Question

in a reaction, if you start with 2g of carbon and 15g of oxygen, how many grams of carbon dioxide should you have in the system, if the reactants completely reacted?

Answer 1

Writing a balanced equation:

$C_{(s)}+O_{2(g)}\rightarrow CO_{2(g)}$

Determine the moles of C = mass/ molar mass

mole of C= 2g / 12.01 g = 0.17 mol

mole of oxygen = 15g/ 32g = 0.47 mol

Mole ratio between carbon and carbon dioxide is 1:1. Therefore 0.17 mol Carbon reacts with 0.17 carbon dioxide.

mass of carbon dioxide = moles x molar mass

mass of carbon dioxide = 0.17 x 44.01

mass of carbon dioxide = 7.48 g