Question

Over the years, the thermite reaction has been used for welding railroad rails, in incendiary bombs, and to ignite solid fuel rocket motors. The reaction isFe2O3(s) + 2Al(s) → 2Fe(l) + Al2O3(s) What mass of aluminum must be used to produce 64.37 g of iron?

Answer 1

31.099 g Al

Procedure

Assuming there is an excess of Fe₂O₃(s) we will calculate the required mass as follows:

`64.37\text{ g Fe }\frac{1\text{ mol Fe}}{55.845\text{ g Fe}}\frac{2\text{ mol Al}}{2\text{ mol Fe}}\frac{26.98\text{ g Al}}{1\text{ mol Al}}=31.099\text{ g Al}`