Final answer:
To calculate the total masses of the reactants 4HCl(g) and O2(g), find the molar mass of each and multiply by the number of moles in the balanced equation. The total mass of the reactants is 177.84 g when calculated to four significant figures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking how to calculate the total masses of the reactants in the chemical equation 4HCl(g) + O2(g) → 2Cl2(g) + 2H2O(g). To answer, we first need to find the molar mass of each reactant and then use the stoichiometry of the reaction to find the masses involved.
For hydrogen chloride (HCl), the molar mass is 36.46 g/mol, and for oxygen (O2), it is 32.00 g/mol.
- For 4 moles of HCl: 4 moles × 36.46 g/mol = 145.84 g
- For 1 mole of O2: 1 mole × 32.00 g/mol = 32.00 g
Therefore, the total mass of the reactants is 145.84 g + 32.00 g = 177.84 g.
The answer has been expressed using four significant figures, as requested.