Textbook Problem

You have seven closed containers, each with equal masses of chlorine gas (Cl₂) . You add 10.0 g of sodium to the first sample, 20.0 g of sodium to the second sample, and so on (adding 70.0 g of sodium to the seventh sample). Sodium and chlorine react to form sodium chloride according to the equation

$2\text{Na}\left(s\right)+{\text{Cl}}_{\text{2}}\to 2\text{NaCl}\left(s\right)$

After each reaction is complete, you collect and measure the amount of sodium chloride formed. A graph of your results is shown below.

Answer the following questions:

a. Explain the shape of the graph.

b. Calculate the mass of NaCl formed when 20.0 g of sodium is used.

c. Calculate the mass of Cl₂ in each container.

d. Calculate the mass of NaCl formed when 50.0 g of sodium is used.

e. Identify the leftover reactant, and determine its mass for parts b and d above.