Step 1
The reaction:
1CuCl2 + 2NaNO3 → 1Cu(NO3)2 + 2NaCl (balanced)
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Step 2
Information provided: the actual yield = 11.3 g NaCl (sodium chloride)
Mass of CuCl2 = 15 g and mass of NaNO3 = 20 g
Information needed: the limiting reactant, and the molar masses of:
CuCl2) 134.4 g/mol
NaNO3) 85.0 g/mol
NaCl) 58.4 g/mol
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Step 3
The limiting reactant and the excess: Procedure
134.4 g CuCl2 -------------- 2 x 85.0 g NaNO3
15 g CuCl2 ------------- X = 18.9 g NaNO3
For 15 g CuCl2, 18.9 g NaNO3 is needed, therefore the excess is NaNO3, and the limiting reactant is the CuCl2.
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Step 4
The theoretical yield: mass of NaCl formed from the stoichiometry
134.4 g CuCl2 ------------ 2 x 58.4 g NaCl
15 g CuCl2 ------------ X = 13.0 g = theoretical yield
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Step 5
The % yield = actual yield/theoretical yield x 100 = 11.3 g/13.0 g x 100 = 86.9 %
Answer: % yield = 86.9 %