1. Al 2 S 3 (s) gives off a foul odor characteristic of hydrogen sulfide when it

Question

1.  Al2S3(s) gives off a foul odor characteristic of hydrogen sulfide when it is damp.  Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction and discuss it in terms of acid-base concepts.

2.  a.  The only common ore of mercury is mercury (II) sulfide.  Zinc, however is found as the sulfide, carbonate, silicate and oxide. Suggest an explanation.

     b.  Copper (I) undergoes the following disproportionation reaction for which the equilibrium constant is about 106:

                        2Cu+ (aq) ? Cu(s) + Cu2+ (aq)

If the copper (I) ion is dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide as a solvent, the equilibrium constant is only about 2. Suggest an explanation.

Explanation / Answer

1.Al2S3 + 3H2O 3 H2S (gas) + Al2O3

Al3+ is a hard Lewis acid while S2- is a soft one. Therefore, Al2S3 is not very stable. When

Al2S3 reacts with an O-donor (a hard Lewis base), Al3+ forms more stable compound with O2-

according to the Hard/Soft Acids/Bases Principle.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse 1
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.