Question

What is the maximum amount of methanol (CH3OH), in mol, that could be formed when 2 mol of carbon dioxide and 3 mol of hydrogen are placed in a
container and react according to the equation: CO2 + 3 H2 → CH3OH + H2O

a) 1
b) 2
C) 3
d) 5

Answer 1

maybe 3 is the correct answer

Answer 2

Answer:

a) 1

Explanation:

Unfortunately, we are not given the limiting reagent. The limiting reagent is the reactant which is completely used up first. We can identify it by converting both reactants into the product. The reactant which produces the smallest amount of product is the limiting reagent.

You can convert the moles of CO₂/H₂ to moles CH₃OH using the mole-to-mole ratio. This ratio is made up the balanced equation coefficients of the relevant substances.

1 CO₂ + 3 H₂ -----> 1 CH₃OH + H₂O

2 moles CO₂           1 moles CH₃OH
---------------------  x  ----------------------------  =  2 moles CH₃OH
                                    1 mole CO₂

3 moles H₂           1 moles CH₃OH
-------------------  x  ---------------------------  =  1 mole CH₃OH
                                  3 moles H₂

Because H₂ produces the smallest amount of CH₃OH, it is the limiting reagent. This means that all the H₂ is used up before CO₂ runs out. Therefore, the actual amount of CH₃OH produced is 1 mole.