How do you write the equation for this reaction: Nitrogen gas and fluorine gas combine to produce nitrogen trifluoride gas?

2 Answers
anor277
Jul 5, 2018

#1/2N_2(g) + 3/2F_2(g) rarr NF_3(g)#

Explanation:

#NF_3# is in fact not so nasty .... it is much safer than #NCl_3# or #NI_3#.. Of course the direct synthesis with fluorine gas is the province of specialist inorganic chemists...

PJ
Jul 5, 2018

#N_2 +3 F_2 -> 2NF_3#

Explanation:

Nitrogen molecule is #N_2#

Flourine molecule is #F_2#

Nitrogen triflouride is #NF_3#
(tri- means 3, and #N# usually has 3 covalent bonds, #F# has 1,
so 3#F# to 1#N#)

write unbalanced eqn for reaction

#N_2 + F_2 -> NF_3# (not balanced)

now balance the number of atoms on each side:
at least 2 atoms of nitrogen so at least 2 molecules of #NF_3#
2 molecules of #NF_3# need 6 #F# atoms = 3 #F_2# molecules.

#N_2 +3 F_2 -> 2NF_3# (now balanced, 2#N# and 6#F# atoms each side)

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