Answer:
The maximum number of moles of PH₃ that can be formed is 0.8 moles.
Explanation:
The balanced reaction is:
P₄ + 6 H₂ → 4 PH₃
By reaction stoichiometry (that is, the relationship between the amount of reagents and products in a chemical reaction), the following amounts of each compound participate in the reaction:
The limiting reagent is one that is consumed first in its entirety, determining the amount of product in the reaction. When the limiting reagent is finished, the chemical reaction will stop.
To determine the limiting reagent, you can use a simple rule of three as follows: If by stoichiometry of the reaction 6 moles of hydrogen react with 1 mole of phosphorus, 4 moles of hydrogen will react with how many moles of phosphorus?
[tex]moles of phosphorus=\frac{4 moles of hydrogen*1 mole og phosphorus}{6moles of hydrogen}[/tex]
moles of phosphorus= 0.667
But 0.667 moles of phosphorus are not available, 0.2 moles are available. Since you have less moles than you need to react with 4 moles of hydrogen, phosphorus will be the limiting reagent.
Then you can apply the following rule of three: if by stoichiometry 1 mole of P₄ forms 4 moles of PH₃, 0.2 moles of P₄ will form how many moles of PH₃?
[tex]moles of PH_{3} =\frac{0.2 moles of P_{4} *4 moles of PH_{3} }{1 mole of P_{4} }[/tex]
moles of PH₃= 0.8
The maximum number of moles of PH₃ that can be formed is 0.8 moles.
