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Ch.4 - Reactions in Aqueous Solution
Chapter 4, Problem 156a

Brass is an approximately 4:1 alloy of copper and zinc, along with small amounts of tin, lead, and iron. The mass per-cents of copper and zinc can be determined by a procedure that begins with dissolving the brass in hot nitric acid. The resulting solution of Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions is then treated with aqueous ammonia to lower its acidity, followed by addi-tion of sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) and sulfurous acid (H2SO3) to precipitate copper(I) thiocyanate (CuSCN). The solid CuSCN is collected, dissolved in aqueous acid, and treated with potassium iodate (KIO3) to give iodine, which is then titrated with aqueous sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3). The filtrate remaining after CuSCN has been removed is neutralized by addition of aqueous ammonia, and a solu-tion of diammonium hydrogen phosphate ((NH4)2HPO4) is added to yield a precipitate of zinc ammonium phosphate (ZnNH4PO4). Heating the precipitate to 900 °C converts it to zinc pyrophosphate (Zn2P2O7), which is weighed. The equations are (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (a) Balance all equations.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions. It involves using balanced chemical equations to determine the relationships between the quantities of substances involved. Understanding stoichiometry is essential for accurately balancing the equations in the given procedure and for calculating the amounts of reactants and products formed during the reactions.
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Precipitation Reactions

Precipitation reactions occur when two soluble salts react to form an insoluble product, known as a precipitate. In the context of the question, the formation of copper(I) thiocyanate (CuSCN) and zinc ammonium phosphate (ZnNH4PO4) are key steps. Recognizing the conditions under which these precipitates form is crucial for understanding the separation and identification of copper and zinc in the brass alloy.
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Titration

Titration is a quantitative analytical technique used to determine the concentration of a solute in a solution. In this procedure, iodine produced from the reaction with potassium iodate is titrated with sodium thiosulfate, allowing for the precise measurement of copper content. Understanding the principles of titration, including the use of indicators and the stoichiometry of the reaction, is vital for accurately determining the mass percent of copper in the brass sample.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

(b) Calculate the concentrations of all ions in the solution after reaction. Check your concentrations to make sure that the solution is electrically neutral.

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Textbook Question

Sodium nitrite, NaNO2, is frequently added to processed meats as a preservative. The amount of nitrite ion in a sample can be determined by acidifying to form nitrous acid (HNO2), letting the nitrous acid react with an excess of iodide ion, and then titrating the I3 - ion that results with thiosulfate solution in the presence of a starch indicator. The unbalanced equations are (1) (2) (a) Balance the two redox equations.

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Textbook Question

Sodium nitrite, NaNO2, is frequently added to processed meats as a preservative. The amount of nitrite ion in a sample can be determined by acidifying to form nitrous acid (HNO2), letting the nitrous acid react with an excess of iodide ion, and then titrating the I3 - ion that results with thiosulfate solution in the presence of a starch indicator. The unbalanced equations are (1) (2) (b) When a nitrite-containing sample with a mass of 2.935 g was analyzed, 18.77 mL of 0.1500 M Na2S2O3 solution was needed for the reaction. What is the mass percent of NO2- ion in the sample?

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Textbook Question

(b) When a brass sample with a mass of 0.544 g was sub-jected to the preceding analysis, 10.82 mL of 0.1220 M sodium thiosulfate was required for the reaction with iodine. What is the mass percent copper in the brass?

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Textbook Question

(c) The brass sample in part (b) yielded 0.246 g of Zn2P2O7. What is the mass percent zinc in the brass?

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Textbook Question
(d) Balance all equations.
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