Elemental phosphorus (as molecules) reacts with chlorine gas

CHEMISTRY · Subjective · CBSE · Chemistry · Chemical Reactions and Equations · Chemical Reactions and Equations

Problem

Elemental phosphorus (as

\text{P}_4

molecules) reacts with chlorine gas. An experiment starts with 2 molecules of

\text{P}_4

and 18 molecules of

\text{Cl}_2

. After the reaction has gone to completion, the sample contains 8 molecules of

\text{PCl}_3

and 6 molecules of unreacted

\text{Cl}_2

; no

\text{P}_4

remains. Based on these observations, determine the smallest whole-number coefficients for

\text{P}_4

\text{Cl}_2

, and

\text{PCl}_3

in the balanced chemical equation for this reaction.