Answer:
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is the limiting reactant
Explanation:
Step 1: Data given
Number of moles of NaOH = 15.0 mol
Number of moles of H3PO4 = 7.50 mol
Molar mass of NaOH = 40 g/mol
Molar mass of H3PO4 = 98 g/mol
Step 2: The balanced equation:
H3PO4(aq) + 3NaOH(aq) → Na3PO4(aq) + 3H2O(l)
Step 3: Calculate the limiting reactant
For 1 mole of H3PO4, we need 3 moles of NaOH
NaOH is the limiting reactant. It will completely be consumed. (15 moles)
H3PO4 is in excess, there will react 15.0 / 3 = 5 moles
There will remain 7.5 - 5.0 = 2.5 moles
There will be produced 15.0/3 = 5.0 moles of Na3PO4
There will be produced 15.0 moles of H2O
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is the limiting reactant
