Phosphorus trichloride can be made by the following reaction: P4(s) 6Cl2(g) - 4) 4PCl3(l) What is the maximum amount of phosphorus trichloride that can be formed if 15 molecules of P4 are mixed with 42 molecules of chlorine

48 molecules

Explanation:

From the given reaction:

i.e. 1 mole of Phosphorus react 6 moles of chlorine to yield 4 moles of PCl₃

This implies that for each P₄ molecule, we will require 6 molecules of Cl₂

We are provided with 15 molecules of P₄ and 42 molecules of Cl₂

Suppose we utilized the whole 15 molecules of P₄, we will require:

= 15 × 6 = 90 moles of Cl₂ which is not readily available except 42 are available.

If we utilized 42 molecules of Cl₂, we will require 42/6 = 7 molecules of P₄ which is readily available.

From this analysis, we can opine that Cl₂ serves as the limiting agent

∴

P₄ : Cl₂ : PCl₃ = 1 : 6 : 4 = 7 : 42 : 48

It implies that only 48 molecules of phosphorus trichloride will be formed.

the potential energy of the reactants is 200j.

from the energy diagram, the energy of the product formed is 350j; this means that, this reaction is an endothermic reaction, because it absorbs energy from its environment.