Answer:
<em>If you are given a chemical equation and specific amounts for each reactant in grams, you have to follow these steps, in order, to determine how much product can possilby be made:</em>
- <u><em>1. Convert each reactant into moles of the product. </em></u>
- <u><em>2. Determine which reactant is the limiting reactant. </em></u>
- <u><em>3. Convert the moles of product, from the limiting reactant, to grams</em></u><u>.</u>
Justification:
The balanced chemical equation, through the coefficients, represents the proportions, in terms of mole ratios, in that each reactant chemically react with each other to form each product.
So, if you are given specific aomunts for each reactant in grams, you must start by converting each reactant amount into mole numbers, using the molar mass of each one.
Then, using the theoretical mole ratios (from the coefficients of the balanced chemical equation) you can determine how much of each product can be produced, in terms of moles, first starting with the complete consumption of one of the reactants, and then doing the same with each of the other reactants, one by one.
The reactant that yields the least amount of product is the limiting reactant, since it will be consumed completely once that amount of product is obtainded, while the other reactants will be in excess.
Now, that you have the number of moles that can be produced from the limiting reactant, you can convert it into grams of product, just using the molar mass of the same.