Final answer:
The balancing of the decomposition reaction of phosphorus trichloride (PCl3) into phosphorus (P) and chlorine gas (Cl2) requires coefficients that equalize the number of atoms on each side of the reaction. The balanced equation is PCl3 → P + 3/2 Cl2.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chemical reactions require balanced equations to accurately represent the changes that occur during the reaction. The process of balancing chemical equations involves, among other things, ensuring that the number of atoms for each element is equal on both the reactant and product sides of the equation. To balance the given equation for the decomposition of PCl3, we must determine the coefficients that provide an equal number of atoms for each element before and after the reaction.
In this particular question, we need to balance the decomposition reaction of phosphorus trichloride (PCl3) into phosphorus (P) and chlorine gas (Cl2). Although the student's question doesn't provide sufficient context or the correct coefficients to balance the equation, a balanced equation for the decomposition of PCl3 should look like this:
PCl3 → P + Cl2
To balance it, you would place coefficients as follows:
1 PCl3 → 1 P + 3/2 Cl2
The fractional coefficient for Cl2 indicates that three chlorine atoms from PCl3 yield one and a half molecules of Cl2 (because each Cl2 molecule contains two chlorine atoms).