Question #6572b

1 Answer
Feb 6, 2015

Start with the balanced chemical equation

2AlBr3(aq)+3Cl2(g)2AlCl3(ag)+3Br2(l)

Now, take the mole ratio one of the reactants (you can pick either one) has with all the other compounds in the reaction, this will help you determine whether or not you have a limiting reagent and exactly how much of each product is made in the reaction.

Take, for instance, AlBr3. Notice that it has a 2:3 mole ratio with chlorine gas, i.e. for every 2 moles of AlBr3, you need 3 moles of Cl2. Any other relationship between the number of moles of these two compounds will result in a limiting reagent.

So, the number of moles of AlBr3 is

47.6 g1 mole266.7 g=0.1785 moles

Even before calculating the actual number, we've established that you would need

0.1785 molesAlBr33 molesCl22 molesAlBr3=0.2678 moles Cl2

If you have less than this, chlorine will be the limiting reagent; if you have more, aluminium bromide will be the limiting reagent.

The number of moles of chlorine can be determined using the molar volume of a gas at STP; under these conditions, 1 mole of any ideal gas occupies 22.4 L. SInce you've got more than that, you'll have more than one mole of gas

40.0 L1 mole22.4 L=1.786 moles Cl2

You have way more than the required 0.2678 moles of chlorine, which means that the aluminum bromide will act as the limiting reagent. This means that you'll have excess chlorine

nchlorine in excess=1.7860.2678=1.518 moles

The volume of chlorine that will still be in the container after the reaction is complete is

1.518 moles22.4 L1 mole=34.0 L

Now for the products. Once again use mole ratios to determine how many moles are produced

0.1785 molesAlBr31 moleAlCl31 moleAlBr3=0.1785 moles AlCl3

The mass produced will be

0.1785 moles133.3 g1 mole=23.8 g AlCl3

0.1785 molesAlBr33 molesBr22 molesAlBr3=0.2678 moles Br2

0.2678 moles159.8 g1 mole=42.8 g Br2

Therefore, the container will have

34.0 L chlorine gas, 23.8 g AlCl3, and 42.8 g Br2,