Answer:
Explanation:
Two moles of magnesium (Mg) and five moles of oxygen (O2) are placed in a reaction vessel. When magnesium is ignited, it reacts with oxygen. What is the limiting reactant in this experiment?
Mg + O2 → MgO (unbalanced)
first, balance the equation
2Mg +O2-------> 2MgO
two magnesium atoms react with one diatomic oxygen molecule
there is a 1:1 ratio of magnesium to oxygen atoms
but we have 2 moles of magnesium atoms and 2X5 = 10 moles of oxygen atoms
the lesser magnesium LIMITS the amount of product we can make, so it is the LIMITING REAGENT.