Question

What would be the balanced chemical reaction for 2 mmol cinnamaldehyde + 1 mmol acetone? It's a 2:1 molar ratio. Also, what is the limiting reagent and theoretical yield of the product of the reaction?

Answer 1

the balanced reaction is

2 cinnamaldehyde + acetone ---> dicinnamalacetone + 2H20

we can see that

moles of cinnamaldehyde required = 2 x moles of acetone

so

moles of cinnamaldehyde required = 2 x 1

moles of cinnamaldehyde required = 2

given

2 mmol of cinnamaldehyde

so

there is no limiting reagent

now

the product is dicinnamalacetone

from the reaction

we can see that

moles of dicinnamalacetone formed = 0.5 x moles of cinnamaldehyde reacted

so

moles of dicinnamalacetone formed = 0.5 x 2 = 1

now

mass = moles x molar mass

so

mass of dicinnamalacetone formed = 1 x 10-3 x 286.37

mass of dicinnamalacetone formed = 0.28637 g

so

theoretical yield of the product is 0.28637 g