Question

If you have 2 Moles of C3H6 and 10 Moles of O2, which reactant is limiting the following reaction: 2C3H6 + 9O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O?

Answer 1

Answer:

The limiting reactant is propene, $C_3H_6$.

Explanation:

$2C_3H_6 + 9O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O$

Moles of nitrogen propene  = 2 mol

Moles of oxygen  = 10 mol

According to reaction, 2 moles of propene reacts with 9 moles of oxygen gas, then 2 moles of propene will react with:

$=\frac{9}{2}\times 2mol=9\text{mol of oxygen gas}$

According to the question, we have 10 moles of oxygen gas, which is more than 9 moles of oxygen gas. This indicates that propene is present in a limiting amount hence, it is a limiting reactant.

The limiting reactant is propene, hence the correct answer is the $C_3H_6$.