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grezlbe asked in Science & MathematicsChemistry · 1 decade ago

Can you help me describe this chemical reaction?

When trichloroisocyanuric acid (C3Cl3N3O3) is combined with certain organic compounds like sucrose, wheat flour, and corn starch in a homogeneous mixture and heated, a chemical reaction occurs. The chemical reaction produces a hissing sound, a pungent smelling white smoke, and a significant amount of heat (hot enough to burn somebody if they touched the reaction crucible). The smoke has the same odor regardless of the organic compound used. When the reaction is over (about 15 seconds later for 2 grams of the mixture), a delicate black to gray crust (resembling ash) remains in the crucible.

I have two theories about what happens in this chemical reaction:

1. The trichloroisocyanuric acid (which is an oxidizer) assists in the combustion of the organic compound.

Or

2. The organic compound serves as a catalyst in the decomposition of the trichloroisocyanuric acid.

What occurs during this chemical reaction and why (prove my theories correct or incorrect)?

Update:

...and what would be a balanced equation if sucrose was the organic compound?

C3Cl3N3O3 + C12H22O11 --> ?

2 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Trichloroisocyanuric acid is a very powerful oxidizer; it reduces organic matter to carbon and releases chlorine gas and nitrogen trichloride.

    BTW, its cousin dichloroisocyanuric acid is the active ingredient in the cleaning product Comet.

  • 4 years ago

    exothermic merely propose that warmth or capability is directly released from the rection going on. released is the important-word. So C may be the exothermic reaction-freeing the warmth via fact the posts above mine reported, exo skill eject/launch Thermic skill Temperature. yet, if it grow to be ENDOthermic, then the capability could be absorbed. The positioned up under me probably merely did not understand what the foundation words propose. good luck!

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