Paper 1 Section B Data-based question (4) with worked
answers
(a) Sodium thiosulfate, Na2SO3, can be prepared in the laboratory by boiling an aqueous solution of
sodium hydroxide with sulfur.
6NaOH(aq) + 4S(s) → 2Na2S(aq) + Na2S2O3(aq) + 3H2O(l)
i. Assuming the water produced is lost and no use is made of the sodium sulfide formed, calculate the
atom economy for this reaction. [2]
Mass of all the products = 2 x [(2 x 22.99 )+ 32.07] + [(2 x 22.99) + (2 x 32.07) + 3 x 16.00)] + 3 x [(2 x
1.01) + 16.00] = 156.10 + 158.12 + 54.06 = 368.28 g mol-1 [1]
Mass of required product = (2 x 22.99 + (2 x 32.07) + (3 x 16.00) = 158.12 g mol-1
Atom economy = (158.12 / 368.28) x 100 = 42.9% [1]
(Underlying chemistry concepts can be found in R2.1 Amount of chemical change.)
ii. The product can be crystallised from solution as the pentahydrate Na2S2O3.5H2O. Calculate the
percentage yield if 1000 g of the pentahydrate crystals are obtained from 620 g of sulfur reacting
with excess sodium hydroxide solution. [2]
4 mol of S reacts to produce 1 mol of Na2S2O3.5H2O
620 g of S = 19.33 mol so maximum theoretical yield of Na2S2O3.5H2O = 19.33 / 4 = 4.833 mol [1]
Mr(Na2S2O3.5H2O) = 158.12 + (5 x 18.02) = 248.22
Amount of Na2S2O3.5H2O in 1000 g = 1000 / 248.22 = 4.029 mol
Percentage yield = 4.029 / 4.833 x 100 = 83.4% [1]
(Underlying chemistry concepts can be found in R2.1 Amount of chemical change.)
(b) The Lewis structure of the thiosulfate ion, S2O32− is similar to that of the sulfate ion, SO42−, in that
both contain four electron domains around the central sulfur atom.
i. Identify the shape of the thiosulfate ion. [1]
Tetrahedral [1]
(Underlying chemistry concepts can be found in S2.2 The covalent model (2).)
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ii. Comment on how the oxidation state of sulfur in the thiosulfate ion compares with its value in the
sulfate ion. [2]
Oxidation state of S in SO42− = + 6 and oxidation state of S in S2O32− = + 2 [1]
However this is an average value. Since an S atom has effectively replaced one of the O atoms and the
central atom is still a sulfur atom it could be argued that the central S atom has an oxidation state of + 6
and the other sulfur atom has an oxidation state of − 2. [1]
(Underlying chemistry concepts can be found in S3.1 Periodic table (3) - oxidation states.)
(c) Titration with thiosulfate ions is a useful way to determine the amount of iodine present in a
solution. The reaction can be followed using starch as an indicator. The equation for the reaction is:
2S2O32– (aq) + I2 (aq) → 2I–(aq) + S4O62– (aq)
When an excess of manganese(II) sulfate in alkaline solution was added to 250 cm3 of a sample of
water taken from a local river the oxygen dissolved in the water reacted with the manganese(II)
sulfate according to the equation:
2Mn2+(aq) + 4OH−(aq) + O2(g) → 2MnO2(s) + 2H2O(l)
The solution was then acidified and excess potassium iodide added to release iodine according to the
equation:
MnO2(s) + 2I−(aq) + 4H+(aq) → Mn2+(aq) + I2(aq) + 2H2O(l)
It was found that the iodine formed required 22.4 cm3 of 1.00 x 10−2 mol dm−3 sodium thiosulfate
solution to react completely with the iodine released.
i. Calculate the solubility of the oxygen in the river water in mol dm−3. [3]
Amount of S2O32− in 22.4 cm3 = (22.4/1000) x 1.00 x 10−2 = 2.243 x 10−4 mol
Since 2 mol of S2O32− react with one mole of I2, amount of I2 formed = ½ x 2.24 x 10−4 = 1.12 x 10−4 mol [1]
Since one mole of I2 is formed from one mole of MnO2, amount of MnO2 produced = 1.12 x 10−4 mol
Since 2 mol of MnO2 are formed from one mole of O2
Amount of O2 present in 250 cm3 of the river water = ½ x 1.12 x 10−4 = 5.06 x 10−5 mol [1]
Concentration of dissolved oxygen = (1000/250) x 5.06 x 10−5 = 2.24 x 10−4 mol dm−3 [1]
(Underlying chemistry concepts can be found in R3.2 Oxidation & reduction.)
© Dr. Geoffrey Neuss, InThinking
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ii. Calculate the solubility of the oxygen in the river water in ppm. This unit (ppm) is the same as mg dm−3. [1]
Mr(O2) = 32.00
Concentration of O2 = (32.00 x 2.24 x 10-4) x 103 mg dm−3 = 6.40 mg dm−3 = 7.17 ppm [1]
(Underlying chemistry concepts can be found in Use of SI units & prefixes.)
(d) When hydrochloric acid is added to a solution of sodium thiosulfate a precipitate of sulfur is formed.
Na2S2O3(aq) + 2HCl(aq) → S(s) + SO2(g) + 2NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)
The time taken for this precipitate to obscure a cross marked on a tile beneath a glass flask
containing the reactants is often used to follow the rate of the reaction.
i. Explain why this time is not directly related to the initial rate of the reaction. [1]
It takes time for the cross to form. During this time the concentration of the acid will be decreasing so
the rate will be slowing all the time compared to the initial rate. [1]
(Underlying chemistry concepts can be found in R2.2 Rate of reaction & collision theory.)
ii. Other than wearing glasses and protective clothing what additional safety precaution should be
followed when carrying out this reaction? [1]
It should be carried out in a fume cupboard (or under a fume hood) as sulfur dioxide is a poisonous gas. [1]
(Underlying chemistry concepts can be found in S3.1 Periodic table (2) - physical and chemical trends.)
© Dr. Geoffrey Neuss, InThinking
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