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A solution of sodium hydroxide reacts with 3 mol of chlorine under certain conditions - CIE - A-Level Chemistry - Question 21 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 21
A solution of sodium hydroxide reacts with 3 mol of chlorine under certain conditions. The reaction produces 5 mol of sodium chloride and 1 mol of X, the only other ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A solution of sodium hydroxide reacts with 3 mol of chlorine under certain conditions - CIE - A-Level Chemistry - Question 21 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
What is the formula of compound X?
Answer
To determine the formula of compound X, we first need to analyze the overall reaction.
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Identify Reactants and Products:
- Reactants: Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and chlorine (Cl₂)
- Products: Sodium chloride (NaCl) and compound X
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Stoichiometry: From the problem, we see that 3 moles of Cl₂ react to produce 5 moles of NaCl and 1 mole of X. This implies:
- Chlorine is giving off 5 moles of NaCl. Typically, for each mole of Cl₂, it can react to form multiple products involving chlorine.
- Therefore, the byproducts due to chlorine can give rise to different compounds.
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Deduce the Compound X:
- Given that 1 mole of compound X is formed, we consider the options available:
- A. NaClO (Sodium Hypochlorite)
- B. NaClO₂ (Sodium Chlorite)
- C. NaClO₃ (Sodium Chlorate)
- D. NaClO₄ (Sodium Perchlorate)
- The amount of chlorine reacting suggests that the oxidation state of chlorine in compound X is higher than in sodium chloride, as chloride doesn’t contribute any further to oxidation states.
- The most likely product corresponding to the reaction conditions is sodium chlorate, NaClO₃, as it accounts for the reactivity and stoichiometry of chlorine with sodium hydroxide.
- Given that 1 mole of compound X is formed, we consider the options available:
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Conclusion: Therefore, the formula of compound X is NaClO₃.