Complete the exercises below. Write a balanced equation for the reaction of each of the following compounds with water: b. Cl₂O₇ (g).

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Identify the type of compound Cl₂O₇ is. Cl₂O₇ is a non-metal oxide, specifically a dichlorine heptoxide, which is an anhydride of an acid.

Determine the acid that Cl₂O₇ forms when it reacts with water. Non-metal oxides like Cl₂O₇ typically react with water to form oxyacids. In this case, Cl₂O₇ reacts with water to form perchloric acid, HClO₄.

Write the unbalanced chemical equation for the reaction of Cl₂O₇ with water: Cl₂O₇ (g) + H₂O (l) → HClO₄ (aq).

Balance the chemical equation. Start by balancing the number of chlorine atoms. There are 2 chlorine atoms in Cl₂O₇, so you need 2 HClO₄ molecules to balance the chlorine: Cl₂O₇ (g) + H₂O (l) → 2 HClO₄ (aq).

Check the balance of hydrogen and oxygen atoms. There are 2 hydrogen atoms on both sides and 9 oxygen atoms on both sides, confirming the equation is balanced.

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Balanced Chemical Equations

A balanced chemical equation represents a chemical reaction where the number of atoms for each element is the same on both the reactant and product sides. This is crucial for obeying the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. Balancing involves adjusting coefficients in front of compounds to ensure equal atom counts.

Hydrolysis Reactions

Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction involving the breaking of a bond in a compound by the addition of water. In the context of the question, Cl₂O₇ reacts with water to form hydrochloric acid and other products. Understanding hydrolysis is essential for predicting the products of reactions involving oxides and water.

Oxides of Chlorine

Chlorine oxides, such as Cl₂O₇, are compounds formed from chlorine and oxygen. Cl₂O₇ is known as dichlorine heptoxide and is a powerful oxidizing agent. Recognizing the properties and reactivity of chlorine oxides helps in predicting their behavior in reactions, particularly their interaction with water to form acids.