Question

A possible mechanism for the reaction of chlorine gas and chloroform to produce carbon tetrachloride and hydrogen chloride is given below. cl2(g) ↔ 2 cl(g) cl(g) + chcl3(g) → hcl(g) + ccl3(g) cl(g) + ccl3(g) → ccl4(g) what is/are the intermediate(s) in this mechanism

Answer 1

The intermediates in this reaction are Cl and CCl₃.

Step-by-step explanation:

• To indicate the intermediate in this reaction, we should firstly define the intermediate.

• The intermediate is the species that produced within the steps of the reaction and consumed in the later step/s and does not appear in the overall reaction (neither reactants nor products).

• The mechanism of the reaction contains 3 steps:

1. Cl₂ ↔ 2Cl
2. Cl + CHCl₃ → HCl + CCl₃
3. Cl + CCl₃ → CCl₄

• The overall reaction is: Cl₂ + CHCl₃ → HCl + CCl₄

• So, the intermediates in this reaction are Cl and CCl₃.

• Thus, 2 moles of Cl is produced in the first step and consumed in the second and third steps.

• 1 mole of CCl₃ is produced in the second step and consumed in the third step.