Keith M. answered • 06/14/15
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CMU Grad tutoring Mathematics and Computer Science
Hi Lindsey,
This is a nice chemistry question to test understanding of the notion of a limiting reagent. Remember that the limiting reagent is the reactant which will be exhausted before any others involved in the reaction, meaning if we consider the reactants individually, the limiting reagent is the one that will yield the minimum product amount.
Na and Cl2 are both highly reactive substances which react to form NaCl, commonly known as table salt. After balancing, the chemical formula for this reaction is:
2Na + Cl2 → 2NaCl
Noting that to keep making NaCl we need two moles of Na for each mole of Cl2, we ask ourselves which substance will run out first? The answer is Na, since we only have enough Na to make ten moles of NaCl, where we would otherwise have enough Cl2 for twelve moles.
This is a nice chemistry question to test understanding of the notion of a limiting reagent. Remember that the limiting reagent is the reactant which will be exhausted before any others involved in the reaction, meaning if we consider the reactants individually, the limiting reagent is the one that will yield the minimum product amount.
Na and Cl2 are both highly reactive substances which react to form NaCl, commonly known as table salt. After balancing, the chemical formula for this reaction is:
2Na + Cl2 → 2NaCl
Noting that to keep making NaCl we need two moles of Na for each mole of Cl2, we ask ourselves which substance will run out first? The answer is Na, since we only have enough Na to make ten moles of NaCl, where we would otherwise have enough Cl2 for twelve moles.
Pass the salt, please!
