Question

Limiting reactant of 3.o mol sulfur and 4.0mol oxygen 2S+ 3O2 => 2SO3

Answer 1

Step 1

The reaction involved:

2 S + 3 O2 => 2 SO3

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Step 2

Data provided:

The number of moles:

S) 3.0 moles

O2) 4.0 moles

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Step 3

Procedure:

By stoichiometry,

2 S + 3 O2 => 2 SO3

2 moles S ------ 3 moles O2

3.0 moles S ------- X

X = 3.0 moles S x 3 moles O2/2 moles S

X = 4.5 moles

For 3.0 moles of S, 4.5 moles of O2 are needed and there are just 4.0 moles of O2, so the limiting reactant is O2.

(Remember that the limiting reactant limits the formation of product and it is consumed first)

Answer: The limiting reactant is O2