Final answer:
The synthesis of thionyl chloride could hypothetically be represented by the reaction SO₂ + Cl₂ → 2 SOCl₂. Reactants are sulfur dioxide and chlorine gas, while the product is thionyl chloride. The reaction enthalpy cannot be calculated without further information such as standard enthalpies of formation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The synthesis of thionyl chloride is not directly given in the information provided, but a similar decomposition reaction of sulfuryl chloride is mentioned, which is:
SO₂Cl₂(g) → SO₂(g) + Cl₂(g).
To answer the student's assignment question:
- Write the balanced chemical equation: The equation for the decomposition of sulfuryl chloride has been provided, but not for the synthesis of thionyl chloride. However, assuming a possible synthesis reaction for thionyl chloride could be from reacting sulfur dioxide with chlorine, an unbalanced equation could be: SO₂ + Cl₂ → SOCl₂. Balancing it would yield: SO₂ + Cl₂ → 2 SOCl₂.
- Identify the reactants: The reactants are sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and chlorine gas (Cl₂).
- Determine the products: The product is thionyl chloride (SOCl₂).
- Calculate the reaction enthalpy: The reaction enthalpy cannot be calculated here because there are no enthalpy values provided. Typically, you would use the standard enthalpies of formation for each substance or Hess's Law if the reaction can be built from steps of known enthalpy changes.