The brominated alkane ethylene dibromide, or 1,2-dibromoethane is a common but controversial fumigant and is also an anti-knock addditive in gasolines. It is prepared by the action of bromine on ethene gas. How many liters of ethane at 35°C and 3.00 atmospheres are required to prepare 500.0 kg of ethylene dibromide, assuming the reaction goes to completion?
-Ryan Cramer
- Pick out the target. You want liters of ethane.
- List the given information. You have 500.0 kg of ethylene dibromide.
The ethane used to make it is at 35°C and 3.00 atm.
Your strategy is to convert kg of ethylene dibromide into L of ethane gas:
500.0 kg C2H4Br2 
L C2H6(g)
- Search for relationships that connect the given information with the target.
This is usually the most difficult step. It helps to work backwards from the
target towards the given information. Also, whenever an amount of one substance is being
used to obtain an amount of another, you need a mole-to-mole ratio
that relates the two substances.
Knowing that lets you break the problem into three easier pieces:
500.0 kg C2H4Br2 The kg C2H4Br2 to mol C2H4Br2 conversion will require the molar mass of C2H4Br2. The mol C2H4Br2 to mol C2H6 conversion requires a balanced chemical equation for the reaction (although, if you look at the formulas, you'll realize that every mole of C2H4Br2 formed requires one mole of C2H6). Finally, to compute L C2H6(g) from moles of C2H6, you'll need to think about how to compute the volume of a gas given the moles, pressure, and temperature of the gas... mol C2H4Br2 mol C2H6 L C2H6(g)
- Check your answer. Before you pick up your calculator, decide roughly how many of liters of ethane you expect to get. Whenever you can, you should use a different method to check your calculation.