Ammonia gas and lithium hydroxide are produced

when 4.87 g of lithium nitride reacts with 5.80 g of

water. What is the limiting reactant?
Solution

Li3N (s) + 3H2O (l)  NH3 (g) + 3LiOH (aq)

mol Li3N = m/M
= 4.87 g Li3N
(3(6.94) + 14.01)g/mol
= 4.87 g/ 34.83 g/mol
= 0.140 mol Li3N
mol H2O = 5.80 g H2O/18.02 g/mol
= 0.322 mol H2O

Determine mol of NH3 produced from each reactant

x mol of NH3 = 1 mol NH3 X (0.140 mol Li3N)
1 mol Li3N
= 0.140 mol

x mol of NH3 = 1 mol NH3 X (0.322 mol H2O)

3 mol H2O
= 0.107 mol

Therefore H2O is the limiting reactant.

Using the limiting reactant to determine the amount
of product

1.Write a balanced chemical equation.

2.Identify the limiting reactant and express in moles.
3.Calculate the amount of required substance by
using the limiting reactant.
4.Convert the amount of required substance to
required quantity (i.e. mass or particles)
Example 2:
Chloride dioxide, ClO2, is a reactive oxidizing agent. It
is used to purify water.

6 ClO2 (g) + 3 H2O (l)  5 HClO3 (aq) + HCl (aq)

a)If 71.00 g of ClO2 is mixed with 19.00 g of water,

what is the limiting reactant?
b)What mass of HClO3 is expected in part (a)?
c)How many molecules of HCl are expected in part
(a)?
a) What is the limiting reactant?
n of ClO2 = m/M
= 71.00 g/ (35.45 + 2(16.00))g/mol
= 71.00 g/67.45 g/mol
= 1.053 mol
n of H2O = m/M
= 19.00 g/18.02 g/mol
= 1.054 mol

x mol HCl = 1 mol HCl

1.053 mol ClO2 6 mol ClO2

x mol HCl = 1 mol HCl x 1.053 mol ClO2

6 mol ClO2
= 0.1755 mol HCl
x mol HCl = 1 mol HCl
1.054 mol H2O 3 mol H2O

x mol HCl = 1 mol HCl x 1.054 mol H2O

3 mol H2O
= 0.3513 mol HCl

Therefore the limiting reactant was ClO2.

b) What is the mass of HClO3 expected?

x mol HClO3 = 5 mol HClO3

1.053 mol ClO2 6 mol ClO2

x mol HClO3 = 5 mol HClO3 x 1.053 mol ClO2

6 mol ClO2
= 0.8775 mol HClO3

Mass of HClO3 = n x M
= 0.8775 mol x (1.01 + 35.45 + 3(16.00)) g/mol
= 0.8775 mol x 84.46 g/mol
= 74.11 g

Therefore 74.11 g of HClO3 would be produced.

c) How many molecules of HCl are expected?
x mol HCl = 1 mol HCl
1.053 mol ClO2 6 mol ClO2

x mol HCl = 1 mol HCl x 1.053 mol ClO2

6 mol ClO2
= 0.1755 mol HCl

Number of molecules HCl

N = n x NA
= 0.1755 mol x 6.02 x 1023 molecules
mol
= 1.057 x 1023 molecules of HCl

Therefore the 1.057 x 1023 molecules of HCl would be produced.

Homework: Read section 7.2

p. 254 # 24-27
p. 258 # 28-30
Nelson
Read section 5.5 p. 230
Ans 1-4 p. 231-32
and 5-10 p. 235