WAEC - Chemistry (2023 - No. 16)
Which of the following equations does not illustrate correctly one of the reactions of chlorine?
\(Ca(OH)_2 + Cl_2 → CaOCl_2 + H_2O\)
\(Cl_2 + 2NaF → 2NaCl + F_2\)
\(Cl_2 + 2NaOH → NaCl + NaClO + H_2O\)
\(H_2S + Cl_2 → 2HCl + S\)
Explication
The equation \(Cl_2 + 2NaF → 2NaCl + F_2\) does not illustrate correctly one of the reactions of chlorine.
In this reaction, chlorine reacts with sodium fluoride to form sodium chloride and fluorine gas. However, this reaction is not possible because fluorine is a much more reactive element than chlorine. When chlorine and fluorine react, they form a compound called chlorine trifluoride (\(ClF_3)\), which is a very powerful oxidizing agent.
In this reaction, chlorine reacts with sodium fluoride to form sodium chloride and fluorine gas. However, this reaction is not possible because fluorine is a much more reactive element than chlorine. When chlorine and fluorine react, they form a compound called chlorine trifluoride (\(ClF_3)\), which is a very powerful oxidizing agent.