PROBLEM OF THE DAY 1

3.89 g of an anhydrous tetraoxosulphate VI of an element Q, formula QSO4 absorbs water to give 6.08 g of a

hydrated salt with the formula, QSO4 • xH2O. Calculate the value of ‘x’ in the formula and hence the molar

mass of the hydrated salt.

Q = 64.0, S = 32.0, O = 16.0, H = 1.00

Ans: QSO4 = 64.0 + 32.0 + 64.0 = 160

Mass of water absorbed = 6.08 – 3.89 = 2.19 g

QSO4 H2O

3.89 2.19
160 18.0

0.0243 0.122

1 5

Hence x = 5 or QSO4 • 5H2O

Molar mass of QSO4 • 5H2O = 160 + 5(18.0) = 250

 PROBLEM OF THE DAY 2

Manganese exhibits valences of 7, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1. The manganese (VII) oxide is a dark oil which

decomposes easily at room temperature to give manganese (IV) oxide and oxygen gas.

(a) Write down the formula for manganese (VII) oxide.

(b) Give the balanced equation for the decomposition reaction.

(c) Calculate the number of oxygen molecules produced when 1.11 g of the manganese (VII) oxide

decomposes. Mn = 55.0; O = 16.0.

Avogadro’s number = 6.02*1023 molecules mol-1.

Ans: (a) Manganese VII oxide = Mn2O7

(b) 2Mn2O7 → 4MnO2 + 3O2

(c) 2Mn2O7 → 3O2

2*222 g 3 mol

1.11
Moles of Mn2O7 in 1.11 g = = 0.005
222

But 2 mol Mn2O7 ≡ 3 mol O2

0.005
∴ 0.005 mol Mn2O7 = * 3 mol O2 = 0.0075
2

Number of O2 molecules = 0.0075*6.02*1023 = 4.52*1021 molecules

 PROBLEM OF THE DAY 3

A young farmer was given a list of four compounds to select one as a possible nitrogen fertiliser for a

vegetable garden. The compounds are (NH4)2SO4, NaNO3, NH4NO3 and (NH2)2CO [or urea]. What advice

will you give? Show how you arrived at your decision. S = 32.0, Na = 23.0,

O = 16.0, N = 14.0, C = 12.0 H = 1.00

Ans: The compound with the highest nitrogen content by mass will be recommended to the farmer.

Therefore the %N by mass for each compound is computed:

(a) (NH4)2SO4 = 2(18.0) + 32.0 + 64.0 = 132

28.0
%N = *100 = 21.2
132

(b) NaNO3 = 23.0 + 14.0 + 48.0 = 85.0

14.0
%N = *100 = 16.5
85.0

(c) NH4NO3 = 18.0 + 14.0 + 48 = 80.0

28.0
%N = *100 = 35.0
80.0

(d) (NH2)2CO = 2*16 + 12.0 + 16.0 = 60.0

28.0
%N = *100 = 46.7
60.0

Therefore (NH2)2CO is recommended

Note For full marks at least 3 ratios or percentages should be worked out.

Alternatively, the fractions may be compared directly to determine the largest of them.

i.e a) 28/132, b) 28/170 c) 28/80 d) 28/60

It is obvious that 28/60 is the biggest fraction.

 PROBLEM OF THE DAY 4

Use the following standard enthalpies of formation all in kJmol-1 to determine the respective enthalpies of

addition of chlorine, bromine and iodine to ethene gas. State and explain any observed trend.

Ethene 52.5; 1, 2-dichloroethane -168; 1, 2-dibromoethane -81.1; 1, 2-diiodoethane + 0.420.

Ans: Ethene + Cl2 → 1, 2-dichloroethane

52.5 - 168

∆HCl = - 168 – 52.5 = - 221 kJmol-1

Ethene + Br2 → 1, 2-dibromoethane

52.5 -81.1

∆HBr = - 81.1 – 52.5 = - 134 kJmol-1

Ethene + I2 → 1, 2-diiodoethane

52.5 0.420

∆HI = 0.420 – 52.5 = - 52.1 kJmol-1

Observation

∆H reaction becomes less exothermic as we go down the halogen group

Possible Explanation

∆H (reaction) is the sum of the energy required to break bonds in the reactant molecules (endothermic) and

energy given out for making new bonds in the products (exothermic).

The stronger the new bonds formed the more exothermic the reaction is. The C – X bond strength decreases

as follows; C – Cl > C – Br > C–I

 PROBLEM OF THE DAY 5

A 15.0 dm3 flask at 27 oC is filled with a gaseous mixture comprising 5.00 g of neon, 14.0 g of nitrogen,

24.0 g of oxygen and 8.00 g of methane.

(i) Calculate the mole fractions of nitrogen and oxygen gases.

(ii) Calculate the total pressure of the gases and the combined partial pressure of neon and oxygen.

Ne = 20.0, O = 16.0, N = 14.0, C = 12.0,

H = 1.00, R = 8.31 Jmol-1K-1

5.00
Ans: Moles of Ne = = 0.250
20.0

14.0
Moles of N2 = = 0.500
28.0

24.0
Moles of O2 = = 0.750
32.0

8.00
Moles of CH4 = = 0.500
16.0

0.500
(i) Mole fraction of nitrogen = = 0.250
2.00

0.750
Mole fraction of oxygen = = 0.375
2.00

(ii) For total pressure; n = 2.00, T = 300 K, V = 15.0 dm3

nRT (2.00 × 8.31× 300)

P = = = 332 kPa
V 15.0

Combined partial pressure of Ne and O2

Combined moles of Ne and O2 = 0.250 + 0.750 = 1.00

 Combined mole fraction = 1.00/200

1.00
Combined Partial Pressure = ( ) ×332 = 166 kPa
2.00

PROBLEM OF THE DAY 6

4.00 g of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is introduced into an evacuated metal vessel of volume 3.00 dm 3 and

the vessel sealed with a cork. The LNG in the vessel then warms up to room temperature of 27 oC at

atmospheric pressure of 100 kPa.

(i) Show by appropriate reasoning and calculation if the cork will be blown out of the mouth of the

flask.

(ii) Calculate the minimum volume the vessel should be so that the cork is never blown out

Assume the LNG is 100% methane and behaves as an ideal gas when it is gaseous.

C = 12.0; H = 1.00; R = 8.31 Jmol-1K-1

Ans: (i) The cork will be blown out if the pressure of the gas is greater than atmospheric pressure

(100 kPa)

4.00
Moles of the gas = = 0.250
16.0

Use the Ideal Gas equation

nRT 0.250 ×8.31 ×300

P = = = 208 kPa
V 3.00

Since the gas pressure is greater than the atmospheric pressure or 100 kPa, the cork will be

blown out of the mouth of the vessel.

 (ii) For the cork not be blown out the volume of the vessel should be such that the pressure is

equal to or less than 100 kPa

Either, Use the Ideal Gas equation

nRT 0.250 ×8.31 ×300

Minimum V = = = 6.23 dm3
P 100

Or Use Boyle’s Law;

P1 208
Minimum, V2 = ( )*V1 = ( )*3.00 = 6.24 dm3
P2 100

PROBLEM OF THE DAY 7

Caffeine is a natural product found in coffee, tea and cola nuts. Because it is a central nervous stimulant it is

added to some beverages to make them ‘energy drink’. The compound is found to contain 49.5% carbon,

5.19% hydrogen, 28.9% nitrogen and 16.5% oxygen by mass.

(a) Determine its empirical formula

(b) If the molar mass is 194 g determine its molecular formula.

O = 16.0; N = 14.0; C = 12.0; H = 1.00

Ans: a) C H N O

49.5 5.19 28.9 16.5

4.13
12.0 1.00 14.0 16.0

5.19 2.06 1.03

4.01 5.04 2 1

4 5 2 1

Hence empirical formula = C4H5N2O

b) x (C4H5N2O) = 194

x (48.0 + 5.00 + 28.0 + 16.0) = 194

97.0 x = 194; x = 2
 Hence molecular formula = C8H10N4O2

PROBLEM OF THE DAY 8

Two inorganic salts A and B have solubilities of 0.500 gdm-3 and 10.0 gdm-3, respectively at 2 oC. Both have

solubilities greater than 150gdm-3 at 70oC.

(i) If you are provided with a solid mixture comprising 20.0 g of A and 5.00 g of B, how many

recrystallizations using 200 cm3 of water for each crystallisation, would you need to perform to obtain 100%

pure A? Assume there is an ice-bath to cool hot aqueous solutions to 2 oC.

(ii) Describe briefly how you would perform one of such recrystallizations.

200
Ans: i) Solubility of A in g per 200 cm3 of water at 2 oC = *0.500 = 0.100 g
100 0

200
Solubility of B in g per 200 cm3 of water at 2 oC = *10.0 = 2.00 g
100 0

Hence to get rid of 5.00 g B from the mixture, three recrystallizations must be performed.

ii) Method of recrystallisation

(1) The solid/crystals are transferred into a beaker.

(2) 200 cm3 of hot water at 65/70 oC is added in small quantities until all solid dissolves.

(3) Solution is filtered hot into a conical flask and the filter paper washed with a little hot water.

(4) Solution is set aside to cool and then transferred to an ice-bath.

 (5) Crystals formed are filtered and washed with cold water.

(6) Crystals collected are transferred into another beaker to repeat the crystallisation OR crystals

are transferred to a watch glass and left to dry on the filter paper.

PROBLEM OF THE DAY 9

500 cm3 of 0.100 moldm-3 solution of a weak base is found to have a pH of 11.1. The intention is to use part

of this solution and some of 1.00 dm3 of 0.100 moldm-3 HCl provided to prepare 400cm3 of a buffer whose

pH is approximately 9.20.

(a) Calculate the pKb of the base.

(b) Explain how the buffer may be prepared.

Ans: (a) For a weak base; pOH = ½pKb - ½logCb

pOH of the base = 14.0 – pH = 14.0 – 11.1 = 2.90

2.90 = ½pKb + 0.500

pKb = 5.80 – 1.00 = 4.80

(b) pKa of its conjugate acid = 14.0 – 4.80 = 9.20

[base ]
For a buffer: pH = pKa + log
[acid]

[base ]
For pH of 9.20; log = 0 Or
[acid]
 [base ]
= 1; Or [base] = [acid]
[acid]

To prepare 400 cm3 buffer solution:

Dilute 100 cm3 of 0.100 moldm-3 HCl solution to 200 cm3.

Add this to 200 cm3 of 0.100 moldm-3 base.

The acid will neutralise exactly half of the base so that the base concentration will be equal to that of the

conjugate acid concentration.

The total volume will be 400 cm3.

PROBLEM OF THE DAY 10

An organic compound with the formula C6H12O2 is found to be an ester. Give the systematic names and the

structural formulae of all the possible esters represented by this formula except that the alkanoate component

is never a methanoate.

Ans:
 PROBLEM OF THE DAY 11

Calculate the standard emf of cells whose cell reactions are represented by the following chemical equations

from the standard electrode potentials of the half cells provided. Indicate those reactions that will not occur

spontaneously.

Cell reactions:
(1) NO2- (aq) + ClO- (aq) → NO3- (aq) + Cl- (aq)
(2) Cr (s) + 3Fe3+ (aq) → Cr3+ (aq) + 3Fe2+ (aq)
(3) 2Fe2+ (aq) + Cl2 (g) → 2Fe3+ (aq) + 2Cl- (aq)
(4) 2Fe2+ (aq) + I2 (g) → 2Fe3+ (aq) + 2I- (aq)
(5) 3Cu (s) + 2HNO3 (aq) + 6H+ (aq) → 3Cu2+ (aq) + 2NO (g) + 4H2O (l)
(6) 3H2 (g) + 2Cr2+ (aq) → 2Cr (s) + 6H+ (aq)
Standard Electrode Potentials all in Volts
Cr2+/Cr - 0.910 ClO-, Cl-/Pt 0.890
Cr3+/Cr - 0.740 NO3-, NO2-, H+/Pt 0.960
Cr3+/Cr2+/Pt - 0.410 HNO3, H+, NO/Pt 0.960
Fe2+/Fe - 0.410 Cl2, Cl-/Pt 1.40
I2, I-/Pt 0.540 Fe3+/Fe2+/Pt 0.770
Cu2+/Cu 0.340

Ans: (1) NO2- (aq) + ClO- (aq) → NO3- (aq) + Cl- (aq)

Emf = – 0.960 + 0.890 = - 0.070 V

(2) Cr (s) + 3Fe3+ (aq) → Cr3+ (aq) + 3Fe2+ (aq)

Emf = 0.740 + 0.770 = 1.51V

(3) 2Fe2+ (aq) + Cl2 (g) → 2Fe3+ (aq) + 2Cl- (aq)

Emf = – 0.770 + 1.40 = 0.630 V
(4) 2Fe2+ (aq) + I2 (g) → 2Fe3+ (aq) + 2I- (aq)
Emf = – 0.770 + 0.540 = -0.230 V

(5) 3Cu (s) + 2HNO3 (aq) + 6H+ (aq) → 3Cu2+ (aq) + 2NO (g) + 4H2O (l)

Emf = - 0.340 + 0.960 = 0.620 V

(6) 3H2 (g) + 2Cr2+ (aq) → 2Cr (s) + 6H+ (aq)

Emf = - 0.910 + 0 = - 0.910 V

Reactions (1), (4) and (6) with negative Emf will not be spontaneous.