A reaction container holds 5.77 g of P4 and 5.77 g of O2.

The following reaction occurs: P4 + O2 → P4O6.

If enough oxygen is available then the P4O6 reacts further: P4O6 + O2 → P4O10.

a. What is the limiting reagent for the formation of P4O10?

b. What mass of P4O10 is produced?

c. What mass of excess reactant is left in the reaction container?

a) O2 is the limiting reactant

b) 5.75 grams P4O10

c) 5.79 grams P4O6

Explanation:

Step 1: Data given

Mass of P4 = 5.77 grams

Mass of O2 = 5.77 grams

Molar mass of P4 = 123.90 g/mol

Molar mass O2 = 32.0 g/mol

Step 2: The balanced equation

P4 + 3O2 → P4O6

Step 3: Calculate moles of P4

Moles P4 = mass P4 / molar mass P4

Moles P4 = 5.77 grams / 123.90 g/mol

Moles P4 = 0.0466 moles

Step 4: Calculate moles O2

Moles O2 = mass O2 / molar mass O2

Moles O2 = 5.77 grams / 32.0 g/mol

Moles O2 = 0.1803 moles

Step 5: Calculate limiting reactant

P4 is the limiting reactant in this reaction. It will completely be consumed (0.0466 moles). O2 is in excess, there will react 3*0.0466 = 0.1398 moles

There will remain 0.1803 - 0.1398 = 0.0405 moles O2

Step 6: Calculate the amount of P4O6

For 1 mol P4 we'll have 1 mol P4O6

For 0.0466 moles P4 we'll have 0.0466 moles P4O6

Step 7: The balanced equatio

P4O6 + 2O2 → P4O10

We have 0.0466 moles P4O6 and 0.0405 moles O2

Step 8: Calculate the limiting reactant

For 1 mol P4O6 we need 2 moles O2 to produce 1 mol P4O10

O2 is the limiting reactant. It will completely be consumed (0.0405 moles)

P4O6 is in excess. There will react 0.0405/2 = 0.02025 moles

There will remain 0.0466 - 0.02025 = 0.02635 moles P4O6

This is 0.02635 * 219.88 g/mol = 5.79 grams P4O6

Step 9: Calculate moles and mass of P4O10

For 1 mol P4O6 we need 2 moles O2 to produce 1 mol P4O10

For 0.0405 moles O2 we'll have 0.02025 moles P4O10

This is 0.02025 * 283.89 g/mol = 5.75 grams P4O10