Reaction of titanium and chlorine at 300 °C yields a metal halide that is 25.25% Ti by mass. The melting point (124 °C) and boiling point (136 °C) of the halide suggest it is a molecular compound rather than an ionic one. (a) What are the formula and name of the compound, assuming the molecular formula is the same as the empirical formula? (b) Write the balanced equation for the reaction.

The empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of elements in a compound, while the molecular formula indicates the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule. In this question, the mass percentage of titanium allows us to determine the empirical formula, which is assumed to be the same as the molecular formula for the metal halide.

Stoichiometry involves the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions based on the conservation of mass. It allows us to balance chemical equations, ensuring that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation. This is essential for writing the balanced equation for the reaction between titanium and chlorine.

Ionic compounds typically have high melting and boiling points and conduct electricity when dissolved in water, while molecular compounds generally have lower melting and boiling points and do not conduct electricity. The given melting and boiling points of the titanium halide suggest it is a molecular compound, which influences the expected formula and properties of the product formed in the reaction.