Can you determine the limiting reactant just by comparing the masses of the reactants?
only if you know the molar mass of each and the balanced equation so you can see how many moles and therefore grams of A are needed to react with B. So in general, No
Determine the limiting reactant.
4Cr(s)+3O2(g)→2Cr2O3(s)
Can you determine the limiting reactant just by comparing the masses of the reactants? Explain your reasoning.
I got the same question ^^^^
Yes, you can determine the limiting reactant by comparing the masses of the reactants. However, it is not solely based on the masses; you also need the molar mass of each reactant and the balanced chemical equation.
To determine the limiting reactant, you need to use the concept of stoichiometry, which refers to the quantitative relationship between the reactants and products in a chemical reaction. The balanced chemical equation provides the stoichiometric coefficients, which represent the ratio of moles of reactants consumed and products formed.
Here is a step-by-step process to determine the limiting reactant:
1. Start by writing the balanced chemical equation for the reaction.
2. Determine the molar mass of each reactant by summing up the atomic masses of the elements in its formula.
3. Convert the mass of each reactant to moles. To do this, divide the given mass by the molar mass.
4. Use the stoichiometric coefficients from the balanced equation to determine the moles of the products that would be formed from each reactant.
5. Compare the moles of the products formed from each reactant. The reactant that produces the lower moles of product is the limiting reactant. The limiting reactant is the one that restricts the amount of product formed in the reaction.
In summary, while comparing the masses of the reactants can give you a preliminary idea, determining the limiting reactant requires using the molar mass, balanced chemical equation, and stoichiometry calculations.