Chapter 7, Problem 26A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The unbalanced chemical equation corresponding to the synthesis of carbon tetrachloride from methane and chlorine gas needs to be presented.

Concept Introduction:

• A chemical reaction is expressed as a chemical equation having reactants and products on left and right side of the reaction arrow respectively.

  $\text{Reactants }\to \text{ Products}$

• It also gives the physical state (solid (s), liquid (l), gas (g) and the amount of reactants and products involved in the reaction.

Answer to Problem 26A

  ${\text{CH}}_4{\text{(g) + Cl}}_{\text{2}}\text{(g) }\to {\text{ CCl}}_4\text{(l) + HCl(g)}$

Explanation of Solution

The given process involves the reaction between gaseous methane and chlorine in the presence of UV light to produce carbon tetrachloride liquid and gaseous hydrochloric acid. The reactants and products are:

Reactants:

  $\begin{array}{l}{\text{Methane, gas - CH}}_4(\text{g})\\ {\text{Chlorine, gas - Cl}}_{\text{2}}\text{ (g)}\end{array}$

Products:

  $\begin{array}{l}{\text{Carbon tetrachloride, liquid - CCl}}_4\text{(l)}\\ \text{Hydrochloric acid, gas - HCl (g)}\end{array}$

Unbalanced equation:

  ${\text{CH}}_4{\text{(g) + Cl}}_{\text{2}}\text{(g) }\to {\text{ CCl}}_4\text{(l) + HCl(g)}$

Conclusion

Therefore, the unbalanced reaction will have gaseous methane and chlorine as the reactants with carbon tetrachloride liquid and gaseous hydrochloric acid as the products.