Question

If you start with 13.4g of c3h8 and 4.35g of o2 determine the limiting reagent

Answer 1

Balance chemical equation for this reaction is,

C₃H₈ + 10 O₂ → 3 CO₂ + 4H₂O

According to this equation 44 g of C₃H₈ reacts with 320 g of O₂ to completely consume.

Now let's calculate amount of O₂ required to completely consume 13.4 g of C₃H₈,

44 g C₂H₈ was completely consumed by reacting = 320 g of O₂
13.4 g of C₂H₈ will require = X g of O₂

Solving for X,
X = (13.4 g × 320 g) ÷ 44 g

X = 97.45 g of O₂ is required to consume 13.4 g of C₂H₈
Now,
Let's calculate amount of C₂H₈ required to consume 4.35 g of O₂,

320 g of O₂ was consumed by reacting = 44 g of C₂H₈
4.35 g of O₂ will require = X g of C₂H₈

Solving for X,
X = (4.35 g ×44 g) ÷ 320

X = 0.598 g of C₂H₈ is required to consume 4.35 g of O₂

Result:
As the given amount of C₂H₈ requires 97.45 g of O₂, but we are provided only with 4.35 g, it means the oxygen will consume first.

So, Oxygen is the limiting reagent.