Question

A flask of ammonia is connected to a flask of an unknown acid HX by a 1.80 m glass tube (where represents a halogen). As the two gases diffuse down the tube, a white ring of NH4X forms 123 cm from the ammonia flask. Identify element X (Name or symbol)

Answer 1

The white ring of NH4X forms where gaseous NH3 and gaseous HX first come into contact in the diffusion experiment. The element X in the acid HX is a halogen, which can be iodine (I), bromine (Br), or chlorine (Cl).

The distance from the ammonia flask to the white ring of NH4X is 123 cm. In this experiment, a white ring of NH4X is formed where gaseous NH3 and gaseous HX first come into contact. The rate of diffusion of NH3 is faster than the rate of diffusion of HX.

Therefore, the element X must have a slower rate of diffusion than ammonia. Since element X is represented by a halogen, the halogens have slower diffusion rates compared to ammonia.

Therefore, element X in the acid HX is a halogen, and can be iodine (I), bromine (Br), or chlorine (Cl).