Answer 4.3.1: Matching chemical names with their formulas for our products and reactants.

Problem:

The reaction between propane and hydrogen chloride to form propyl chloride and hydrogen is carried out in a continuous reactor. The product stream is analyzed and found to contain 27.45 mole% C3H7Cl, 27.45 mole % H2 and 14.6% HCl. The feed to the reactor contains only propylene and hydrogen chloride. Calculate the fractional conversion of the limiting reactant and the percentage by which the other reactant is in excess. If the molar flow rate of the feed stream is 209 mol/s, what is the extent of reaction? (Give its numerical value and its units.)

Explanation:

If we look carefully at the problem statement, you see there are only four chemicals going into or out of the reactor: propane, hydrogen chloride, propyl chloride, and hydrogen. The four formulas that match with these chemical names are C3H8, HCl, C3H7Cl, and H2. You may have wanted to put just H instead of H2. However, H radicals are very reactive and tend to react very quickly together to form H2

We have put the numbers of the chemical names from the left column in the right places to match with the chemical formulas on the right. We've also crossed out the chemical names that are not distinct products or reactants in our reaction.
1) propyl 3 HCl
2) atomic hydrogen 6 H2
3) hydrogen chloride 5 C3H7Cl
4) chloride --- C3H7
5) propyl chloride 7 C3H8
6) molecular hydrogen --- C2H5Cl
7) propane --- H







The University of Arizona. All copyrights © reserved.

© 2007 Arizona Board of Regents for The University of Arizona