Question

If 5.10 g of sodium and 305 g of potassium nitrate react in an airbag, how many grams of kno3 remain because of the limited amount of sodium present? 10na(s) 2kno3(s) k2o(s) 5na2o(s) n2(g)

Answer 1

The balanced equation for the above reaction is as follows;
10Na(s) +  2KNO₃(s)-->  K₂O(s) +  5Na₂O(s) +  N₂(g)
Stoichiometry of Na to KNO₃ is 10 : 2
Number of Na moles reacted - 5.1 g/ 23 g/mol = 0.22 mol
Na is the limiting reactant, therefore Na is fully used up, Since KNO₃ is present in excess , at the end of the reaction a certain amount of KNO₃ will be remaining.
10 mol of Na reacts with 2 mol of KNO₃
Therefore 0.22 mol of Na reacts with - 2 /10 x 0.22 = 0.044 mol of KNO₃
Mass of KNO₃ reacted = 0.044 mol x 101.1 g/mol = 4.45 g
Mass of KNO₃ present initially - 305 g
Therefore remaining mass of KNO₃  - 305 - 4.45 = 300.55 g