Identify the limiting reactant when 7.81 g of HCl reacts with 5.24 g of NaOH to produce NaCl and H2O

NaOH is limiting

Explanation:

                                 Hcl   +    NaOH        Nacl   + H2O  

Given                     7.81g        5.24g

mol weights           1+35.5     23+16+1

                                 36.5            40

No of Moles        7.81/36.5       5.24/40  

                             0.2139              0.131

No of moles = weight/ molecular weight

No of moles of NaOH is  lower so it is limiting as according to equation one mole of Hcl requires mole of NaOH so equal number of moles are required. NaOH is 0.131 which is far lower than 0.2139

represents arrow in forward direction in equation

every chemical equation adheres to the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed. therefore, there must be the same number of atoms of each element on each side of a chemical equation.