Calculating the Number of Moles of CO

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 104 views

Introduction

Chemical reactions are an essential part of chemistry, and understanding the products formed during a reaction is crucial in various fields such as materials science, environmental science, and pharmaceuticals. In this article, we will discuss the reaction between carbon monoxide (CO) and iron(III) oxide ( $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ ) and calculate the products formed when 8 g of CO is reacted with $0.6 \, \text{mol}$ of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ .

The Reaction Equation

The reaction between CO and $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ is given by the equation:

$\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 + 3\text{CO} \rightarrow 2\text{Fe} + 3\text{CO}_2$

This equation indicates that 1 mole of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ reacts with 3 moles of CO to produce 2 moles of Fe and 3 moles of CO $_2$ .

Calculating the Number of Moles of CO

To calculate the number of moles of CO, we need to know the molar mass of CO. The molar mass of CO is 28 g/mol (12 g/mol for carbon and 16 g/mol for oxygen).

Given that 8 g of CO is reacted, we can calculate the number of moles of CO as follows:

Number of moles of CO = mass of CO / molar mass of CO = 8 g / 28 g/mol = 0.286 mol

Calculating the Number of Moles of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$

We are given that $0.6 \, \text{mol}$ of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ is reacted. However, we need to calculate the number of moles of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ that will react with 0.286 mol of CO.

From the reaction equation, we can see that 1 mole of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ reacts with 3 moles of CO. Therefore, the number of moles of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ that will react with 0.286 mol of CO is:

Number of moles of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ = number of moles of CO / 3 = 0.286 mol / 3 = 0.0953 mol

Calculating the Products Formed

Now that we have calculated the number of moles of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ that will react with 0.286 mol of CO, we can calculate the products formed.

From the reaction equation, we can see that 1 mole of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ produces 2 moles of Fe and 3 moles of CO $_2$ . Therefore, the number of moles of Fe and CO $_2$ produced will be:

Number of moles of Fe = 2 x number of moles of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ = 2 x 0.0953 mol = 0.1906 mol

Number of moles of CO $_2$ = 3 x number of moles of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ = 3 x 0.0953 mol = 0.2859 mol

Conclusion

In conclusion, when 8 g of CO is reacted with $0.6 \, \text{mol}$ of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ , according to the equation: $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 + 3\text{CO} \rightarrow 2\text{Fe} + 3\text{CO}_2$ , the products formed will be 0.1906 mol of Fe and 0.2859 mol of CO $_2$ .

Limitations of the Calculation

It is worth noting that this calculation assumes that the reaction is 100% efficient, which is not always the case in real-world reactions. Additionally, the calculation does not take into account any side reactions that may occur during the reaction.

Future Work

Future work could involve experimenting with different ratios of CO to $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ to see how it affects the products formed. Additionally, the reaction could be studied in more detail to understand the mechanisms involved and any potential side reactions.

References

[1] "Chemical Reactions" by OpenStax
[2] "Chemistry: An Atoms First Approach" by Steven S. Zumdahl

Glossary

Molar Mass: The mass of one mole of a substance.
Mole: A unit of measurement that represents 6.022 x 10^23 particles (atoms or molecules).
Reaction Equation: A chemical equation that describes the reactants and products of a reaction.

Appendix

Reaction Equation: $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 + 3\text{CO} \rightarrow 2\text{Fe} + 3\text{CO}_2$
Molar Mass of CO: 28 g/mol
Molar Mass of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ : 159.69 g/mol

Q: What is the molar mass of CO?

A: The molar mass of CO is 28 g/mol, which is calculated by adding the atomic masses of carbon (12 g/mol) and oxygen (16 g/mol).

Q: How many moles of CO are present in 8 g of CO?

A: To calculate the number of moles of CO, we divide the mass of CO (8 g) by the molar mass of CO (28 g/mol). This gives us:

Number of moles of CO = mass of CO / molar mass of CO = 8 g / 28 g/mol = 0.286 mol

Q: How many moles of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ are present in $0.6 \, \text{mol}$ of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ ?

A: Since we are given the number of moles of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ as $0.6 \, \text{mol}$ , we do not need to calculate it.

Q: How many moles of Fe and CO $_2$ are produced when 0.286 mol of CO reacts with $0.6 \, \text{mol}$ of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ ?

A: From the reaction equation, we can see that 1 mole of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ produces 2 moles of Fe and 3 moles of CO $_2$ . Therefore, the number of moles of Fe and CO $_2$ produced will be:

Number of moles of Fe = 2 x number of moles of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ = 2 x 0.0953 mol = 0.1906 mol

Number of moles of CO $_2$ = 3 x number of moles of $\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$ = 3 x 0.0953 mol = 0.2859 mol

Q: What are the limitations of this calculation?

A: This calculation assumes that the reaction is 100% efficient, which is not always the case in real-world reactions. Additionally, the calculation does not take into account any side reactions that may occur during the reaction.

Q: What are some potential side reactions that may occur during this reaction?

A: Some potential side reactions that may occur during this reaction include:

The formation of iron(II) oxide (FeO) instead of iron (Fe)
The formation of carbon monoxide (CO) instead of carbon dioxide (CO $_2$ )
The formation of other iron oxides, such as iron(III) oxide (Fe $_2$ O $_3$ ) or iron(II,III) oxide (Fe $_3$ O $_4$ )

Q: How can the reaction be studied in more detail to understand the mechanisms involved and any potential side reactions?

A: The reaction can be studied in more detail by using techniques such as:

Infrared spectroscopy (IR) to study the formation of CO $_2$
X-ray diffraction (XRD) to study the formation of iron oxides
Mass spectrometry (MS) to study the formation of other products

Q: What are some potential applications of this reaction?

A: This reaction has potential applications in:

The production of iron and steel
The production of carbon dioxide (CO $_2$ ) for use in various industries
The study of the mechanisms of iron oxidation and the formation of iron oxides

Q: What are some potential safety concerns associated with this reaction?

A: Some potential safety concerns associated with this reaction include:

The release of carbon monoxide (CO) gas, which is toxic to humans
The formation of iron oxides, which can be hazardous if inhaled
The potential for the reaction to become uncontrolled and produce large amounts of heat and gas.