Question

Dr. Halite combined sodium metal with chlorine gas to make sodium chloride (table salt). The chemical reaction used up all of the metal and all of the gas.

If Dr. Halite made 116 g of table salt and started with 68 g of chlorine gas, then how many grams of sodium metal did he start with?

Answer 1

First off write out the reaction formula and balance it! If you dont know how go here
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=balancing+reaction+formulas

I would recommend using the NaCl produced to calculate the amount of sodium metal used if we are assuming that the NaCl he has obtained is pure and he had 100% recovery of the product.

You simply need to use the balanced equation, this video should provide you with the info you need https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6UQX7ZdkTg
But all you really need to do is divide by the number in front of the chemical you are starting at and multiply by the number in front of the chemical you are converting to, if there is no number you assume it is 1 if the equation is properly balanced

Answer 2

Also just to note you would use the product mainly because you dont know if the Chlorine gas was used in excess, although you could easily figure that out, it is quicker just to assume it was

Answer 3

saves time