The compound ClF₃ reacts with solid uranium to produce the volatile compounds UF6 and ClF. ClF₃ can be used to separate uranium from plutonium, because plutonium reacts with ClF₃ to form the nonvolatile compounds PuF₄ and ClF.

(a) Write equations for these two reactions.

(b) Draw the Lewis structure of ClF₃. Is there anything unusual about the Lewis structure of ClF₃?

(c) If a mixture of uranium and plutonium reacts with excess ClF₃ to produce 43.5 g UF₆ and 22.1 g PuF₄, what were the masses of the uranium and plutonium in the starting mixture? Use 244 g/mol for the molar mass of Pu.