1. The Balanced Chemical Equation
The reaction between calcium (Ca) and oxygen (O₂) produces calcium oxide (CaO):
2 Ca + O₂ → 2 CaO
This equation tells us that 2 moles of calcium react with 1 mole of oxygen to produce 2 moles of calcium oxide.
2. Identifying the Limiting Reactant
We need to figure out which reactant, calcium or oxygen, will run out first. This is called the limiting reactant, and it determines how much product we can make.
* Moles of Calcium: 6.55 mol
* Moles of Oxygen: 4.00 mol
To compare them, we'll use the mole ratio from the balanced equation:
* For every 2 moles of Ca, we need 1 mole of O₂.
Let's see if we have enough oxygen for all the calcium to react:
* We have 6.55 mol Ca, which would require (6.55 mol Ca / 2) * 1 mol O₂ = 3.275 mol O₂.
Since we have 4.00 mol of O₂, we have enough oxygen to react with all the calcium. This means calcium is the limiting reactant.
3. Calculating Moles of Calcium Oxide
Using the limiting reactant (calcium), we can find the moles of calcium oxide produced:
* The mole ratio is 2 moles Ca : 2 moles CaO
Therefore, 6.55 mol Ca will produce 6.55 mol CaO.
Answer: 6.55 moles of calcium oxide (CaO) will be produced.
