The following diagram represents the reaction of A₂ (red spheres) with B₂ (blue spheres):
(a) Write a balanced equation for the reaction, and identify the limiting reactant. (b) How many moles of product can be made from 1.0 mol of A₂ and 1.0 mol of B₂?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Analyze the reaction diagram to determine the stoichiometry of the reaction. Count the number of A2 and B2 molecules reacting and the number of product molecules formed.
2. Step 2: Write the balanced chemical equation based on the stoichiometry observed in the diagram. For example, if one A2 reacts with one B2 to form two AB, the equation would be A2 + B2 -> 2AB.
3. Step 3: Identify the limiting reactant by comparing the mole ratio of the reactants given (1.0 mol of A2 and 1.0 mol of B2) to the stoichiometric ratio from the balanced equation.
4. Step 4: Calculate the theoretical yield of the product based on the limiting reactant. Use the stoichiometric coefficients from the balanced equation to determine how many moles of product can be formed from the limiting reactant.
5. Step 5: Conclude by stating the number of moles of product that can be formed from the given amounts of A2 and B2, based on the limiting reactant and the balanced equation.

Key Concepts

Balancing Chemical Equations

Balancing chemical equations involves ensuring that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both the reactant and product sides of the equation. This is based on the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. To balance an equation, coefficients are adjusted in front of the chemical formulas to achieve equal atom counts.

Limiting Reactant

The limiting reactant is the substance that is completely consumed first in a chemical reaction, thus determining the maximum amount of product that can be formed. To identify the limiting reactant, one must compare the mole ratios of the reactants based on the balanced equation and the initial amounts available. The reactant that produces the least amount of product is the limiting reactant.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the quantitative relationship between reactants and products in a chemical reaction, derived from the balanced equation. It allows for the calculation of how many moles of product can be formed from given amounts of reactants. By using mole ratios from the balanced equation, one can determine the expected yield of products based on the limiting reactant.