Final answer:
The limiting reagent in a chemical reaction is the reactant that is entirely consumed first, limiting the amount of product formed. Identifying the limiting reagent involves converting reactants to moles, dividing by their stoichiometric coefficients from the balanced equation, and finding the smallest ratio.
Cu is the limiting reagent in this reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the limiting reagent, we need to compare the amount of each reactant present with their stoichiometric coefficients in the balanced equation. In this case, the balanced equation is: Cu + 2CO -> Cu2O + C. From the given equation, 1 mole of Cu requires 2 moles of CO to react. Let's calculate the number of moles for each reactant using the given masses:
Mass of Cu = 20 g
Molar mass of Cu = 63.55 g/mol
Number of moles of Cu = Mass of Cu / Molar mass of Cu
= 20 g / 63.55 g/mol
= 0.314 mol
Mass of CO = 46.3 g
Molar mass of CO = 28.01 g/mol
Number of moles of CO = Mass of CO / Molar mass of CO
= 46.3 g / 28.01 g/mol
= 1.654 mol
Now, we can compare the number of moles for each reactant with their stoichiometric coefficients. We have 0.314 mol of Cu and 1.654 mol of CO. Since 0.314 mol of Cu is less than 1.654 mol of CO, Cu is the limiting reagent in this reaction.