Question

If 15 grams of copper (11) chloride react with 20 grams of sodium nitrate, how much sodium chloride can be formed? Hint: you will need two stochiometry problems to determine which reactants limit the amount of NaCl produced?

How do you figure out the 2 problems you will need? This is on a worksheet and this answer determines the rest of the answers

Answer 1

CuCl2 + 2NaNO3 ==>Cu(NO3)2 + 2NaCl

1. Convert 15 g CuCl2 to moles. moles = grams/molar mass. Convert 20 g NaNO3 to moles.
2a. Using the coefficients in the balanced equation, convert moles CuCl2 to moles NaCl.
2b. Using the coefficients in the balanced equation, convert moles NaNO3 to moles NaCl.
2c. The answer to 2a and 2b likely will be different. Obviously, both can't be correct.
2c. In limiting reagent problems, such as this one, the correct answer is ALWAYS the smaller value and that gives the limiting reagent.
3. Now convert the moles NaCl found in 2c to grams. g = moles x molar mass.

Answer 2

13.0 grams