Phosgene is a substance that is often used to make the padding found in car and airplane seats. It is produced when carbon monoxide and chlorine gas react.

Question

Consider the following reaction:
1 molecule of carbon monoxide (CO) reacts with 1 molecule of chlorine (Cl2) to produce some amount of phosgene (COCl2).
To find the amount of phosgene produced, first determine the number of each type of atom in the products.

Answer 1

To determine the number of each type of atom in the product phosgene (COCl₂), we first write down the molecular formula of phosgene:

Phosgene: COCl₂

Now we can break down the elements present in the molecular formula:

• Carbon (C): There is 1 carbon atom in 1 molecule of phosgene.
• Oxygen (O): There is 1 oxygen atom in 1 molecule of phosgene.
• Chlorine (Cl): There are 2 chlorine atoms in 1 molecule of phosgene.

Therefore, in 1 molecule of phosgene (COCl₂), the number of each type of atom is:

• 1 Carbon (C)
• 1 Oxygen (O)
• 2 Chlorine (Cl)

So, the total counts of atoms in the phosgene produced are:

• Carbon (C): 1
• Oxygen (O): 1
• Chlorine (Cl): 2