Question

What is the theoretical yield of vanadium that can be produced by the reaction of 40.0 g of V2O5 with 40.0 g of calcium?

Write the reaction and balance it to solve

Answer 1

• Balanced chemical equation;

V2O5 + 5Ca --------> 5CaO + 2V

• Firstly identify the limiting Reactant; then calculate the theoretical yield of V from limiting Reactant.

5(100.1g/mol) of Ca react = 181.88g/mol of V2O5

40g of Ca react with = 40 • 181.88/(5 • 100.1)g of V2O5.

40g of Ca react with = 14.536g of V2O5 that means V2O5 remaining in the Reaction (40-14.536 = 25.46g) And calcium completely consumed in the Reaction Hence Ca is a limiting reactant.

• Calculate theoretical yield from Ca;

5(100.1g/mol) of Ca produces = 2(51g/mol) of V

40.0g of Ca produces = 40.0 • (2 • 51)/(5 • 100.1) = 8.15g of V.

Hence

Theoretical yield of Vanadium is 8.15g