When magnesium metal and an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid combine, they produce an aqueous solution of magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas. Using the equation, Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) ➡ MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g), if 48.6 g of Mg and 150.0 g of HCl are allowed to react, identify the limiting reagent.

Mg

HCl

MgCl2

H2

Question

When magnesium metal and an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid combine, they produce an aqueous solution of magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas. Using the equation, Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) ➡ MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g), if 48.6 g of Mg and 150.0 g of HCl are allowed to react, identify the limiting reagent.
		
Mg
		
HCl
		
MgCl2
		
H2

sweetburger · Answer

These are no fun. We have to convert both the grams of Mg and HCl to moles. Then we must pick a product (doesnt matter which one, it wont change the answer so ill pick H2). Our goal is to determine which of the reactants produces the least amount of moles of H2.

rhondasommer · Answer

ew.

sweetburger · Answer

So we set it up as 48.6gMg/24.3gMg = 2 moles of Mg. 150.0gHCl/36.0gHCl = rougly 4.166 moles HCl.
Were going to be lazy and not actually solve to see which reactant will produce more moles of H2 because we know that the 4.166moles/2 will still produce more H2 then 2 moles of Mg. Therefore Mg would be the limiting reagent.

sweetburger · Answer

also this question is silly.

sweetburger · Answer

It's asking more how good are you at decimal places then how well do you understand stoich

rhondasommer · Answer

ha I think all schoolwork is silly :P but that makes sense. and yeah, but its online school sooo idk i just do the questions.

sweetburger · Answer

yea i understand your point of view

rhondasommer · Answer

:P thanks :) Ill tag