Question

Balance the reaction: Phosphorus burns in Chlorine gas to form Phosphorus pentachloride.

Answer 1

Balancing the chemical equation:

The representation of a chemical reaction in the form of substances is known as a chemical equation.

1. The equation in which the number of atoms of all the molecules is equal on both sides of the equation is known as a balanced chemical equation.
2. The Law of conservation of mass governs the balancing of the chemical equation.
3. According to this law, mass can neither be created nor be destroyed in a chemical reaction, and obeying this law total mass of the elements or molecules present on the reactant side should be equal to the total mass of elements or molecules present on the product side.
4. If the chemical equation is not balanced law of conservation is not applicable.

Given: Write the balanced equation for Phosphorus burns in Chlorine gas to form Phosphorus pentachloride:

1. Phosphorus is an element that one will under no circumstances find freely in our environment.
2. It is extremely reactive.
3. The reaction of Phosphorus burns in Chlorine gas to form Phosphorus pentachloride.

The balanced formula of phosphorus burns in chlorine gas to form phosphorus pentachloride:

Step 1: Balancing phosphorus

1. 4 moles of ${\mathrm{P}}_4$ reacting with ${\mathrm{Cl}}_2$ to give ${\mathrm{PCl}}_5$
2. $4{\mathrm{P}}_4+{\mathrm{Cl}}_2\to 4{\mathrm{PCl}}_5$

Step 2: Balancing chlorine

1. Hence, 4 moles of ${\mathrm{P}}_4$ reacting with 10 moles of ${\mathrm{Cl}}_2$to give 4 moles of${\mathrm{PCl}}_5$.
2. $4{\mathrm{P}}_4+10{\mathrm{Cl}}_2\to 4{\mathrm{PCl}}_5$
3. The above equation is the final balanced equation.