Question

Enter your answer in the provided box. Before arc welding was developed, a displacement reaction involving aluminum and iron(III) oxide was commonly used to produce molten iron (the thermite process). This reaction was used, for example, to connect sections of iron railroad track. Calculate the mass of molten iron produced when 2.88 kg of aluminum reacts with 24.4 mol of iron(III) oxide.

Answer 1

2.7255 kg Fe

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the reaction of the thermite process:

2 Al(s) + Fe₂O₃(s) → Al₂O₃(s) + 2 Fe(l)

2.88kg of Al (Molar mass: 26.98g/mol) are:

2880g ₓ (1mol / 26.98g) = 106.7 moles Al

For a complete reaction of these moles of Al are necessaries:

106.7 moles Al ₓ ( 1 mol Fe₂O₃ / 2 moles Al) = 53.35 moles Fe₂O₃

As you have just 24.4 moles of Fe₂O₃, Fe₂O₃ is limiting reactant.

1 mole of Fe₂O₃ produce 2 moles of Fe.

Thus, moles of Fe produced are 24.4×2 = 48.8 moles of Fe.

As molar mass of Fe is 55.85g/mol, mass of Fe is:

48.8 moles Fe ×(55.85g / mol) = 2725.5g of Fe =

2.7255 kg Fe