Chapter 3, Problem 3.98P

(a)

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The scene that best depicts the product mixture after decomposition of dichloro monoxide is to be determined.

Concept introduction:

A balanced chemical equation obeys the law of conservation of mass since the total mass of reactants and products are equal in a balanced chemical equation.

An element can be defined as the simplest type of matter which is composed of only one kind of atom and cannot be broken down further. The properties of all the atoms of an element are identical.

A compound is defined as a substance formed by the combination of two or more different elements in a fixed proportion via a chemical reaction. The property of a compound is different from the properties of the constituent elements.

(b)

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The balanced equation for the decomposition of dichloro monoxide is to be determined.

Concept introduction:

A balanced chemical equation obeys the law of conservation of mass since the total mass of reactants and products are equal in a balanced chemical equation.

Following are the steps to write a balanced chemical equation.

Step 1: Translate the chemical statement into a skeleton equation. The reactants are the chemical substances that undergo a change, thus, write the reactants on the left side of the yield arrow. The products are the chemical substances that are produced during the chemical change, thus, write the products on the right side of the yield arrow. Put a blank before each formula while beginning the balancing process.

Step 2: Identify the most complex substance and choose an element such that the element must be present only in one reactant and one product. Place the stoichiometric coefficient before the element/elements such that the number of atoms of that element(s) is the same on both sides.

Step 3: Balance the remaining atoms by placing the stoichiometric coefficients before the element/elements such that the number of atoms of that element(s) is the same on both sides. Identify the least complex substance and end with it.

Step 4: In a balanced chemical reaction, the smallest whole number coefficients are most preferred. Hence, adjusting the coefficients in such a way that the smallest whole number coefficients are obtained for each element.

Step 5: Check whether the chemical equation is balanced or not by counting the number of atoms of each element on both sides.

Step 6: Specify the states of matter of each chemical substance present in the balanced chemical equation.

(c)

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The number of molecules of dichloro monoxide present before the decomposition is to be determined.

Concept introduction:

Stoichiometrically equivalent molar ratios are used as conversion factors to calculate the amounts of a substance formed from produces or reacts with a specific amount of the other.