Answer:
48 molecules
Explanation:
From the given reaction:
[tex]\mathtt{P_4 + 6Cl_2\to 4PCl_3}[/tex]
i.e. 1 mole of Phosphorus react 6 moles of chlorine to yield 4 moles of PCl₃
This implies that for each Pâ‚„ molecule, we will require 6 molecules of Clâ‚‚
We are provided with 15 molecules of Pâ‚„ and 42 molecules of Clâ‚‚
Suppose we utilized the whole 15 molecules of Pâ‚„, we will require:
= 15 × 6 = 90 moles of Cl₂ which is not readily available except 42 are available.
If we utilized 42 molecules of Clâ‚‚, we will require 42/6 = 7 molecules of Pâ‚„ which is readily available.
From this analysis, we can opine that Clâ‚‚ 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.
