Question

If you have 4.0 moles of hydrogen and 3.0 moles of oxygen, which will be the limiting reactant?

H2O

O2

There is no limiting reactant.

H2

Answer 1

H2 is the limiting reactant.

Step-by-step explanation:

We'll begin by writing the balanced equation for the reaction. This is illustrated below:

2H2 + O2 —> 2H2O

Next, we shall determine the limiting reactant as follow:

From the balanced equation above,

2 moles of H2 reacted with 1 mole of O2.

Therefore, 4 moles of H2 will react with = (4 x 1)/2 = 2 moles of O2.

From the calculations made above, we can see that only 2 moles out of 3 moles of O2 given, is needed react completely with 4 moles of H2.

Therefore, H2 is the limiting reactant and O2 is the excess reactant.