Module 3 Chemistry January 1998

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Question 1
The chlor-alkali industry is very important in the production of many chemicals; its principal feedstock is sodium chloride, which is electrolysed under various conditions.

(a) (i) Under what conditions is sodium metal made from sodium chloride?
........The electrolysis of molten NaCl                                                 .....................    ...... (1)

(ii) Write equations for the reactions which occur at each electrode, identifying which is an oxidation and which is a reduction.
......anode Cl- ---> 1/2Cl2 + e-.........oxidation
......cathode Na+ + e- ---> Na..........reduction............................................................... (3)

(iii) The sodium metal produced can be used for the production of titanium from purified titanium (IV) chloride.  Suggest an equation for such a reaction.
........            TiCl4 + 4Na ----> Ti + 4NaCl ....................................................  (1)

(iv) Titanium (IV) chloride has a melting temperature of 248 K and a boiling temperature of 410K.  Suggest how it might be purified industrially.
.......... fractional distillation........................................................................ (1)
 

(b)  Electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride in a diaphragm cell gives sodium hydroxide.

(i) Explain, in terms of the standard electrode potential for sodium and for hydrogen, why the metal is not discharged from aqueous solutions of sodium ions;

Na+(aq) + e- <--> Na(s)         Eo = -2.71 V
........ hydrogen has a standard electrode potential of 0.00 V.................................................
..... The standard electrode potential of sodium is more negative than that of hydrogen...........
...... so hydrogen is more easily reduced and is discharged in place of sodium ............................ (2)

(ii) What is the main impurity in the sodium hydroxide solution produced from the diaphragm cell, and how is it removed?
.......... Sodium chloride is the main impurity..................................................
.......... It is removed by crystallisation............................................................................. (2)

(iii) There are two products other than sodium hydroxide obtained from the diaphragm cell.  Identify these products and state one for each in industry.
........ Chlorine; used as a disinfectant in swimming pool water........
......... Hydrogen; used as a fuel in rocket engines................................................... (2)
 

(c) Sodium hydroxide is used in large quantities for the purification of bauxite.

(i) Give an equation for a reaction in which sodium hydroxide is used in this purification.
......... Al2O3(s) + 2OH-(aq) + 3H2O(l) ---> 2[Al(OH)4]-(aq)............... (2)

(ii) Outline how aluminium metal is obtained from purified bauxite.
..... The purified bauxite is dissolved in molten cryolite and electrolysed.  The cathode is made of carbon and aluminium forms here during the electrolysis.  At the cathode the reaction is
Al3+ + 3e- ---> Al  .........
............................................................................................................................................ (4)

(iii) Explain in terms of bonding why aluminium is produced from aluminium oxide rather than from aluminium chloride.
... Aluminium chloride is covalent and so contains no ions and so cannot undergo electrolysis......
............................................................................................................................................. (2)

                                                                                                                  Total 20 marks


Question 2

(a) (i) Using the data provided, construct a Born-Haber cycle for magnesium chloride, MgCl2, and from it determined the electron affinity of chlorine.

                                                                                               /\H/kJmol-1
Enthalpy of atomisation of chlorine                                             +122
Enthalpy of atomisation of magnesium                                         +148
First ionisation energy of magnesium                                           +738
Second ionisation energy of magnesium                                       +1451
Lattice enthalpy of magnesium chloride                                       -2526
Enthalpy of formation of magnesium chloride                                -641

Mg2+(g) + 2Cl(g) +2e-
____________________________________
                                                                /\
                                                                           2*Eact[Cl(g)]            Mg2+(g) + 2Cl-(g)
                                                                           \/_____________________________________

Mg2+(g) + Cl2(g) +2e-                      +244
____________________________________
                                                                /\
 

Mg+(g) + Cl2(g)                                + 1451
____________________________________
                                                                /\

Mg(g) + Cl2(g)                                   +738
____________________________________
                                                                /\

Mg(s) + Cl2(g)                                    +148
___________________________________
                                                                                                                                         -2526

                                                             - 641                  MgCl2(s)
                                                                 \/                                                                          \/
                                                              _________________________________________________
 
 

Using the Born Haber cycle
(+148) + (+738) + (+1451) + (+244) + 2*Eact[Cl(g)] + (-2526) = -641
Eact[Cl(g)] = -348 kJmol-1
 

                                                                                                                                 (5)

(ii) The theoretically calculated value for the lattice enthalpy of magnesium chloride is -2326kJmol-1
  Explain the difference between the theoretically calculated value and the experimental value given in the data in (a)(i), in terms of the bonding of magnesium chloride.
.... The theoretical value assumes an ionic model....................................
..... Covalent bonding causes the difference.........................................................................
..... The small highly charged magnesium ion polarises the chloride ion............................... (3)
 

(b) The table below gives some information about the sulphates of elements in Group 2.
 
 
Sulphate Solubility/mol dm-3 Lattice enthalpy/
kJ mol-1
Hydration enthalpy of M2+/kJ mol-1
CaSO4 4.6*10-2 -2480 -1650
SrSO4 7.1*10-4 -2484 -1480
BaSO4 9.4*10-6 -2374 -1360

(i) Suggest an explanation for the trend in the hydration enthalpies of the cations.
........ The hydration enthalpy becomes less exothermic as the cation size increases.................
........  because the charge density decreases..................... (2)

(ii) Comment on the trend in the solubilities of these sulphates in relation to the lattice and hydration enthalpies given in the table.
...... The solubility decreases down the group.............
....... Solubility depends on enthalpy of solution and .........................
.......enthalpy of solution = enthalpy of hydration - lattice enthalpy......................................
... Enthalpy of hydration changes more quickly than lattice enthalpy so.........
.... Enthalpy of hydration has a more dominant effect....................... (4)

(iii) Barium sulphate, which is opaque to X-rays, is used for the "barium meal" to enable X-ray pictures to be taken of the gut.  Barium ions are very toxic; why is this not a problem here?
........ Barium sulphate is insoluble...................................... (1)

(iv) Give the equation for the reaction of barium with cold water.
........ Ba + 2H2O ---> Ba(OH)2 + H2....................................... (2)

(v) Suggest the practical procedure by which you might convert the solution of the product in reaction (iv) into a reasonably pure sample of barium sulphate.
....... Add sodium sulphate solution to the product....................................
........ Filter the precipitate then wash and dry it.....................................................................
.................................................................................................................................... (3)
                                                                                                             Total marks 20


Question 3
(a) Hydrogen peroxide reacts both as an oxidising agent and as a reducing agent, depending on the conditions.  Hydrogen peroxide reduces potassium dichromate(VI) in acidic solution to chromium(III) ions.  Hydrogen peroxide will oxidise chromium(III) ions back to chromate(VI) ions in alkaline solution.

Cr2O72-(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6e- <--> 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)     Eo = +1.33 V

O2(g) + 2H+(aq) + 2e- <--> H2O2(aq)     Eo = +0.68 V

(i) Deduce the overall equation for the reaction between hydrogen peroxide and dichromate(VI) ions using the data above.
..... Cr2O72- + 3H2O2 + 8H+ = ---> 2Cr3+ + 3O2 +7H2O.................
...........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... (2)

(ii) Calculate the standard potential of the cell which could be formed from these two half cells.
........ Ecell = EoRight - EoLeft.... Ecell = 1.33 - (+0.68) = 0.65V.. (1)

(iii) How would you determine in the laboratory the standard potential of the dichromate(VI)/chromium(III) electrode using a hydrogen electrode?

You may answer with a fully labelled diagram or in words.


 

                                                                                                                        (5)

(iv) Why is it necessary to operate electrochemical cells under conditions where virtually no current is drawn from them when finding the cell e.m.f.?
........... This avoids a voltage drop across the internal resistance of the cell.............
..........................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................. (2)

(b) In alkaline solution the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with chromium(III) ions is

2Cr3+(aq) + 10OH-(aq) +3H2O2(aq) ---> 2CrO42-(aq) + 8H2O(l)
This reaction is used to prepare potassium dichromate(VI) from chromium(III) chloride and hydrogen peroxide in potassium hydroxide solution.  The mixture is boiled until it is bright yellow.  Boiling is continued until excess hydrogen peroxide has been destroyed.  The solution is then cooled, and acidified with ethanoic acid.

(i) The reaction occurring on acidification with ethanoic acid is:

2CrO42-(aq) + 2H+(aq) <--> Cr2O72-(aq) + H2O(l)

Show that this is not a redox reaction.
.....chromate and dichromate both contain chromium (+6)...................
.................................................................................................................................. (2)

(ii) Hydrogen peroxide on heating reacts as follows:

2H2O2(aq) ---> 2H2O(l) + O2(g)

Suggest how you would know when all the hydrogen peroxide has been destroyed in the reaction mixture.
........ Effervescence stops when the hydrogen peroxide has been destroyed.................. (1)

(iii) Why is it essential to destroy all the hydrogen peroxide in the mixture before it is acidified?
....... Acid converts chromate to dichromate................
........ The dichromate formed oxidises hydrogen peroxide..................................................
..........The chromium (III) formed reduces the yield.......................................... (3)

(iv) Derive the two half equations which together give the overall equation for the reaction between hydrogen peroxide and chromium(III) ions in alkaline solution.
........CrO42- +4H2O +3e- ---> Cr3+ + 8OH-.............
........H2O2 + 2e- ---> 2OH-.......................................................... (2)
                                                                                                                                                      Total 20 marks