Question

In the formation of carbon dioxide from carbon monoxide and oxygen, how many liters of carbon monoxide, CO, are needed to react completely with 1/2 mole of oxygen gas at STP? 2 CO (g) + O2(g) → 2 CO2 (g)

Answer 1

Approx. `22.4` `L` of `C-=O` gas are required.

Explanation:

At constant pressure and temperature, the volume of a gas represents the number of particles. You have given te stoichiometric equation:

`2C-=O(g) + O_2(g) rarr 2CO_2(g)`,

And this equation shows that carbon monoxide reacts with molecular oxygen in a `2:1` ratio. But at `STP`, the volume of half a mole `O_2` is `11.2*L`. And of course we need double the molar quantity, and thus double the volume, of carbon monoxide gas for stoichiometric reaction.