Question

The products formed in the hydrolysis of $ICl$ are:
(A) $HI + HCl$
(B) $HI + HOCl$
(C) $HCl + HOI$
(D) $HOCl + HOI$

Answer 1

Hint: Hydrolysis is a chemical process where a water molecule is added to the substance. $ICl$ is an interhalogen compound.$ICl$ is having general formula AX where A is less electronegative while X is more electronegative halogen.

Complete step by step answer:
(i) We know hydrolysis is the process of addition of a water molecule to the substance. So here a water molecule is added to the compound $ICl$ and this causes both the $ICl$ and water molecule to split into two parts.
(ii) We have learnt about interhalogen compounds. Interhalogen compounds are also known as halogen halides. Interhalogen compounds are formed when halogens react together. Here $ICl$ is an interhalogen compound where the halogens iodine and chlorine react to form $ICl$.
(iii) $ICl$ is a neutral molecule having the general formula $AX$ where A is less electronegative halogen and X is more electronegative halogen. Here in $ICl$ iodine is less electronegative and chlorine is more electronegative halogen
(iv) The reactions of interhalogen compounds are similar to that of halogens. On hydrolysis both give a halogen acid and oxy-acid or hypohalite.
An oxyacid contains an oxygen atom, a hydrogen atom and at least one another element.
(v) In the reaction of interhalogen compounds, the oxyacid is formed from the larger halogen or less electronegative halogen and the halogen acid is formed from the other halogen present in the compound.
(vi) In $ICl$, the larger halogen or less electronegative halogen is iodine. So the oxyacid is formed from iodine, not from chlorine. The halogen acid is formed from the chlorine present.
(vii) Now let’s write the hydrolysis reaction of $ICl$
$
  {I^{\delta + }}C{l^{\delta - }} + {H_2}O \to HCl + HOI \\
  {H_2}O \to {H^ + } + O{H^ - } \\
 $
${H^ + }$ in water reacts with the $C{l^{\delta - }}$ in $ICl$ and $O{H^ - }$ in ${H_2}O$ reacts with ${I^{\delta + }}$ of $ICl$.
So here the less electronegative iodine forms oxyacid $HOI$ known as hypoiodous acid.
The other halogen chlorine in $ICl$ forms the halogen acid $HCl$.
Thus less electronegative iodine forms $HOI$ and more electronegative chlorine forms $HCl$.
Thus the products formed in the hydrolysis of $ICl$ is $HCl$ and $HOI$

So, the correct answer is Option C .

Note:
In the hydrolysis of an interhalogen compound, the hypohalite or oxyacid is always formed from the larger halogen present. The halogen acid is formed from the more electronegative halogen present in the interhalogen compound. Thus the products formed in the hydrolysis of interhalogen compounds contain a hypohalide and a halogen acid.