Chemistry Labs

International Chemistry Olympiad · 1995

Problems

  1. Problem 1An excavated ancient Chinese bronze carillon was covered by rust containing CuCl\ce{CuCl}, CuX2O\ce{Cu2O} and CuX2(OH)X3Cl\ce{Cu2(OH)3Cl}. Simulation showed CuCl\ce{CuCl} forms first under air and Cl-containing water; CuX2(OH)X3Cl\ce{Cu2(OH)3Cl} is then produced by routes (a) CuCl→CuX2O→CuX2(OH)X3Cl\ce{CuCl -> Cu2O -> Cu2(OH)3Cl} and (b,c) CuCl→CuX2(OH)X3Cl\ce{CuCl -> Cu2(OH)3Cl} directly. Standard Gibbs energies of formation (kJ mol⁻¹, 298 K): CuX2O(s)\ce{Cu2O(s)} −146, CuO(s)\ce{CuO(s)} −130, CuCl(s)\ce{CuCl(s)} −120, CuX2(OH)X3Cl(s)\ce{Cu2(OH)3Cl(s)} −1338, ClX−(aq)\ce{Cl^-(aq)} −131, OHX−(aq)\ce{OH^-(aq)} −157, HX2O(l)\ce{H2O(l)} −237. (1.1) (i) Write balanced equations for (a) CuCl→CuX2O\ce{CuCl -> Cu2O}, (b) CuX2O→CuX2(OH)X3Cl\ce{Cu2O -> Cu2(OH)3Cl} and (c) CuCl→CuX2(OH)X3Cl\ce{CuCl -> Cu2(OH)3Cl}; (ii) calculate ΔrG0(298 K)\Delta_r G^0(298\ \mathrm{K}) for each; (iii) decide the direction of (a) in air at c(HCl)=1.0×10−4c(\ce{HCl}) = 1.0\times10^{-4} mol dm⁻³. (1.2) Rate constants of (c): kc=1.29×10−4k_c = 1.29\times10^{-4} mol dm⁻³ s⁻¹ at 25 °C and 2.50×10−42.50\times10^{-4} at 40 °C: (i) find the activation energy; (ii) assign the reaction order; (iii) given that the rate-determining step is monolayer adsorption of OX2\ce{O2} on CuCl, write the rate equation and the condition for the order in (ii). (1.3) A Cu plate is split; part Cu(1) is hammered. For the cell Cu(1)∣CuSOX4(aq)∣Cu(2)\ce{Cu(1)}|\ce{CuSO4(aq)}|\ce{Cu(2)} with E=ΦR−ΦLE = \Phi_R - \Phi_L, is E<0E < 0, =0=0 or >0>0? Give the net cell reaction. (1.4) In a Cu–Zn alloy (xCu=0.750x_{\ce{Cu}} = 0.750) with fcc structure and density 8.51 g cm⁻³, calculate the radius of the statistical atoms. (Ar(Cu)=63.5A_r(\ce{Cu}) = 63.5, Ar(Zn)=65.4A_r(\ce{Zn}) = 65.4.)Solutions: 1