Water and chlorine, each at 1 atm pressure, are placed in a closed container at 375 K - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 7 - 2002 - Paper 1
Question 7
Water and chlorine, each at 1 atm pressure, are placed in a closed container at 375 K. The following reaction occurs.
$$2H_2O(g) + 2Cl_2(g) \rightleftharpoons 4HCl(... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Water and chlorine, each at 1 atm pressure, are placed in a closed container at 375 K - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 7 - 2002 - Paper 1
Step 1
2[O₂] > [Cl₂]
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Answer
This statement suggests that the concentration of oxygen (O₂) is greater than that of chlorine (Cl₂). At equilibrium, the reaction favors the formation of products, and the equilibrium constant indicates that at a low value of K, reactants are favored. Hence, this statement is not valid.
Step 2
2[Cl₂] > [HCl]
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Answer
Given the equilibrium constant K is small, there would be more reactants than products at equilibrium. This implies that the concentration of chlorine (Cl₂) is significantly greater than that of hydrogen chloride (HCl). Thus, this statement is correct.
Step 3
2[HCl] = [Cl₂]
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Answer
At equilibrium, the relationship between the concentrations of HCl and Cl₂ cannot be equal when K is low, as it suggests the presence of significant amounts of reactants. Hence, this relationship is not valid.
Step 4
[O₂] = 4[HCl]
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Answer
This statement relates the concentration of oxygen to that of HCl suggesting a direct proportional relationship inconsistent with the small K value. This cannot hold true under the given equilibrium condition.
