Answers:
(a) O₂ is the limiting reactant.
(b) The theoretical yield of water is 8.2 g.
(c) The mass of unreacted C₂H₆ is 12.6 g.
(d) The percent yield of water is 80 %.
Explanation:
We have the masses of two reactants, so this is a limiting reactant problem.
We know that we will need a balanced equation with masses, moles, and molar masses of the compounds involved.
Step 1. Gather all the information in one place with molar masses above the formulas and masses below them.
M_r: 30.07 32.00 18.02
2C₂H₆ + 7O₂ ⟶ 4CO₂ + 6H₂O
Mass/g: 16.5 17
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Step 2. Calculate the moles of each reactant
Moles of C₂H₆ = 16.5 × 1/30.07
Moles of C₂H₆ = 0.5487 mol C₂H₆
Moles of O₂ = 17 × 1/32.00
Moles of O₂ = 0.531 mol O₂
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Step 3. Identify the limiting reactant
Calculate the moles of H₂O we can obtain from each reactant.
From C₂H₆ :
The molar ratio of H₂O:C₂H₆ is 6 mol H₂O:2 mol C₂H₆
Moles of H₂O = 0.5487 × 6/2
Moles of H₂O = 1.646 mol H₂O
From O₂:
The molar ratio of H₂O:O₂ is 6 mol H₂O:7 mol O₂.
Moles of H₂O = 0.531 × 6/7
Moles of H₂O = 0.455 mol H₂O
The limiting reactant is O₂ because it gives the smaller amount of H₂O.
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Step 4. Calculate the theoretical yield of H₂O that you can obtain from O₂.
Theoretical yield of H₂O = 0.455 × 18.02/1
Theoretical yield of H₂O = 8.2 g H₂O
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Step 5. Calculate the moles of C₂H₆ consumed
The molar ratio of C₂H₆:O₂ is 2 mol C₂H₆:7 mol O₂.
Moles of C₂H₆ = 0.455 × 2/7
Moles of C₂H₆ = 0.130 mol C₂H₆
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Step 6. Calculate the mass of C₂H₆ consumed.
Mass of C₂H₆ = 0.130 × 30.07
Mass of C₂H₆ = 3.91 g C₂H₆
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Step 7. Calculate the mass of unreacted C₂H₆
Starting mass = 16.5 g
Mass consumed = 3.91 g
Mass unreacted = 16.5 – 3.91
Mass unreacted = 12.6 g
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Step 8. Calculate the percent yield
% Yield = actual yield/theoretical yield × 100 %
Actual yield = 6.6 g
% yield = 6.6/8.2 × 100
% yield = 80 %