How many liters of NH3 will be produced?

Question

In producing ammonia (N2 + 3 H2 -> 2 NH3), 5.4 L of N2 react with 14.2 L of H2. How many liters of NH3 will be produced? a) First find out which one—N2 or H2 is the limiting reactant. b) Use the liters of the limiting reactant to find out the liters of NH3 produced.

Answer 1

N₂ + 3H₂ ==> 2NH₃ ... balanced equation

To find the limiting reactant, an easy way is to find moles of each reactant (or in this case, the number of liters) and then divide that number by the corresponding coefficient in the balanced equation. So...

For N₂ we have 5.4 L / 1 = 5.4

For H₂ we have 14.2 L / 3 = 4.7 SO H2 IS LIMITING

Once you have the limiting reactant, use the number of moles (or liters) of it, to find amount of product formed:

14.2 L H₂ x 2 L NH₃ / 3 L H₂ = 9.5 L NH₃ formed