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Chapter 25: Problem 56

The following reactions are carried out with HCl(aq) containing some tritium ( \(_{1}^{3} \mathrm{H}\) ) as a tracer. Would you expect any of the tritium radioactivity to appear in the \(\mathrm{NH}_{3}(\mathrm{g}) ?\) In the \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O} ?\) Explain. $$\begin{array}{c} \mathrm{NH}_{3}(\mathrm{aq})+\mathrm{HCl}(\mathrm{aq}) \longrightarrow \mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{Cl}(\mathrm{aq}) \\ \mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{Cl}(\mathrm{aq})+\mathrm{NaOH}(\mathrm{aq}) \longrightarrow\\\\\mathrm{NaCl}(\mathrm{aq})+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(1)+\mathrm{NH}_{3}(\mathrm{g})\end{array}$$

Short Answer

Expert verified
Yes, we would expect the tritium radioactivity to appear in both the \( NH_3(g)\) and \( H_2O(l)\). This is because the tritium in the HCl(aq) could end up as part of the \( NH_4+\) ion in the first reaction, which then can be part of both \( NH_3(g)\) and \( H_2O(l)\) in the results of the second reaction.

Step by step solution

01

Analyze the chemical reactions

The first thing to do is to understand each chemical reaction. In the first reaction, \( NH_3(aq)\) and \( HCl(aq)\) combine to form \( NH_4Cl(aq)\). In the second reaction, \( NH_4Cl(aq)\) reacts with \( NaOH(aq)\) to produce \( NaCl(aq)\), \( H_2O(l)\) and \( NH_3(g)\)
02

Understand the role of the tracer

Next, focus on where the tritium, which is a tracer in the HCl(aq), would end up in the products of the reactions. When \( HCl(aq)\) reacts with \( NH_3(aq)\) to form \( NH_4Cl(aq)\), the tritium in HCl could end up in the NH4+ ion as the hydrogen part of the HCl becomes part of the NH4+.
03

Understand the second reaction

In the second reaction, \( NH_4Cl\) then reacts with \( NaOH\) to produce \( NaCl(aq)\), \( H_2O (l)\) and \( NH_3(g)\). In this reaction, it's crucial to understand that \( NH_4+\) ion breaks apart. This means the tritium, if it was part of the ammonia in the \( NH_4+\) ion, could be released as \( NH_3(g)\). The other product, \( H_2O\), also contains hydrogen atoms, which means the tritium could end up here as well. Hence, tritium radioactivity should appear in both \( NH_3(g)\) and \( H_2O(l)\).

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Most popular questions from this chapter

232 Ra has a half-life of 11.4 d. How long would it take for the radioactivity associated with a sample of \(^{232} \mathrm{Ra}\) to decrease to \(1 \%\) of its current value?

The carbon-14 dating method is based on the assumption that the rate of production of \(^{14} \mathrm{C}\) by cosmic ray bombardment has remained constant for thousands of years and that the ratio of \(^{14} \mathrm{C}\) to \(^{12} \mathrm{C}\) has also remained constant. Can you think of any effects of human activities that could invalidate this assumption in the future?

Of the following nuclides, the one most likely to be radioactive is \((a)^{31} P ;(b)^{66} Z n ;(c)^{35} C l ;(d)^{108} A g\).

Both \(\beta^{-}\) and \(\beta^{+}\) emissions are observed for artificially produced radioisotopes of low atomic numbers, but only \(\beta^{-}\) emission is observed with naturally occurring radioisotopes of high atomic number. Why do you suppose this is so?

Complete the following nuclear equations. (a) \(\frac{23}{11} \mathrm{Na}+? \longrightarrow_{11}^{24} \mathrm{Na}+_{1}^{1} \mathrm{H}\) (b) \(_{27}^{59} \mathrm{Co}+_{0}^{1} \mathrm{n} \longrightarrow_{25}^{56} \mathrm{Mn}+?\) (c) \(?+_{1}^{2} \mathrm{H} \longrightarrow_{94}^{240} \mathrm{Pu}+_{-1}^{0} \beta\) (d) \(^{246} \mathrm{Cm}+? \longrightarrow_{102}^{254} \mathrm{No}+5_{0}^{1} \mathrm{n}\) (e) \(^{238} \mathrm{U}+? \longrightarrow_{99}^{246} \mathrm{Es}+6 \frac{1}{0} \mathrm{n}\)
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