Question

The group decided to use 250.0 ml of vinegar of 24.0 grams of baking soda. What is the limiting reactant?

Answer 1

Answer on Question #43243 - Chemistry - Other

Question:

The group decided to use 250.0 ml of vinegar of 24.0 grams of baking soda. What is the limiting reactant?

Solution:

To solve this problem, it is necessary to know the exact concentration of acetic acid in vinegar, because manufacturers produce many types of vinegar with different concentrations. Most often, concentration of acetic acid in vinegar ranges from 4% to 8%. In this case, it is possible to calculate the concentration of vinegar making the assumption that 250 ml of vinegar reacts completely with 24 grams of baking soda.

Acetic acid CH₃CO₂H reacts with baking soda NaHCO₃ according to the equation:

$$\mathrm{CH_3CO_2H} + \mathrm{NaHCO_3} \rightarrow \mathrm{CH_3CO_2Na} + \mathrm{CO_2} + \mathrm{H_2O}$$

Our path:

1. Molar mass of NaHCO₃ is 23+1+12+16×3=84 g/mol

1 mol NaHCO₃/84 g NaHCO₃

24 g NaHCO₃ × 1 mol NaHCO₃/84 g NaHCO₃ = 0,29 mol NaHCO₃

2. From the balanced equation we see that 1 mole of NaHCO₃ reacts with 1 mole of CH₃CO₂H, then 0,29 moles of NaHCO₃ react with 0,29 moles of CH₃CO₂H

3. Mass of 1 mole of CH₃CO₂H is 12+1×3+12+16×2=60 g/mol

0,29 mol CH₃CO₂H × 60 g CH₃CO₂H / 1 mol CH₃CO₂H = 17,4 g CH₃CO₂H

4. In this step density of vinegar is needed.

Data from textbook:

making the assumption that concentration of acetic acid is 7%, we can calculate the mass of acetic acid in 250 ml of vinegar:

Mass of vinegar = Volume × density = 250 ml × 1,0084 g/ml = 252 g,

Mass of acetic acid = mass of vinegar × concentration / 100% = 252 g × 7% / 100% = 17,6 g.

17,6 g CH₃CO₂H is very close to 17,4 g CH₃CO₂H. It is means, that 250 ml of vinegar with concentration of acetic acid equals to 7% reacts completely with 24 g of baking soda.

Answer:

If concentration of Acetic acid in vinegar is more than 7%, the limiting reactant is baking soda. If concentration of Acetic acid in vinegar is less than 7%, the limiting reactant is vinegar.

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