Skip to main content
Ch.4 - Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions
Chapter 4, Problem 51

Urea (CH4N2O) is a common fertilizer that is synthesized by the reaction of ammonia (NH3) with carbon dioxide: 2 NH3(aq) + CO2(aq) → CH4N2O(aq) + H2O(l) In an industrial synthesis of urea, a chemist combines 136.4 kg of ammonia with 211.4 kg of carbon dioxide and obtains 168.4 kg of urea. Determine the limiting reactant, theoretical yield of urea, and percent yield for the reaction.

Verified Solution

Video duration:
7m
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

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 it, one must compare the mole ratios of the reactants based on the balanced chemical equation. The reactant that produces the least amount of product is the limiting reactant.
Recommended video:
Guided course
01:30
Limiting Reagent Concept

Theoretical Yield

The theoretical yield is the maximum amount of product that can be generated from a given amount of reactants, calculated using stoichiometry based on the balanced chemical equation. It assumes complete conversion of the limiting reactant into the product without any losses. This value is essential for evaluating the efficiency of a reaction.
Recommended video:
Guided course
03:09
Percent Yield in Reactions

Percent Yield

Percent yield is a measure of the efficiency of a chemical reaction, calculated by dividing the actual yield (the amount of product obtained from the reaction) by the theoretical yield and multiplying by 100. It provides insight into how effectively the reactants were converted into products and can indicate potential losses or side reactions.
Recommended video:
Guided course
03:09
Percent Yield in Reactions
Related Practice
Textbook Question

Elemental phosphorus reacts with chlorine gas according to the equation: P4(s) + 6 Cl2( g) → 4 PCl3(l) A reaction mixture initially contains 45.69 g P4 and 131.3 g Cl2. Once the reaction has occurred as completely as possible, what mass (in g) of the excess reactant remains?

3654
views
1
rank
Open Question
Lead ions can be precipitated from solution with KCl according to the reaction: Pb2+ (aq) + 2 KCl(aq) → PbCl2(s) + 2 K+ (aq). When 28.5 g KCl is added to a solution containing 25.7 g Pb2+, a PbCl2 precipitate forms. The precipitate is filtered, dried, and found to have a mass of 29.4 g. Determine the percent yield for the reaction. Determine the theoretical yield of PbCl2. Determine the limiting reactant.
Textbook Question

Magnesium oxide can be made by heating magnesium metal in the presence of oxygen. The balanced equation for the reaction is: 2 Mg(s) + O2(g) → 2 MgO(s) When 10.1 g of Mg reacts with 10.5 g O2, 11.9 g MgO is collected. Determine the limiting reactant, theoretical yield, and percent yield for the reaction.

10217
views
Open Question
Many computer chips are manufactured from silicon, which occurs in nature as SiO2. When SiO2 is heated to melting, it reacts with solid carbon to form liquid silicon and carbon monoxide gas. In an industrial preparation of silicon, 155.8 kg of SiO2 reacts with 78.3 kg of carbon to produce 66.1 kg of silicon. Determine the limiting reactant and the theoretical yield.
Textbook Question

Many computer chips are manufactured from silicon, which occurs in nature as SiO2. When SiO2 is heated to melting, it reacts with solid carbon to form liquid silicon and carbon monoxide gas. In an industrial preparation of silicon, 155.8 kg of SiO2 reacts with 78.3 kg of carbon to produce 66.1 kg of silicon. Determine the percent yield for the reaction.

1703
views
Textbook Question

Calculate the molarity of each solution.

c. 32.4 mg NaCl in 122.4 mL of solution

2088
views