Question #ef835

1 Answer
Oct 3, 2016

It is stated in the problem UF_6 reacts with water to form a gas containing 95% F and 5% H along with a solid compound of U,F and O.
This compound is formed due to replacement of F atom by O atom.
The oxidation state of O is -2 and that of F is -1 in the compound.So each O atom will replace 2 F atoms.If x atom of O is present in the compound formed then F atom in the compound will be (6-2x).
Let the molecuar formula of the formed by the action of water on UF_6 is UF_(6-2x)O_x

Considering atomic masses as

U->235"g/mol"

F->19"g/mol"

O->16"g/mol"

H->1"g/mol"

The percentage composition of constituent elements in the gas H-5% and F-95% So the ratio of number of atoms of H and F in the compound
H:F=5/1:95/19=5:5=1:1

So the compound is HF (Hydrogen fluoride)

So the balanced equation of the reaction may be written as

UF_6+xH_2O->UF_(6-2x)O_2 +2xHF(g)

It is given that 3.730g UF_(6-2x)O_x is formed from 4.267g UF_6

So ("molar mass of "UF_(6-2x)O_x)/("molar mass of "UF_6)=3.730/4.267

=>(235+19(6-2x)+16x)/(235+19xx6)=3730/4267

=>349-22x=349xx(3730/4267)~~305

=>22x=349-305=44

=>x=2

Hence MF of the compound formed

UF_((6-2*2))O_2=color(red)(UF_2O_2)

The blanced equation becomes

UF_6+2H_2O->UF_2O_2 +4HF(g)

It is evident from above equation that among 6 F atoms in original compound UF_6 2 atoms go to form the solid molecule of UF_2O_2 and 4 atoms go to form four HF(g) molecules.

Hence 2/6=1/3=33.3% goes to form the solid compound and 4/6=2/3=66.7% goes to form gaseous molecules of HF.