. The absorbance of thissolution at 510 nm was measured in a 1.000-cm cell, the absorbance reading was 0.3823.
The molar absorption coefficient of the complex Fe(phen)32+
is ε = 1.10·104 dm3 mol1
cm1 at 510 nm and nothing else absorbs light in this solution at this wavelength.
h)What is the concentration of the iron(II) complex in the cell?

i)

How much iron(II) formed during the illumination?

j)What is the intensity of the 460 nm light in mol photon/s and W units?

k)Determine the quantum yield in the reaction of chlorine dioxide with iodine for boththe loss of chlorine dioxide and iodine.

Problem 29
The following table displays energy data for selected atoms and diatomics in kJ/mol:
1st excitation 1st ionization 2nd ionization Electronaffinity
(Eex)
(EI)
(EII)
(EA)
Na
51.1
496
4564
53.1
Hu*
100.0
200
500
250.0
Cl
29.0
1251
1148
348.0
NaCl
860
70.1
*hypothetical atom
The interaction energy of two point charges (q1 and q2) separated by a distance R is

E

kq1q2
R

where k = 8.99·109 m/F. The charge of the electron (e) is 1.602·10–19 C.
a)

Na and Cl atoms are approaching each other in the gas phase. Find the minimal
distance at which they still do not react.

b)

Is this distance smaller or larger if the Na atom is in its first excited state? Show yourcalculations.

40

48th International Chemistry Olympiad

Preparatory Problems

Considering all the elements, the electron affinities vary between 4.6–348 kJ/mol, and theionization energies vary between 375–2374 kJ/mol.
c)

Is it possible to make a diatomic molecule dissociate into a stable state containing
two ions? Show your calculation.

d)

A neutral Hu atom and a Hu+ ion are approaching each other in the gas phase. Will
they react? Prove it with calculations.

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 201641

Practical Problems
The participants of the Olympiad must be prepared to work in a chemical laboratory awareof necessary rules and safety procedures. The organizers will enforce the safety rules
given in the Appendix A of the IChO Regulations during the Olympiad.
The Preparatory Problems are designed to be carried out only in properly equipped
chemical laboratories under competent supervision. We did not include specific anddetailed safety and disposal instructions as regulations are different in each country.
Mentors must carefully adapt the problems accordingly.
The safety (S) and risk (R) phrases associated with the materials used are indicated in the
problems. See the Appendix B of the Regulations for the meaning of the phrases. The
Regulations are available from http://www.icho.sk.
Materials marked with a dagger, † will not be used at the Olympiad.

Problem 30
You have twelve unknown aqueous solutions, each containing one, and only one, of thefollowing compounds (all of which are used):
H2Cr2O7
NaOH

CaS
BaCl2

(NH4)2CO3
Ca(H2PO4)2

CH3COONa
MgSO4

KBr
Al(NO3)3KI
FeCl3

You have no additional reagents, only test tubes. Identify the compound in each solution.

42

Compound name
Aluminium nitrate
Ammonium carbonate
Barium chloride
Bichromic acid (solution)†

FormulaAl(NO3)3(NH4)2CO3
BaCl2
H2Cr2O7

Calciumdihydrogenphosphate
Calcium sulfide
Iron(III) chloride
Magnesium sulfate
Potassium bromide
Potassium iodide
Sodium acetate
Sodium hydroxide

Ca(H2PO4)2
CaS
FeCl3
MgSO4
KBr
KI
CH3COONa
NaOH

R phrases
8-36/38
22-36/37/38
20-25
8-21-24/25-2634-35-42/43-4546-48/23-4950/53-60-61-62
36/37/38

S phrases
17-26-36

31-36/37/38-50
22-34

28-61
26-28
22-25
26-36
26-36/37/39-45
22-24-25
26-37/39-45

36/37/38
36/38-42/43-61
35

1/2-4522-26-28-45-5360-61

26-36/37

48th International Chemistry Olympiad

Preparatory Problems

Problem 31
You have three mixtures consisting of powdered inorganic solids on your desk. They could
contain the following compounds:a)(NH4)2CO3, AgNO3, BaCl2·2H2O, NH4NO3, NiCl2·2H2Ob)

ZnO, KI, Pb(NO3)2, BaSO4, MnO2, Mg

c)

CaCO3, NH4I, FeSO4·7H2O, TiO2, CuCl2·2H2O

You can use distilled water, 2 mol/dm3 HCl, 2 mol/dm3 HNO3, 2 mol/dm3 NH3, 2 mol/dm3
NaOH solution, pH paper, test tubes and a Bunsen burner.
Determine which compounds are present in the mixture and which are not. Note yourexperimental findings in detail. Explain every conclusion (positive or negative). Include
reaction equations where possible.
(not all of the compounds listed are present in the unknown samples)
Compound nameAmmonium carbonate
Ammonium iodide
Ammonium nitrate
Barium chloride
Barium sulfate
Calcium carbonate
Copper(II) chloride
dihydrate
Iron(II) sulfate
heptahydrate
Lead(II) nitrate

Formula(NH4)2CO3
NH4I
NH4NO3
BaCl2
BaSO4
CaCO3
CuCl2·2H2O

R phrases
22-36/37/38
26
8-36/37/38
20-25

FeSO4·7H2O

22

Pb(NO3)2

53-45-60-61

Magnesium
Manganese(IV) oxide
Nickel(II) chloride
dihydrate†
Potassium iodide
Silver nitrate
Titanium(IV) oxide
Zinc oxide
Reagent
Hydrochloric acid
Nitric acid
Sodium hydroxide
Ammonia

Mg
MnO2
NiCl2·2H2O

8-20/22-33-50/5361-62
15-17
20/22
23/24/25-36/37/3842/43-45
36/38-42/43-61
34-50/53
50/53
R phrases
34
35
35
34-50

60-61
S phrases
26-36/37/39-45
23-26-36-45
26-37/39-45
26-36/37/39-45-61

KI
AgNO3
TiO2
ZnO
Concentration
2 mol/dm3
2 mol/dm3
2 mol/dm3
2 mol/dm3

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 201637/38-41
22-36/37/38-50/53

S phrases

17-26-36
1/2-4522-24/25
26-36/37/39
26-60-61

43-7/825
53-26-27-2836/37/39-45
26-36/37/39-45
26-45-60-61

43

Problem 32
You have moderately concentrated (5-6 % by mass) aqueous solutions containing watersoluble compounds of the following cations with one of the most common anions (chloride,sulfate or nitrate):
NH4+, Li+, Na+, Mg2+, Al3+, K+, Ca2+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+,
Sr2+, Ag+, Sn2+, Sn4+, Sb3+, Ba2+, Pb2+, Bi3+.
a)Observe the color and the pH of the solutions.

b)Study the reactions of these cations with the anions used in systematic qualitative
analysis: chloride, sulfide, carbonate, and hydroxide. Note that some sulfides can be
precipitated even from acidic solutions, others are soluble in dilute strong acids,some are soluble in water, and some would react with water. Most cations will give aprecipitate with CO32-. What happens if you use HCO3– instead?
Whenever you observe no reaction at ambient temperature, try to predict whether
boiling the solution would bring about a detectable change.

c)Learn which cations react with some common anions: nitrate, nitrite, phosphate,sulfate, perchlorate, bromide, and iodide. Throughout this problem, use solutions inthe same concentration range (approximately 5-6 % by mass).

d)

Which two cations in the list above cannot be distinguished from each other on thebasis of their reactions with the anions mentioned so far?

e)

Using the reactions you have learned, identify five unknown aqueous solutions.
Every solution was made from a single compound which may contain any of thecations and anions you have encountered in this problem.

Problem 33
In this problem you will identify a metal using complexometric titrations. EDTA (thedisodium salt of ethylene-diamine-tetraacetic acid) forms stable complexes with most diand trivalent metal ions.
M2+ + H2Y2– = MY2– + 2 H+

M3+ + H2Y2– = MY– + 2 H+

where M is the metal and Y4– is the anion formed from EDTA.
While there is an excess of uncomplexed metal ions present, they bond to the indicatormolecules. At the end of the reaction all ions form an EDTA complex and the indicatormolecules will be liberated bringing about a change in color. Thus the end point of thereaction is when addition of EDTA does not change the hue of the solution. One has totitrate until a steady color is reached. A previously titrated sample can be used forcomparison.
First a metal sample is dissolved in nitric acid. After setting the pH of the resulting solution
to approximately 2, it is titrated with EDTA. In another measurement the oxide of the metal
is dissolved and the solution is titrated again with EDTA. (The oxide was preparedpreviously by evaporating the nitric acid solution of the metal and calcining the residue.)
Many solutions used are very acidic, treat them with due caution.

44

48th International Chemistry Olympiad

Preparatory Problems

Titration of the metal
Weigh accurately about 150 mg of the unknown metal into a titration flask. Carefully add
3 cm3 conc. nitric acid using working under the hood. Complete dissolution may take10 minutes. Dilute the solutions to 50 cm3 and then return to your desk. First add 8 cm3 5% ammonia solution, then continue adding the ammonia solution dropwise until thecontents of the flask start to opalize from the hydroxide precipitate. Add immediately 5 cm 3
10 % nitric acid. Add two pinches of solid methylthymol blue indicator. Titrate with
0.0500 mol/dm3 EDTA until a steady yellow color is attained. Repeat as necessary.
Titration of the metal oxide
Weigh accurately about 1.000 g of the oxide, dissolve it in 5 cm3 conc. nitric acid and thendilute to 100 cm3 in a volumetric flask. Transfer 20.00 cm3 portions into a titration flask anddilute to 50 cm3. Start adding 5 % ammonia dropwise until the appearance of the
precipitate. Immediately add 5 cm3 10 % nitric acid solution. Add two pinches of solid
methylthymol blue indicator. Titrate with 0.0500 mol/dm3 EDTA until a steady yellow color
is attained. Repeat as necessary.
a)Identify the metal based on calculations.

b)

Give the formula of the oxide.

Caveat: The best marks are not necessarily awarded to results reproducing thetheoretically expected values.
Reagent
Concentration R phrases S phrases
EDTA disodium salt 0.05 mol/dm3
36/38
26-36
Nitric acid
Nitric acid
Ammonia
Methylthymol blue

65 %
10 %
5%

35
35
34-50

23-26-36-45
23-26-36-45
26-36/37/39-45-61

Problem 34
The isolation of vitamin C was carried out by monitoring the reducing properties of green
pepper extracts (1931, Szent-Györgyi). The determination of ascorbic acid can also bebased on its reducing properties. This is often more convenient than titration as an acid,especially in the case of real life samples containing other acidic substances, e.g., citricacid.
A possible oxidizer is potassium bromate. Its use in direct titrations was suggested in 1872
by Győry. In strongly acidic solutions KBrO3 reacts with KBr to form bromine. This willoxidize ascorbic acid (C6H8O6) to dehydroascorbic acid (C6H6O6) in this titration. The end
point of the reaction can be followed by a suitable redox indicator.

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 2016

45

O

O

Br

HO

O
O

HO
O

O

+ Br2

O

HO

HO

O

Br
HO

OH

+ 2 H+ + 2 Br

HO

HO

OH

OH

Crush the vitamin C tablet with a few drops of water in a mortar. Wash the soluble parts ofthe mixture through a folded filter paper into a 200 cm 3 Erlenmeyer flask. Do not use morethan 60 cm3 of distilled water. Add 10 cm3 of 20 % (by mass) HCl and approx. 0.2 g of KBr
to the sample . Titrate it immediately with the 0.02 mol/dm3 KBrO3 titrant in the presence of2 drops of p-ethoxychrysoidine indicator (0.2 % in ethanol). The red solution will change tocolorless (very light yellow) at the end point.
a)

Write the equation for bromine formation from bromate and bromide ions.

b)

Give the vitamin C content of the tablet in milligrams.
Reagent
Hydrochloric acid
Potassium bromate†
Potassium bromide
Para-ethoxychrysoidine

Concentration
20 %0.02 mol/dm3
solid
0.2% in ethanol

R phrases
34
45
36/37/38

S phrases
26-36/37/39-45
45-53
26-36

Problem 35
Ascorbic acid (C6H8O6) is a fairly good reducing agent (Eº = + 0.39 V). Due to thisproperty, it is widely used in volumetric analysis. It can be used for the determination ofvarious cations (e.g., Au3+, Ag+, Hg2+) and anions (e.g., ClO3–, BrO3–, IO3– VO43–,
Fe(CN)63–). During the titration it is oxidized via loss of 2 electrons forming
dehydroascorbic acid (C6H6O6) – as shown in the previous problem.
Preparation of 0.05 mol/dm3 ascorbic acid solution
Weigh approximately 8.9 g ascorbic acid and dissolve it in a small amount of water. Do notuse metal vessels or spoons. Transfer the solution to a standard volumetric flask anddilute to 1.000 dm3 with freshly prepared cold distilled water.
Preparation of 0.00833 mol/dm3 potassium hydrogen iodate solution
Weigh accurately 3.2492 g KH(IO3)2 in a 50 cm3 beaker and dissolve it in 50 cm3 distilledwater. Transfer the solution in a standard volumetric flask and dilute to 1000 cm3 withfreshly prepared distilled water.
Standardization of the 0.05 mol/dm3 ascorbic acid solution
Pipette 20.00 cm3 0.00833 mol/dm3 KH(IO3)2 solution into a clean conical flask. Add
approx. 1 g KI and 5 cm3 2 mol/dm3 HCl solution. Titrate the liberated iodine with
0.05 mol/dm3 ascorbic acid solution. When the colour has faded to pale yellow, add 10
drops of Variamine Blue indicator (hydrogen sulfate, 0.2 % by mass solution in water).
Slowly add 20 % sodium acetate solution until the deep violet colour of the indicator46

48th International Chemistry Olympiad

Preparatory Problems

appears, then add 2 cm3 more. Titrate the solution slowly until the deep violet colour
disappears. Repeat the procedure as necessary.
Determination of the silver content of the unknown
Dilute the given sample solution to 100 cm3 in a volumetric flask using distilled water.
Pipette 10.00 cm3 of the unknown solution into a clean conical flask. Dilute the sample to50-70 cm3 with distilled water. Heat the solution to 60 ºC. Add 1 cm3 of Variamine Blue
indicator and titrate rapidly with 0.05 mol/dm3 ascorbic acid solution. The solution must be
thoroughly shaken during the titration. If the temperature falls under 40 ºC, reheat to 60 ºC.
When the blue or violet colour of the indicator has disappeared and the greyish-whitecolour of the precipitated silver metal has become apparent, add 20% sodium acetate
solution to re-establish the colour of the indicator. Then titrate slowly adding titrant
dropwise, until the colour of the indicator fades away. Repeat the procedure as necessary.
Variamine Blue has the structure shown below:

H3CO

H
N

NH2

a)

Write a balanced equation for the formation of iodine and the titration of iodine withascorbic acid solution in Procedure 2.

b)Calculate the concentration of the ascorbic acid solution prepared.

c)

Variamine Blue is shown in its reduced form. Draw the structure of the oxidized form
given that it is oxidized with the loss of 2 electrons. Which form is responsible for theblue-violet colour?

d)Write a balanced equation of the reaction between ascorbic acid and silver ions.

e)Determine the silver content of the unknown.
Reagent
Unknown sample(containing Ag+ ions)
Ascorbic acid
Potassium iodate
Potassium iodide
Hydrochloric acid
Sodium acetate
Variamine Blue

Concentration R phrases
34-51/53
0.05 mol/dm3
Solid
Solid
2 mol/dm3
20 %0.2 % in water

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 2016

S phrases
26-36/37/39-45-61

63-36/38-42/43 26-36/37/39-45
63-36/38-42/43 26-36/37/39-45
34
26-36/37/39-45
22-24-25
23/24/25
36/37/39-45

47

Problem 36
You will carry out a simple synthesis of N-benzyl-3-nitroaniline according to the reaction
scheme:
NO 2
CHO

NO 2

NH 2
N

+

NaBH4

NH

NO 2

Dissolve 1.1 g meta-nitroaniline in 10 cm3 ethanol in a 25 cm3 Erlenmeyer flask and add
1.5 cm3 benzaldehyde to this mixture. Let the flask stand for 20 minutes with occasional
shaking. Transfer the flask to an ice-water bath. On cooling a solid material precipitates.
Collect it on a sintered glass funnel. You can use the filtrate to wash the solid remaining in
the flask onto the filter. Since the product is moderately soluble in alcohol, do not wash iton the filter, just dry it with suction. Set aside a small sample for thin-layer chromatography(TLC).
Place the solid substance into a 100 cm3 Erlenmeyer flask and dissolve it in 20 cm3 ofethanol. Slowly add to this solution 0.5 g of NaBH4 in small portions with constant shaking.
Continue shaking the flask for an additional 15 minutes, and then pour its content into
50 cm3 of ice-cold water. Collect the precipitate on a sintered glass funnel and wash withcold water. Dry the product in air and weigh it.
Compare the chromatographic properties of the starting materials, the intermediate andthe product. Make a thin layer chromatogram on a silica plate with hexane/ethyl acetate =4:1 as eluent. Suggest a method for visualization of the spots. Comment on the purity of
the intermediate and the product.
R phrases
Meta-nitroaniline solid 23/24/25-33-52/53
Benzaldehyde
solid 22
NaBH4
solid 15-24/25-34
Ethanol
abs. 11Hexane11-38-48/20-51/53-62-65-67
Ethyl acetate
11-36-66-67

S phrases
28-36/37-45-61
24
22-26-36/37/39-43-45
7-16
9-16-29-33-36/37-61-62
16-26-33

Problem 37
Before highly efficient methods like chromatography or genetic engineering
revolutionalized the elucidation of protein structure the analysis of protein hydrolizates wasvery complicated. Several reagents were developed to selectively precipitate individual
amino acids from mixtures often containing 20 or more different compounds. One suchwidely used reagent was rhodanilic acid or its salts, which contain the rhodanilic complexion ([Cr(SCN)4(PhNH2)2]–). This problem demonstrates the use of this reagent.
Ammonium rhodanilate
In a 100 cm3 flask mix 5 g hydrated chromium(III) potassium sulfate, 5.8 g potassium
thiocyanate and 5 cm3 water and heat it in a 80 ˚C water bath for 10 minutes. Under the48

48th International Chemistry Olympiad

Preparatory Problems

hood add 5 cm3 aniline and continue heating for an additional 60 minutes. Dilute theproduct with 50 cm3 water and add 10 cm3 glacial acetic acid. Keep the mixture in an icewater bath for 10 minutes with occasional scratching using a glass rod. Filter off the purple
precipitate on a sintered glass filter and wash it with water.
In a flask dissolve the product in 20 cm3 methanol. Filter out any insoluble impurities. To
the solution add 10 cm3 of concentrated ammonia solution and 50 cm3 water. Collect the
precipitate with filtration, wash it with water and dry on an open Petri dish.
The reaction of ammonium rhodanilate with amino acids
Dissolve 0.35 g proline in 15 cm3 0.25 mol/dm3 aqueous HCl in a beaker. In a separate
beaker dissolve 1.5 g ammonium rhodanilate in 20 cm3 methanol. Mix the two solutions.
Filter the precipitate on a glass filter. Wash with three 10 cm3 portions of distilled water.
Dry the product in an open Petri dish.
TLC experiments
Dissolve appr. 10 mg samples of alanine, proline, phenylalanine and glutamic acid(separately) in 1 cm3 of water. Additionally, make a sample mixing the four standard
solutions. In a separate test tube mix 0.1 cm3 samples of these solutions with 0.1 cm3ammonium rhodanilate solution (5 % in methanol). Filter the solutions on paper using asmall funnel.
Analyze the solutions by TLC on silica plates. Find an appropriate eluent by mixing 50%
acetic acid and n-butanol. Visualise the spots with ninhydrin*. Summarize your results.
Explain your findings!
R phrases
KCr(SO4)2·12H2O solid
KSCN
solid
Aniline†

L-Alanine
L-Phenylalanine
L-Proline
L-Glutamic acid
Methanol

20/21/22-3252/53
23/24/25-40-4143-48/23/24/2550-68

solid
solid
solid
solid
abs.

NH3
Acetic acidAcetic acid
HCl

100%
50%
0.25 mol/dm3

n-butanol

26-2736/37/39-4546-61-63

22-24/25

11-23/24/2539/23/24/25
0.5% (in acetone) 11-22-36/37/3866-67
10-22-37/38-4167
conc.
34-50

Ninhydrin

S phrases
22-24/25
13-61

10-35
34
34-37

7-16-36/37-45
9-16-26
13-26-37/3946-7/9
26-36/37/3945-61
23-26-45
23-26-45
26-36/37/39-45* Ninhydrin is a selective reagent for amino acids. Dip the developed and dried plates in a 0.5% acetone
solution of ninhydrin, dry the plates and heat them for a short time with a heat-gun. Contact of the reagent
with skin should be avoided since it produces a rather long-lasting purple discoloration. Use forceps!

Tbilisi, Georgia, 23 July – 1 August, 201649