How Much Calcium Oxide Is Produced from Equal Amounts of Calcium and Oxygen?

Question:

If 50 grams of calcium and 50 grams of oxygen are used in a chemical reaction, how much calcium oxide is produced?

Answer:

Approximately 70 grams of calcium oxide will be produced.

Hello, in this chemical reaction, 2 moles of calcium react with 1 mole of oxygen to produce 2 moles of calcium oxide, as shown by the equation: 2Ca + O₂ → 2 CaO.

First, we calculate the moles of calcium and oxygen available in 50 grams each. The molar masses of calcium and oxygen are 40 g/mol and 32 g/mol, respectively.

Moles of calcium available: 50 g Ca * (1 mol Ca / 40 g Ca) = 1.25 mol Ca

Moles of calcium consumed by the 50 g of oxygen: 50 g O₂ * (1 mol O₂ / 32 g O₂) * (2 mol Ca / 1 mol O₂) = 3.125 mol Ca

Since there is less calcium available than consumed by oxygen, calcium is the limiting reagent. Therefore, we calculate the grams of calcium oxide produced:

Mass of calcium oxide produced: 1.25 mol Ca * (2 mol CaO / 2 mol Ca) * (56 g CaO / 1 mol CaO) = 70 g CaO

This means that out of 50 grams of oxygen, only 20 grams react to form 70 grams of calcium oxide. Thus, the chemical reaction results in the production of approximately 70 grams of calcium oxide.