Question

Give the hydrolysis of ${\mathrm{NCl}}_3$.

Answer 1

Hydrolysis of ${\mathrm{NCl}}_3$:

• Hydrolysis is the process of using water to break down a molecule into its constituents two parts.
• The general formula of a hydrolysis reaction is

$\mathrm{AB}+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\to \mathrm{AH}+\mathrm{BOH}$.

• When Nitrogen trichloride$\left({\mathrm{NCl}}_3\right)$ is hydrolyzed by hot water, the water molecules attacks on $\mathrm{Cl}$ atom through an Electromeric effect (The complete transfer of electrons of multiple bonds to one of the bonded atom in the presence of an electron attacking reagent) since $\mathrm{N}-\mathrm{Cl}$ bond is almost non-polar
• The lone electron pair of Nitrogen takes up protons from water and leads to the product Ammonia$\left({\mathrm{NH}}_3\right)$ and Hypochlorous acid$\left(\mathrm{HOCl}\right)$.

$\underset{\mathrm{Nitrogen}\mathrm{Trichloride}}{{\mathrm{NCl}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Water}}{3{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Ammonia}}{{\mathrm{NH}}_3\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Hypochlorous}\mathrm{acid}}{3\mathrm{HOCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}$

Therefore, Nitrogen trichloride$\left({\mathrm{NCl}}_3\right)$ is hydrolyzed to give Ammonia$\left({\mathrm{NH}}_3\right)$ and hypochlorous acid$\left(\mathrm{HOCl}\right)$.