Question

If you feed 100 kg of N2 gas and 100 kg of H2 gas into a reactor. What is the limiting reactant?

Answer 1

Answer:

N₂ is the limiting reactant

Explanation:

The balanced reaction between N₂ gas and H₂ gas is:

N₂ + 3H₂ → 2NH₃

In order to determine the limiting reactant, we have to calculate the number of moles of each rectant, using their molecular weight:

• Moles of N₂= 100 kg * $\frac{1kmol}{28kg}$ = 3.57 kmol
• Moles of H₂= 100 kg * $\frac{1kmol}{2kg}$ = 50.0 kmol

Lastly, we multiply the number of moles of N₂ by 3, and the number of moles of H₂ by 1; due to the coefficients in the balanced reaction. Whichever number is lower, belongs to the limiting reactant.

N₂ => 10.7

H₂ => 50.0

Thus N₂ is the limiting reactant