Question

If 113.0 g of iron reacts with 138.0 g of chlorine gas, what is the limiting reactant?

Answer 1

Both `"ferrous chloride"`, `FeCl_2`, and `"ferric chloride"`, `FeCl_3`, can be made by direct combination of the elements.......

Explanation:

Let's assume that it is `FeCl_2`, i.e.

`Fe(s) + Cl_2(g) rarrFeCl_2(s)`

`"Moles of iron"=(113.0*g)/(55.8*g*mol^-1)=2.04*mol`......

`"Moles of"` `Cl_2` `"gas"` `=(138.0*g)/(70.9*g*mol^-1)=1.95*mol`......

And since there is a slightly less molar quantity of `Cl_2` with respect to the metal, then chlorine gas is the reagent in deficiency, i.e. the limiting reactant.