Urea (CH4N2O) is a common fertilizer that can be synthesized by the reaction of ammonia (NH3) with carbon dioxide as follows: 2NH3 (aq) + CO2 (aq) →CH4N2O (aq) + H2O (l) In an industrial synthesis of urea, a chemist combines 135.7 kg of ammonia with 211.4 kg of carbon dioxide and obtains 163.6 kg of urea. Part A Determine the limiting reactant. Express your answer as a chemical formula.

Question

Chemistry

Jeremiah Wood

1 May, 11:44

Urea (CH4N2O) is a common fertilizer that can be synthesized by the reaction of ammonia (NH3) with carbon dioxide as follows: 2NH3 (aq) + CO2 (aq) →CH4N2O (aq) + H2O (l) In an industrial synthesis of urea, a chemist combines 135.7 kg of ammonia with 211.4 kg of carbon dioxide and obtains 163.6 kg of urea. Part A Determine the limiting reactant. Express your answer as a chemical formula.

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Answers (1)

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Hale · Answer 1

NH3

Explanation:

2NH3 (aq) + CO2 (aq) →CH4N2O (aq) + H2O (l)

So for two moles of NH3 we need one mole of CO2. So let's count moles for each reagent.

n (NH3) = m (NH3) / M (NH3) = 135700/17,03=7968.29 mol

n (CO2) = m (CO2) / M (CO2) = 211400/44.01=4803.45 mol

From equation we have to divide n (NH3) by 2 because we need two equivalent per one CO2. That will be 3984.145. So the limiting agent is NH3 because it's not enough of it to react with all CO2