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Chapter 3: Problem 21

Which (if any) of the following is (are) true regarding the limiting reactant in a chemical reaction? a. The limiting reactant has the lowest coefficient in a balanced equation. b. The limiting reactant is the reactant for which you have the fewest number of moles. c. The limiting reactant has the lowest ratio of moles available/coefficient in the balanced equation. d. The limiting reactant has the lowest ratio of coefficient in the balanced equation/moles available. Justify your choice. For those you did not choose, explain why they are incorrect.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The correct statement regarding the limiting reactant in a chemical reaction is: c. The limiting reactant has the lowest ratio of moles available/coefficient in the balanced equation. This is because the limiting reactant is determined by the ratio of moles available to the coefficients in the balanced equation, helping identify which reactant gets used up first and thus limiting the amount of product formed. Statements a, b, and d are incorrect for the reasons provided in their respective analyses.

Step by step solution

01

Statement a

The limiting reactant has the lowest coefficient in a balanced equation.
02

Analysis of Statement a

In a balanced chemical equation, coefficients represent the stoichiometric ratios of reactants and products. These coefficients do not determine which reactant will be the limiting one. The limiting reactant depends on the amounts (moles) of reactants present and their stoichiometric ratios in the balanced equation, not solely on their coefficients. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.
03

Statement b

The limiting reactant is the reactant for which you have the fewest number of moles.
04

Analysis of Statement b

Although having fewer moles may sometimes lead to one reactant being the limiting one, this is not always the case. This is because what actually matters is the ratio of moles present to the coefficients in the balanced equation, rather than simply having the fewer moles. Therefore, this statement is also incorrect.
05

Statement c

The limiting reactant has the lowest ratio of moles available/coefficient in the balanced equation.
06

Analysis of Statement c

This statement is correct. The limiting reactant is the one with the lowest ratio of moles available to the coefficient in the balanced equation, as this ratio helps determine which reactant gets used up first, thus limiting the amount of product formed.
07

Statement d

The limiting reactant has the lowest ratio of coefficient in the balanced equation/moles available.
08

Analysis of Statement d

This statement is essentially the inverse of statement c, which is incorrect. To find the limiting reactant, we need to compare the ratio of moles available to the coefficients in the balanced equation, not the other way around. In conclusion, statement c is the only correct statement regarding the limiting reactant in a chemical reaction. Statements a, b, and d are incorrect for the reasons provided in their respective analyses.

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