Limiting Reactants: Compare Reactants Moles

Question

Using the amount of the limiting reactant, what is the maximum amount of product Zn(OH)₂ in moles, that can form? Amount ZnO = 0.224 mol

Answer 1

There are actually a couple of ways to determine the limiting reactant. I will use the one I prefer, and that is to divide the moles of each reactant by the corresponding coefficient in the balanced equation. The value that comes out lowest identifies the limiting reactant.

ZnO + H₂O ==> Zn(OH)₂ ... balanced equation

Unfortunately, you DID NOT provide the amount of H₂O, so we only have the mol of ZnO. If the ZnO is the limiting reactant, then we use the stoichiometry of the balanced equation to find the amount of Zn(OH)₂ produced.

0.224 mol ZnO x 1 mol Zn(OH)₂ / mol ZnO = 0.224 moles Zn(OH)₂