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Phosphorus pentachloride decomposes to phosphorus trichloride at high temperatur

ID: 1036810 • Letter: P

Question

Phosphorus pentachloride decomposes to phosphorus trichloride at high temperatures according to the reaction:

PCl5(g) ? PCl3(g) + Cl2(g)

At 250°C, 0.250 M PCl5 is added to a flask. If Kc = 1.80, what are the equilibrium concentrations of each gas?

[PCl5] = 1.25 M, [PCl3] = 0.474 M, [Cl2] = 0.474 M

[PCl5] = 0.0280 M, [PCl3] = 0.222 M, [Cl2] = 0.222 M

[PCl5] = 2.27 M, [PCl3] = 2.02 M, [Cl2] = 2.02 M

[PCl5] = 1.80 M, [PCl3] = 1.80 M, [Cl2] = 1.80 M

[PCl5] = 1.25 M, [PCl3] = 0.474 M, [Cl2] = 0.474 M

[PCl5] = 0.0280 M, [PCl3] = 0.222 M, [Cl2] = 0.222 M

[PCl5] = 2.27 M, [PCl3] = 2.02 M, [Cl2] = 2.02 M

[PCl5] = 1.80 M, [PCl3] = 1.80 M, [Cl2] = 1.80 M

Explanation / Answer

                     PCl5(g) ? PCl3(g) + Cl2(g)

Initial Conc.          0.250M       0             0

Change                  -x                 +x    +x

Eq. Conc.    (0.250-x)    x    x

Kc = 1.80

Kc = x2/(0.250-x)

1.80 = x2/(0.250-x)

Rearranging

x2+1.80x- 0.45 = 0

Solving the quadaratic equation

x = 1.80+-SQRT(1.80*1.80-4*1*(-0.45))

x = 0.222M

So the concentation of PCl3 and Cl2 are 0.222M and the equlibrium conc. of PCl5 is (1.80-0.222) 0.0280M

so the second option is correct ([PCl5] = 0.0280 M, [PCl3] = 0.222 M, [Cl2] = 0.222 M)