Question

Question #40e06

Answer 1

If you have the moles of each reactant, you use the molar ratios to calculate the moles of product that each reactant can form.

EXAMPLE 1:

Methane burns in oxygen to give carbon dioxide and water according to the equation:

CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O

In one experiment, you burned a mixture of 0.250 mol of methane and 1.25 mol of oxygen in a sealed steel vessel. How many moles of CO₂ did you get?

a. Calculate the amount of CO₂ that forms from the CH₄.

0.250 mol CH₄ × `(1 mol CO₂)/(1 mol CH₄)` = 0.250 mol CO₂

b. Calculate the amount of CO₂ that forms from the O₂.

1.25 mol O₂ × `(1 mol CO₂)/(2 mol O₂)` =0.625 mol CO₂.

c. Since CH₄ gives fewer moles of CO₂, CH₄ is the limiting reactant.

d. Amount of CO₂ = 0.250 mol