Partial Pressure Quest: 2L Vessel, PCl5 Decomposition @ 250C

[assaftolko]

We have an empty vessel with volume of 2L. We put 2.42gr of PCl5 (g) and allowed it to partially decompose at 250 Celsius according to:

PCl5 --> PCl3 + Cl2

the two prodcuts are also gases. The total pressure inside the vessel after this partial decomposment is 359 torr. What is the partial pressure of each gas now?

I calculated that 0.0116 mol of PCl5 were inserted to the vessel, and I choose x to be the amount of molls of PCl5 that became the 2 products, so we have x molls of PCl3, x molls of Cl2 and 0.0116-x molls of PCl5 at the end. But I don't understand - if we add up this amount we get 0.0116+x molls at the end, but we started from 0.0116 molls of material in the first place... I don't understand how this makes sense...

 

[assaftolko]

somebody? please??

 

[Saitama]

if we add up this amount we get 0.0116+x molls at the end, but we started from 0.0116 molls of material in the first place... I don't understand how this makes sense...

If 1 mole of PCl5 gets completely decomposed into the two products, what is the total number of moles you get?

 

[assaftolko]

2... You got me here also.. Still don't get how this all makes sense

 

[Saitama]

2... You got me here also.. Still don't get how this all makes sense

Why doesn't it make sense?

 

[assaftolko]

Because you start from an amount of 1 moll and get 2 molls... But maybe because these 2 molls are not made up each of exactly what made up the original 1 moll its ok..

 

[Borek]

Number of atoms - doesn't change. Total mass - doesn't change. But total number of moles of substances can change any way you like (doesn't mean it always does!). Think water synthesis from elements - 2 moles made out of 3 moles. Think carbon combustion to CO₂ in oxygen - 1 mole made of 2 moles. Write reaction equations, balance them and you will see.