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

1 Answer
Jul 11, 2017

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.