Question

For the following reaction if you have 13.2g of CO and 42.7g of Fe2O3, which is the limiting reagent with regards to the Fe production? Fe2O3(s) + 3CO (g) —> 2Fe(s) + 3 CO2 (g)

Answer 1

Answer: CO is a limiting reagent with regards to the Fe production.

Explanation:

$Fe_2O_3(s)+3CO(g)\rightarrow 2Fe(s)+3CO_2(g)$

Moles of CO = $\frac{\text{mass of CO}}{\text{molar mass of CO}}=\frac{13.2 g}{28 g/mol}=0.4714 mol$

moles of $Fe_2O_3=\frac{\text{mass of} Fe_2O_3}{\text{molar mass of}Fe_2O_3}=\frac{42.7 g g}{159.7 g/mol}=0.2673 mol$

According to reaction , 3 mole of CO reacts with 1 mole of $Fe_2O_3$ then , 0.4714 moles of CO will react with : $\frac{1}{3}\times 0.4714$ moles of $Fe_2O_3$ that is 0.1571 moles.

0.4714 moles of CO will react with 0.1571 moles of $Fe_2O_3$ which means that CO is present in limited amount acting as limiting reagent.

Mole remaining of $Fe_2O_3$ = 0.2673 mol - 0.1571 mol = 0.1102 mol

Hence, CO is a limiting reagent and  $Fe_2O_3$ is an excessive reagent.