The fizz produced when an Alka-Seltzer tablet is dissolved in water is due to the reaction between sodium bicarbonate 1NaHCO32 and citric acid 1H3C6H5O72: 3 NaHCO31aq2 + H3C6H5O71aq2¡ 3 CO21g2 + 3H2O1l2 + Na3C6H5O71aq2 In a certain experiment 1.00 g of sodium bicarbonate and 1.00 g of citric acid are allowed to react. (a) Which is the limiting reactant? (b) How many grams of carbon dioxide form? (c) How many grams of the excess reactant remain after the limiting reactant is completely consumed?

Verified step by step guidance

1. <insert step 1> Determine the molar mass of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO_3) and citric acid (H_3C_6H_5O_7) using the periodic table to find the atomic masses of each element.
2. <insert step 2> Calculate the number of moles of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid by dividing the given mass of each reactant by its respective molar mass.
3. <insert step 3> Use the balanced chemical equation to find the mole ratio between sodium bicarbonate and citric acid. Compare the mole ratio from the balanced equation to the mole ratio from the calculated moles to identify the limiting reactant.
4. <insert step 4> Using the limiting reactant, calculate the moles of carbon dioxide (CO_2) produced using the stoichiometry from the balanced equation. Then, convert the moles of CO_2 to grams using its molar mass.
5. <insert step 5> Calculate the amount of excess reactant remaining by determining how much of it was used in the reaction with the limiting reactant, and subtracting this from the initial amount of the excess reactant.

Key Concepts

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. In stoichiometric calculations, identifying the limiting reactant is crucial because it dictates how much of the other reactants will remain unreacted. To find the limiting reactant, one must compare the mole ratios of the reactants based on the balanced chemical equation.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the quantitative relationship between reactants and products in a chemical reaction, derived from the balanced chemical equation. It allows chemists to calculate the amounts of substances consumed and produced in a reaction. By using molar ratios, one can determine how much of each reactant is needed or how much product can be formed, which is essential for solving problems involving limiting reactants.

Molar Mass

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, typically expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). It is calculated by summing the atomic masses of all atoms in a molecule. Knowing the molar mass is essential for converting between grams and moles, which is necessary for stoichiometric calculations, including determining the limiting reactant and the amount of product formed in a reaction.