Balancing Chemical Equations: Considering States of Reactants and Products

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the states of reactants and products in a chemical equation involving ammonia (NH3) and chlorine (Cl2). Participants explore the implications of temperature and the physical state of ammonia in different contexts, including standard temperature and pressure (STP) and laboratory practices.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the equation 2NH3(s) + 3Cl2(g) -> N2(g) + 6HCl(g) and questions the state of NH3.
  • Another participant asks about the temperature context, suggesting that the state of NH3 may depend on it.
  • Several participants note that at STP, ammonia is typically a gas, but it is often used as a water solution in practice.
  • One participant speculates that the original equation might refer to NH3(aq) rather than solid NH3, which could lead to different products, including NCl3.
  • Another participant expresses uncertainty about the temperature and suggests that the state of NH3 in the first equation should be gas, implying a possible misprint by the teacher.
  • There is a mention of NH4Cl(s) as a product from reactions involving extra NH3, indicating a potential misunderstanding of the reaction conditions.
  • One participant hints at the involvement of H2(g) in the discussion, although the context is unclear.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the state of NH3 in the given equation, with multiple competing views regarding its physical state and the conditions under which the reactions occur.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the dependence of the state of NH3 on temperature and the ambiguity in the presentation of the chemical equation, which may lead to different interpretations of the products formed.

campa
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2NH3(s) + 3Cl2(g) -> N2(g) + 6HCl(g)

What should the state of NH3 be?
 
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NH3(s) ? What temperature are you working at ?
 
Borek said:
At STP ammonia is a gas, although in lab practice it is most commonly used as a water solution.


Borek

Yeah, my thought was that he was talking about NH3(aq) (which is NH4OH), not the solid. Which of course produces (with Cl2(g)) NCl3 a moderate explosive. Hey haven't we all played with NI3 ... the stories I could tell ;)
 
Last edited:
the equation was given to us like 2NH3(s) + 3Cl2(g) -> N2(g) + 6HCl(g) I'm not sure about the temperature though. And it also said that with extra Cl2 you get the equation like Cl2(g)+NH3(g) -> NCl3(g) + HCl(g)
I suppose the state of NH3 in the first equation must be gas. The teacher must have misprinted it!
 
campa said:
the equation was given to us like 2NH3(s) + 3Cl2(g) -> N2(g) + 6HCl(g) I'm not sure about the temperature though. And it also said that with extra Cl2 you get the equation like Cl2(g)+NH3(g) -> NCl3(g) + HCl(g)
I suppose the state of NH3 in the first equation must be gas. The teacher must have misprinted it!

Close but one of the products from the gas phase reaction is NH4Cl(s).
 
but I thought that you get NH4Cl(s) when you use extra NH3
 
campa said:
but I thought that you get NH4Cl(s) when you use extra NH3

Another hint: H2(g).
 

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