[MooCow]

The powerful chlorinating agent sulfuryl dichloride (SO₂Cl₂) can be prepared by the following two-step sequence:

H₂S(g)+O₂(g) <-> SO₂(g)+H₂O(g)
SO₂(g)+Cl₂(g) <-> SO₂Cl₂(g)

a. Balance each step and write the overall equation
b. Show that the overall Q_c equals the product of the Q_c's for the individual steps

I balanced it and got
2H₂S(g)+3O₂(g) <-> 2SO₂(g)+2H₂O(g)

I've done a problem like this before and there were more than two steps. I don't know if that applies here...So I don't really know where to go

[flightman233]

I am not to familiar with this Qc

As far as your first reaction, it looks balanced and correct.  So that only leaves the second rxn.

But I guess my question is are you just coupling these rxns together to form the SO₂Cl₂?  That would be my guess as to what we are trying to achieve.

2SO2(g) + 2Cl2(g) <--> 2SO2Cl2(g)

This would cancel your SO2(g) in rxn 1 leaving you something like:

2H2S(g) + 3O2(g) + 2Cl2(g) <--> 2H2O(l) + 2SO2Cl2(g)

[Valdorod]

Qc = rection quotient, equilibrium quotient, etc.

It is the same as the equilibrium expression, except that the concentrations are not at equilibrium or you do not know if you are at equilibrium.

1)   2H2S(g) + 3O2(g) <-> 2SO2(g) + 2H2O(g)

2)   2SO2(g) + 2Cl2(g) <->  2SO2Cl2(g)
----------------------------------------------------
overall)      2H2S(g) + 3O2(g) + 2Cl2(g) <--> 2H2O(l) + 2SO2Cl2(g)


Think of Qc as being Kc (equilibrium constant)  their formulas are the same.

find the equilibrium expressions (formulas) for 1, 2 and overall.  Then multiply 1 and 2 and verify that is it the same as overall.

Valdo

[flightman233]

I was going to guess that it was the reaction quotient and that seemed the most reasonable to me.  I just didn't see it with the subscript c before.

All is well though.