In the first step of the Ostwald process, ammonia is reacted with oxygen gas to produce nitric oxide and water.

Question

The Ostwald process is used commercially to produce nitric acid, which is, in turn, used in many modern chemical processes. In the first step of the Ostwald process, ammonia is reacted with oxygen gas to produce nitric oxide and water.

What is the maximum mass of H2O

that can be produced by combining 66.0g of each reactant?

4NH3(g)+5O2(g)⟶4NO(g)+6H2O(g)

mass:____?_______g H2O

Answer 1

The first step is to convert the 66 g to moles of NH3 and moles O2. To do this you will divide 66 by the molar mass of the desired substances( NH3:3.88 and O2:2.06) . Then once you have moles NH3 and moles O2 you convert to moles H2O produced by NH3 (5.81) and O2(2.48). The one with the small amount will be the maximum amount produced, giving 2.48 moles H2O. Then you multiply but the molar mass of H2O to give 44.64 grams.