Exactly 56 grams of iron is mixed with 156 grams of oxygen. The elements are heated and they react. What best describes which remains after the reaction is complete?

Explanation:

The chemical expression for the reaction between iron and oxygen is:

4Fe(s)  +  3O₂ (g)   2Fe₂O₃ (s)

The number of moles of Fe = mass of Fe/ molecular mass of Fe

The number of moles of Fe = 56 g/ 55.845 g/mol

The number of moles of Fe = 1.002 moles of Fe

The number of moles of oxygen = mass of oxygen/ molecular mass of oxygen

The number of moles of oxygen = 156 g /32 g/mol

The number of moles of oxygen = 4.875 moles of oxygen

Assume that Fe is the limiting reactant, the number of Fe₂O₃ can be calculated as:

moles of Fe₂O₃ = 1.002 mole of Fe × 2 moles of Fe₂O₃/ 4 moles of Fe

moles of Fe₂O₃ = 0.501 mole of Fe₂O₃

Assume that O₂ is the limiting factor, the number of Fe₂O₃ is:

moles of Fe₂O₃ = 4.875 moles of O₂ × 2 moles of Fe₂O₃/ 3 moles of O₂

moles of Fe₂O₃ = 3.25 mole of Fe₂O₃

Thus, after the reaction is complete, Fe and O₂ contain different moles of Fe₂O₃. Only Fe gets consumed in the reaction and it is the limiting factor.