Final answer:
The formation of 6 moles of HCl requires 3 moles of diatomic chlorine (Cl₂), resulting in 6 chlorine atoms on the product side of the balanced chemical reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is focused on the number of chlorine atoms present on the product side of a chemical reaction that forms 6 moles of hydrochloric acid (HCl). The balanced chemical equation that describes this reaction is:
H₂ + Cl₂ → 2 HCl
Following stoichiometry, the reaction of hydrogen (H₂) with chlorine (Cl₂) yields two molecules of hydrochloric acid (HCl). If the goal is to produce 6 moles of HCl, we would multiply the entire equation by a factor of 3 to balance it properly:
3 H₂ + 3 Cl₂ → 6 HCl
We observe 6 chlorine atoms on the product side because each molecule of hydrogen chloride (HCl) contains one chlorine atom. Thus, the formation of 6 moles of HCl requires the presence of 3 moles of diatomic chlorine (Cl₂), which consists of 6 chlorine atoms in total.