Answer:
The limiting reactant between is NH₃.
Explanation:
The reaction of the Solvay process is:
CO₂(g) + NH₃(g) + H₂O(l) + NaCl(s) ⇄ NaHCO₃(s) + NH₄Cl(aq) (1)
Since the water and the sodium chloride are in excess we need to find the number of moles of CO₂ and NH₃ at STP (1 amt, 273 K).
[tex] PV = nRT \rightarrow n = \frac{PV}{RT} [/tex]
Where:
n: is the number of moles
P: is the pressure = 1 atm
V: is the volume
T: is the temperature = 273 K
R: is the gas constant = 0.082 L*atm(K*mol)
For CO₂ we have:
[tex] n = \frac{PV}{RT} = \frac{1 atm*15.0 L}{0.082 L*atm/(K*mol)*273 K} = 0.67 moles [/tex]
And for NH₃ we have:
[tex] n = \frac{PV}{RT} = \frac{1 atm*10.0 L}{0.082 L*atm/(K*mol)*273 K} = 0.45 moles [/tex]
From the equation (1) we have that 1 mol of CO₂ reacts with 1 mol of NH₃, so from that ratio we have:
[tex] n_{CO_{2}} = \frac{\eta_{CO_{2}}}{\eta_{NH_{3}}}*n_{NH_{3}} = \frac{1}{1}*0.45 moles} = 0.45 moles [/tex]
From above we have that 1 mol of NH₃ reacts with 0.45 moles of CO₂, and we have 0.67 moles of CO₂, hence the limiting reactant is NH₃.
Therefore, the limiting reactant between CO₂ and NH₃ is NH₃.
I hope it helps you!
