3 C2H5OH + PCl3 → 3 C2H5Cl + H3PO3If a chemist starts with 105.0 g of ethanol and 135.65 g of phosphorus trichloride, then what is the limiting reagent?

Question

anonymous · Answer

I converted the ethanol and the phosphorus trichloride to moles...2.279 mol and .987mol respectively.....do I need to consider the products part of the equation to find the limiting reagent?

dtan5457 · Answer

No, you need to make two ratios to determine which is going to be your excess and limiting reactant, I'm going to assume your moles are correct.

dtan5457 · Answer

One ratio is the "problem ratio", the one given in the problem (where you had to convert the ratio)

2.279/.987=2.309

then you need to make one for the equation ratio (the one given in your balanced equation)

3/1=3

equation ratio> problem ratio

denominator is excess, and numerator is limiting

so ethanol is limiting reactant