Question

copper(ii) chloride (cucl₂) acts as a catalyst in the industrial production of acetaldehyde, a compound used to make glues. in the process, copper(ii) chloride reacts with palladium (pd) to form palladium(ii) chloride (pdcl₂) and copper(i) chloride (cucl). this reaction is represented by the balanced chemical equation below.
2cucl₂(aq) + pd(s) → pdcl₂(aq) + 2cucl(s)
determine the number of each type of atom in the reactants and products.
number of atoms in reactants number of atoms in products
cu 2 2
cl □ □
pd □ □

Explanation:

Step1: Calculate the number of Cl atoms in reactants

In reactants, we have \(2CuCl_{2}\). Each \(CuCl_{2}\) has 2 Cl atoms. So for \(2CuCl_{2}\), the number of Cl atoms is \(2\times2 = 4\).

Step2: Calculate the number of Cl atoms in products

In products, we have \(PdCl_{2}\) and \(2CuCl\). \(PdCl_{2}\) has 2 Cl atoms and \(2CuCl\) has \(2\times1= 2\) Cl atoms. So total Cl atoms in products is \(2 + 2=4\).

Step3: Calculate the number of Pd atoms in reactants

In reactants, we have \(Pd\). The coefficient of \(Pd\) is 1. So number of Pd atoms in reactants is 1.

Step4: Calculate the number of Pd atoms in products

In products, we have \(PdCl_{2}\). The coefficient of \(PdCl_{2}\) is 1. So number of Pd atoms in products is 1.

Answer:

	Number of atoms in reactants	Number of atoms in products
\(Cl\)	4	4
\(Pd\)	1	1