How to Calculate the Amount of Silicon Carbide Formed from Graphite and Silicon Dioxide

How can we determine the amount of silicon carbide that can be formed from graphite and silicon dioxide?

Given: 10.0 g of graphite and 65.0 g of silicon dioxide

Answer:

This involves a stoichiometry problem in chemistry, where the amounts of reactants, graphite and silicon dioxide, determine the amount of a product, silicon carbide, that can be formed.

In chemistry, stoichiometry is the calculation of quantities in chemical reactions based on the balanced equation. In this case, we are determining the amount of silicon carbide (SiC) that can be produced from 10.0 g of graphite and 65.0 g of silicon dioxide. The balanced chemical equation for the reaction is SiO₂ + 3C -> SiC + 2CO.

To find out how many grams of SiC can be formed, we need to determine the limiting reactant between graphite and silicon dioxide. By using the molar masses of graphite, silicon dioxide, and silicon carbide, we can perform stoichiometric calculations to find the answer.

By calculating the molar ratios and determining the limiting reactant, we can accurately predict the amount of silicon carbide that will be formed in the reaction. Remember to always balance the chemical equation and consider the stoichiometry principles to solve such problems effectively.