Antimony (Sb, 121.8 g/mol) is a metal that is used in
applications such as fire retardant
materials, electronics, bullets, lead shot, and in lead-free
solders. The primary source of
antimony in nature is its sulfide, stibinite (Sb2S3, 339.7
g/mol). Pure antimony is obtained by
heating pulverized stibnite with scrap iron (Fe, 55.85 g/mol),
and drawing off the molten
antimony from the bottom of the reaction vessel.
Sb2S3 + 3 Fe ------> 2Sb + 3FeS
(FeS = 87.91 g/mol). Suppose that 6.0 kg of stibinite and 2.5
kg of iron are heated together
to give 2.0 kg of Sb metal.
(a) What is the limiting reactant?
(b) Calculate the % excess of the excess reactant?
(c) Calculate the fractional conversion based on Sb2S3?
(d) Calculate the yield as kg Sb produced/kg Sb2S3 fed to the
reactor?
(e) Calculate the degree of completion of the reaction (i.e.,
how close to complete reaction).