April 19, 2024, 09:05:11 AM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


Topic: How do reactant proportions affect the products of a chemical reaction?  (Read 2347 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Al2CO3

  • Very New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Is it correct that if you alter the proportions of the reactants of many chemical reactions, especially step-wise, the products will change? Here is an example, please tell me if it is right or not:

KOH + H2SO4  :rarrow: KHSO4 + H2O

2KOH + H2SO4  :rarrow: K2SO4 + 2H2O

Offline Al2CO3

  • Very New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Reactant amounts changing products?
« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2017, 08:44:26 PM »
How does changing the amounts of reactants in a chemical reaction change the chemical compositions of the products?

Offline sjb

  • Global Moderator
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 3652
  • Mole Snacks: +222/-42
  • Gender: Male
Is it correct that if you alter the proportions of the reactants of many chemical reactions, especially step-wise, the products will change? Here is an example, please tell me if it is right or not:

KOH + H2SO4  :rarrow: KHSO4 + H2O

2KOH + H2SO4  :rarrow: K2SO4 + 2H2O

Quite possibly - look into kinetics and thermodynamics of reactions. It is also possible that two moles of base and two of acid may give one of double salt and one non-reacted acid, rather than 2 moles of mono salt - or any mixture in between, depending on conditions.

Offline Kaspijs

  • New Member
  • **
  • Posts: 8
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Re: Reactant amounts changing products?
« Reply #3 on: July 24, 2017, 06:07:57 AM »
[EDIT] got the question wrong, sorry

Offline Arkcon

  • Retired Staff
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 7367
  • Mole Snacks: +533/-147
Is it correct that if you alter the proportions of the reactants of many chemical reactions, especially step-wise, the products will change? Here is an example, please tell me if it is right or not:

KOH + H2SO4  :rarrow: KHSO4 + H2O

2KOH + H2SO4  :rarrow: K2SO4 + 2H2O

Yes.  That's one way the sodium salt is made: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_bisulfate#Production  Although its also made by another method.  The final product will depend on how much KOH you have in solution.
Hey, I'm not judging.  I just like to shoot straight.  I'm a man of science.

Sponsored Links