Uranium hexafluoride, \(\mathrm{UF}_{6},\) is processed to produce fuel for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. UF \(_{6}\) can be produced in a two-step reaction. Solid uranium (IV) oxide, \(\mathrm{UO}_{2}\), is first made to react with hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution to form solid UF \(_{4}\) with water as a by-product. \(U F_{4}\) further reacts with fluorine gas to form UF \(_{6}\). (a) Write the balanced molecular equations for the conversion of \(U O_{2}\) into \(U F_{4}\) and the conversion of \(U F_{4}\) to \(U F_{6}\) (b) Which step is an acid-base reaction? (c) Which step is a redox reaction?

Short Answer

Expert verified
(a) The balanced equations for the given reactions are: \(UO_{2} + 4HF \rightarrow UF_{4} + 2H_{2}O\) and \(UF_{4} + 2F_{2} \rightarrow UF_{6}\) (b) The acid-base reaction is the first step: \(UO_{2} + 4HF \rightarrow UF_{4} + 2H_{2}O\) (c) The redox reaction is the second step: \(UF_{4} + 2F_{2} \rightarrow UF_{6}\)

Step by step solution

01

(Step 1: Write the balanced equation for the conversion of UO2 into UF4)

To find the balanced equation for the conversion of uranium(IV) oxide (UO2) into uranium(IV) fluoride (UF4) using hydrofluoric acid (HF), we need to combine the reactants and the products, which are water (H2O) in this case. The unbalanced equation is as follows: UO2 + HF → UF4 + H2O Next, we need to balance the equation. We find that we need to add a factor of 4 for the HF molecule: UO2 + 4HF → UF4 + 2H2O So the balanced equation is: UO2 + 4HF → UF4 + 2H2O
02

(Step 2: Write the balanced equation for the conversion of UF4 to UF6)

To find the balanced equation for the conversion of uranium(IV) fluoride (UF4) into uranium hexafluoride (UF6) using fluorine (F2), we need to combine the reactants and the product. The unbalanced equation will look like this: UF4 + F2 → UF6 Now, we need to balance the equation. We find that we need to add a factor of 2 for fluorine: UF4 + 2F2 → UF6 So the balanced equation for the second reaction is: UF4 + 2F2 → UF6
03

(Step 3: Identify which step is an acid-base reaction)

The acid-base reaction occurs when an acid donates a proton (H⁺) to a base. In our case, the first reaction is the acid-base reaction because hydrofluoric acid (HF) donates a proton to uranium(IV) oxide (UO2). This results in the production of water. UO2 + 4HF → UF4 + 2H2O
04

(Step 4: Identify which step is a redox reaction)

A redox reaction is a chemical reaction where the oxidation states of the atoms are changed. In our case, the second step is the redox reaction. This is because, in the reaction, the oxidation state of uranium remains the same (+4), but the oxidation state of fluorine increases from -1 (in F2) to -2 (in UF6), and the oxidation state of fluorine decreases from -1 (in UF4) to -2 (in UF6). UF4 + 2F2 → UF6

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