The Student Room Group

chemistry question moles

hi, pls could i have help on question 2a vi) on this paper: https://physicsandmathstutor.co.uk/pdf-pages/?pdf=https%3A%2F%2Fpmt.physicsandmathstutor.co.uk%2Fdownload%2FChemistry%2FA-level%2FPast-Papers%2FCAIE%2FPaper-2%2FQP%2FJune%202013%20(v2)%20QP.pdf
I'm confused why my method is wrong? For part v, i worked out the moles of NH3 as 0.0176 moles but then to work out moles of NaNO3, I did (0.0176/2)*3 looking at the first two equations and then the answer for that should be the same as the moles of NaNO3?
Thank you so much!

Reply 1

Original post
by anonymous56754
hi, pls could i have help on question 2a vi) on this paper: https://physicsandmathstutor.co.uk/pdf-pages/?pdf=https%3A%2F%2Fpmt.physicsandmathstutor.co.uk%2Fdownload%2FChemistry%2FA-level%2FPast-Papers%2FCAIE%2FPaper-2%2FQP%2FJune%202013%20(v2)%20QP.pdf
I'm confused why my method is wrong? For part v, i worked out the moles of NH3 as 0.0176 moles but then to work out moles of NaNO3, I did (0.0176/2)*3 looking at the first two equations and then the answer for that should be the same as the moles of NaNO3?
Thank you so much!

If you look at the first equation, you’ll see it says

3NaNO3 + (…) —> 3NH3 + (…)

That is to say the ratio of NaNO3 used to NH3 present is 3 : 3 or rather 1 : 1 and so n(NH3) = n(NaNO3)

Reply 2

Original post
by TypicalNerd
If you look at the first equation, you’ll see it says
3NaNO3 + (…) —> 3NH3 + (…)
That is to say the ratio of NaNO3 used to NH3 present is 3 : 3 or rather 1 : 1 and so n(NH3) = n(NaNO3)

Yes, but the question before, part v, is about the second equation so then don't we have to divide by 2 and multiply by 3 to get the moles of NH3 in the first equation? Then we use NaNO3 used to NH3 present is 3 : 3? Thanks!

Reply 3

Original post
by anonymous56754
Yes, but the question before, part v, is about the second equation so then don't we have to divide by 2 and multiply by 3 to get the moles of NH3 in the first equation? Then we use NaNO3 used to NH3 present is 3 : 3? Thanks!

No, you don’t.

When you have n(NH3) from the second equation, you no longer need to consider it in subsequent calculations - you only need the first equation.

Reply 4

Original post
by TypicalNerd
No, you don’t.
When you have n(NH3) from the second equation, you no longer need to consider it in subsequent calculations - you only need the first equation.

oh, so we can use the same moles from equation 2 in equation 1 even if the ratios are not the same?

Reply 5

Original post
by anonymous56754
oh, so we can use the same moles from equation 2 in equation 1 even if the ratios are not the same?


Yep

Reply 6

Original post
by TypicalNerd
Yep

thanks!

Quick Reply