Answer to Question #148845 in Chemistry for Hannah

Question

Liquid hexane will react with gaseous oxygen to produce gaseous carbon dioxide and gaseous water . Suppose 4.3 g of hexane is mixed with 23.0 g of oxygen. Calculate the maximum mass of carbon dioxide that could be produced by the chemical reaction. Be sure your answer has the correct number of significant digits.

Answer 1

2C₆H₁₄ + 19O₂ = 12CO₂ + 14H₂O

M (CO₂) = 44.01 g/mol

M (O₂) = 32 g/mol

M (C₆H₁₄) = 86.18 g/mol

n (C₆H₁₄) = 4.3 /86.18 = 0.05 mol

n (O₂) = 23.0 /32 = 0.72 mol

Which reactant is limiting? C₆H₁₄ = 0.05/2 = 0.025; O₂ = 0.27/19 = 0.04

Thus C₆H₁₄ is a limiting reactant.

n (CO₂) that can be produced = 0.05/2 x 12 = 0.3 mol

m (CO₂) = 0.3 mol x 44.01 g/mol = 13.2 g (to 3 sig. figs.)