Question

The synthesis of sodium chloride according to the reaction: ___ Na + ___ Cl2 → ___ NaCl.a. What volume of chlorine gas at STP is necessary for the complete reaction of 4.85 grams of sodium metal.

Answer 1

`2.36\text{ L }`

Step-by-step explanation:

Here, we want to know the volume of chlorine gas necessary to complete the reaction

We can start by writing a balanced equation of reaction as follows:

`2Na\text{ + Cl}_2\text{ }\rightarrow2NaCl`

From the balanced equation, we can see that 1 mole of chlorine gas requires 2 moles of sodium metal

Now, let us get the number of moles of sodium metal that actually reacted

We have that as the mass of sodium metal divided by the atomic mass

The atomic mass of sodium metal is 23 amu

Thus, we have the number of moles as:

`(4.85)/(23)\text{ = 0.211 mole}`

Since the mole ratio is 2 to 1, half of this number of moles is needed by the chlorine gas

Mathematically, 1 mole of a gas occupies a volume of 22.4 L at STP

the volume occupied by the calculated number of moles will be:

`(0.211)/(2)*\text{ 22.4 = 2.36 L }`