Question

Cu20(s) + C(s) - 2Cu(s) + CO(g)

To perform this synthesis, the team added 114.2 grams of Cu20 to 11.1 grams of C to form 87.1 grams of Cu.
In this copper synthesis reaction, what is the limiting reagent and the excess reagent?

Answer 1

That means Cu2O is limiting reagent and C is excess reagent

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the reaction, 1 mole of Cu2O reacts per mole of C. The ratio of reaction is 1:1.

To solve this question we need to convert the mass of each reactant to moles. The reactant with the lower amount of moles is limiting reactant and the excess reactant is the reactant with the higher number of moles.

Moles Cu2O -Molar mass: 143.09 g/mol-

114.2g Cu2O * (1mol / 143.09g) = 0.798 moles Cu2O

Moles C -Molar mass: 12.01g/mol-

11.1g C * (1mol / 12.01g) = 0.924 moles C

That means Cu2O is limiting reagent and C is excess reagent