Cu + 2AgNO3 --> 2Ag + Cu(NO3)2 If a 20g sample of Copper (Cu) is used, what is the theoretical yield of silver?

1 Answer
Mar 19, 2018

#0.62 \ "mol of" \ Ag=66.88 \ "g of" \ Ag#

Explanation:

We have the balanced equation (without state symbols):

#Cu+2AgNO_3->2Ag+Cu(NO_3)_2#

We immediately see the ratio between #Cu# and #Ag# is #1:2#, so every mole of copper creates two moles of silver.

So, we got #20 \ "g"# of copper, and to convert that amount to moles, we divide by the molar mass.

Copper has a molar mass of #63.546 \ "g/mol"#. So here, there exist

#(20color(red)cancelcolor(black)"g")/(63.546color(red)cancelcolor(black)"g""/mol")~~0.31 \ "mol"#

Since the mole ratio is #1:2# between the desired reactants and products, we will produce #0.31*2=0.62 \ "mol"# of silver.

Silver has a molar mass of #107.8682 \ "g/mol"#. So here, we have a lump of silver that weighs:

#0.62color(red)cancelcolor(black)"mol"*(107.8682 \ "g")/(color(red)cancelcolor(black)"mol")#

#=66.88 \ "g"#