Question

Salicylic acid (C7H6O3) reacts with acetic anhydride (C4H6O3) to form acetylsalicylic acid (C9H8O4).


2C7H6O3(aq) + C4H6O3(aq) mc002-1.jpg 2C9H8O4(aq) + H2O(l)


What is the limiting reactant if 70.0 g of C7H6O3 and 80.0 g of C4H6O3 react?
A water
B salicylic acid
C acetic anhydride
D acetylsalicylic acid

Answer 1

Answer : The correct option is, (B) Salicylic acid

Solution :

First we have to calculate the moles of salicylic acid and acetic anhydride.

$\text{Moles of }C_7H_6O_3=\frac{\text{Mass of }C_7H_6O_3}{\text{Molar mass of }C_7H_6O_3}=\frac{70g}{138.121g/mole}=0.507moles$

$\text{Moles of }C_4H_6O_3=\frac{\text{Mass of }C_4H_6O_3}{\text{Molar mass of }C_4H_6O_3}=\frac{80g}{102.09g/mole}=0.783moles$

Now we have to calculate the limiting and excess reagent.

The balanced chemical reaction is,

$2C_7H_6O_3(aq)+C_4H_6O_3(aq)\rightarrow 2C_9H_8O_4(aq)+H_2O(l)$

From the balanced reaction we conclude that

As, 2 moles of salicylic acid react with 1 mole of acetic anhydride

So, 0.507 moles of salicylic acid react with $\frac{0.507}{2}=0.2535$ mole of acetic anhydride

The excess of acetic anhydride = 0.783 - 0.2535 = 0.5295 moles

That means the in the given balanced reaction, salicylic acid is a limiting reagent because it limits the formation of products and acetic anhydride is an excess reagent.

Hence, the limiting reagent is, salicylic acid.