Question

Calculate the amount of carbon dioxide that could be produced when 

(i) 1 mole of carbon is burnt in air. 

(ii) 1 mole of carbon is burnt in 16 g of dioxygen. 

(iii) 2 moles of carbon are burnt in 16 g of dioxygen.

Answer 1

The balanced reaction of combustion of carbon in dioxygens is:

C(s) + O₂(g) → CO₂ (g) 

1mole  1mole(32g)  1mole(44g)

(i) In dioxygen, combustion is complete. Therefore 1 mole of carbon dioxide produced by burning 1 mole of carbon. 

(ii) Here, oxgen acts as a limiting reagent as only 16 g of dioxygen is available. Hence, it will react with 0.5 mole of carbon to give 22 g of carbon dioxide. 

(iii) Here again oxgen acts as a limiting reagent as only 16 g of dioxygen is available. It is a limiting reactant. Thus, 16 g of dioxygen can combine with only 0.5 mole of carbon to give 22 g of carbon dioxide.