Question

When ethane (c2h6) reacts with chlorine (cl2) the main product is c2h5cl; but other products containing cl (chlorine), such as c2h4cl2, are also obtained in small quantities. the formation of these other products reduces the yield of c2h5cl. in a certain experiment 145 g of c2h6 reacts with 215 g of cl2. (a) assuming that c2h6 and cl2 react only to form c2h5cl and hcl, calculate the theoretical yield of c2h5cl?

Answer 1

The balanced chemical reaction is written as:

C₂H₆ + Cl₂ → C₂H₅Cl + HCl

Mol of C₂H₆ available: 145 g/ 30 g/mol = 4.833 mol
Mol of Cl₂ available: 215 g/ 70.9 g/mol = 3.032 mol

So, the limiting reactant is Cl₂. We base our theoretical yield from here.

3.032 mol Cl₂ (1 mol C₂H₅Cl/ 1 mol Cl₂)(64.45 g/mol C₂H₅Cl) = 195.41 g C₂H₅Cl