Improving the purity of the reactants

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 125 views

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Introduction

Chemical reactions are a fundamental aspect of chemistry, and understanding the theoretical yield of a reaction is crucial in determining the amount of product formed. In this article, we will explore the theoretical yield of the reaction between iron(III) phosphate and sodium sulfate, as represented by the chemical equation:

${ 2 \, \text{FePO}_4 + 3 \, \text{Na}_2\text{SO}_4 \rightarrow \text{Fe}_2\left(\text{SO}_4\right)_3 + 2 \, \text{Na}_3\text{PO}_4 }$

Theoretical Yield

The theoretical yield of a reaction is the maximum amount of product that can be formed from a given amount of reactants, assuming that the reaction goes to completion and that there are no losses or impurities. To calculate the theoretical yield, we need to know the molar masses of the reactants and products.

Molar Masses

The molar masses of the reactants and products are:

FePO4: 150.8 g/mol
Na2SO4: 142.04 g/mol
Fe2(SO4)3: 399.86 g/mol
Na3PO4: 163.94 g/mol

Limiting Reactant

To determine the theoretical yield, we need to identify the limiting reactant, which is the reactant that is present in the smallest amount relative to the stoichiometry of the reaction. In this case, we can see that 2 moles of FePO4 react with 3 moles of Na2SO4.

Let's assume that we have 100 g of FePO4 and 100 g of Na2SO4. We can calculate the number of moles of each reactant as follows:

Moles of FePO4: 100 g / 150.8 g/mol = 0.663 mol
Moles of Na2SO4: 100 g / 142.04 g/mol = 0.704 mol

Since 2 moles of FePO4 react with 3 moles of Na2SO4, we can see that Na2SO4 is the limiting reactant.

Theoretical Yield Calculation

Now that we have identified the limiting reactant, we can calculate the theoretical yield of the reaction. We can use the following equation:

${ \text{Theoretical Yield} = \frac{\text{Moles of Limiting Reactant} \times \text{Molar Mass of Product}}{\text{Stoichiometric Coefficient of Limiting Reactant}} }$

In this case, we can see that the stoichiometric coefficient of Na2SO4 is 3, and the molar mass of Fe2(SO4)3 is 399.86 g/mol.

${ \text{Theoretical Yield} = \frac{0.704 \, \text{mol} \times 399.86 \, \text{g/mol}}{3} = 95.3 \, \text{g} }$

Conclusion

Factors Affecting Theoretical Yield

There are several factors that can affect the theoretical yield of a reaction, including:

Purity of reactants: The purity of the reactants can affect the theoretical yield of the reaction. If the reactants are not pure, they may contain impurities that can affect the reaction.
Temperature: The temperature of the reaction can affect the theoretical yield of the reaction. If the reaction is carried out at a high temperature, the reactants may decompose or react with each other in unexpected ways.
Pressure: The pressure of the reaction can affect the theoretical yield of the reaction. If the reaction is carried out at high pressure, the reactants may be forced to react with each other in unexpected ways.
Catalysts: The presence of catalysts can affect the theoretical yield of the reaction. Catalysts can speed up the reaction and increase the yield of the product.

Experimental Yield

The experimental yield of a reaction is the actual amount of product formed from a given amount of reactants. The experimental yield is usually lower than the theoretical yield due to losses or impurities.

Factors Affecting Experimental Yield

There are several factors that can affect the experimental yield of a reaction, including:

Purity of reactants: The purity of the reactants can affect the experimental yield of the reaction. If the reactants are not pure, they may contain impurities that can affect the reaction.
Temperature: The temperature of the reaction can affect the experimental yield of the reaction. If the reaction is carried out at a high temperature, the reactants may decompose or react with each other in unexpected ways.
Pressure: The pressure of the reaction can affect the experimental yield of the reaction. If the reaction is carried out at high pressure, the reactants may be forced to react with each other in unexpected ways.
Catalysts: The presence of catalysts can affect the experimental yield of the reaction. Catalysts can speed up the reaction and increase the yield of the product.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the theoretical yield of the reaction between iron(III) phosphate and sodium sulfate is 95.3 g. This is the maximum amount of product that can be formed from a given amount of reactants, assuming that the reaction goes to completion and that there are no losses or impurities. The experimental yield of the reaction is usually lower than the theoretical yield due to losses or impurities.

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Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed the theoretical yield of the reaction between iron(III) phosphate and sodium sulfate. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about the theoretical yield of this reaction.

Q: What is the theoretical yield of the reaction between iron(III) phosphate and sodium sulfate?

A: The theoretical yield of the reaction between iron(III) phosphate and sodium sulfate is 95.3 g.

Q: What is the limiting reactant in this reaction?

A: The limiting reactant in this reaction is sodium sulfate (Na2SO4).

Q: How do you calculate the theoretical yield of a reaction?

A: To calculate the theoretical yield of a reaction, you need to know the molar masses of the reactants and products, and the stoichiometric coefficients of the reactants. You can use the following equation:

${ \text{Theoretical Yield} = \frac{\text{Moles of Limiting Reactant} \times \text{Molar Mass of Product}}{\text{Stoichiometric Coefficient of Limiting Reactant}} }$

Q: What are some factors that can affect the theoretical yield of a reaction?

A: Some factors that can affect the theoretical yield of a reaction include:

Purity of reactants: The purity of the reactants can affect the theoretical yield of the reaction. If the reactants are not pure, they may contain impurities that can affect the reaction.
Temperature: The temperature of the reaction can affect the theoretical yield of the reaction. If the reaction is carried out at a high temperature, the reactants may decompose or react with each other in unexpected ways.
Pressure: The pressure of the reaction can affect the theoretical yield of the reaction. If the reaction is carried out at high pressure, the reactants may be forced to react with each other in unexpected ways.
Catalysts: The presence of catalysts can affect the theoretical yield of the reaction. Catalysts can speed up the reaction and increase the yield of the product.

Q: What is the difference between the theoretical yield and the experimental yield of a reaction?

A: The theoretical yield of a reaction is the maximum amount of product that can be formed from a given amount of reactants, assuming that the reaction goes to completion and that there are no losses or impurities. The experimental yield of a reaction is the actual amount of product formed from a given amount of reactants. The experimental yield is usually lower than the theoretical yield due to losses or impurities.

Q: How can you increase the experimental yield of a reaction?

A: There are several ways to increase the experimental yield of a reaction, including:

Improving the purity of the reactants: Improving the purity of the reactants can help to increase the experimental yield of the reaction.
Optimizing the reaction conditions: Optimizing the reaction conditions, such as temperature and pressure, can help to increase the experimental yield of the reaction.
Using catalysts: Using catalysts can help to increase the experimental yield of the reaction by speeding up the reaction and increasing the yield of the product.

Q: What are some common mistakes that can affect the theoretical yield of a reaction?

A: Some common mistakes that can affect the theoretical yield of a reaction include:

Incorrect stoichiometry: Incorrect stoichiometry can lead to incorrect calculations of the theoretical yield.
Incorrect molar masses: Incorrect molar masses can lead to incorrect calculations of the theoretical yield.
Incorrect limiting reactant: Incorrect identification of the limiting reactant can lead to incorrect calculations of the theoretical yield.