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.

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