Question

If 20 grams of Carbon react with 60 grams of Oxygen to create carbon dioxide, which is the limiting reagent? ​

Answer 1

The limiting reagent (or limiting reactant or limiting agent) in a chemical reaction is a reactant that is totally consumed when the chemical reaction is completed. The amount of product formed is limited by this reagent, since the reaction cannot continue without it.

• Here carbon is limiting reagent

Answer 2

Answer:

The limiting reagent in the reaction is carbon.

Explanation:

The balanced chemical equation for the reaction can be written as:

$C + O_{2}$ → $CO_{2}$

Given mass of carbon = 20 g

Molar mass of carbon = 12 g/mol

Number of moles of carbon = given mass ÷ molar mass      

                                              = $\frac{20}{12}$ = 1.67 moles

Given mass of oxygen = 60 g

Molar mass of oxygen = 32 g/mol

Number of moles of oxygen = given mass ÷ molar mass

                                               = $\frac{60}{32}$ = 1.88 moles

According to the balanced equation, carbon and oxygen combine in 1:1 ratio.

Here we have 1.67 moles of carbon to combine with 1.88 moles of oxygen.

So the limiting reagent is carbon.