Question

Using the equation below, if you have 4.3 mol of nitrogen tribromide and

5.9 mol of NaOH, what would be the limiting reactant?
_NB, + NaOH + N2 +
NaBr + HOB

Answer 1

sodium hydroxide is the limiting reactant

Step-by-step explanation:

The first step is usually to put down the balanced reaction equation. This is the first thing to do when solving any problem related to stoichiometry. The balanced reaction equation serves as a guide during the solution.

2NBr3 + 3NaOH = N2 + 3NaBr + 3HOBr

Let us pick nitrogen gas as our product of interest. Any of the reactants that gives a lower number of moles of nitrogen gas is the limiting reactant.

For nitrogen tribromide

From the balanced reaction equation;

2 moles of nitrogen tribromide yields 1 mole of nitrogen gas

4.3 moles of nitrogen tribromide will yield 4.3 ×1/ 2 = 2.15 moles of nitrogen gas

For sodium hydroxide;

3 moles of sodium hydroxide yields 1 mole of nitrogen gas

5.9 moles of sodium hydroxide yields 5.9 × 1/ 3= 1.97 moles of nitrogen gas

Therefore, sodium hydroxide is the limiting reactant.