Question

A reactor is supplied with a feed of composition 46% C3H7O4, 44% O2 and 10% N2, if 50% of the limiting reagent is converted into product, what is the percentage of H2O in the product?

(a) 15

(b) 23

(c) 39

(d) 51

I got this question by my school teacher while I was bunking the class.

The query is from Species Material Balances topic in chapter The Chemical Reaction Equation & Stoichometry, Material Balances for Processes Involving Reaction and Multiple Units of Basic Chemical Engineering

Answer 1

Correct answer is (b) 23

The best I can explain: The reaction is 4C3H7O4 + 11O2 -> 12CO2 + 14H2O, => Limiting reagent is O2. Let 100 moles of feed was supplied, => after the reaction, moles of CO2 = 24, moles of H2O = 28, moles of O2 = 22, moles of C3H7O4 = 38, moles of N2 = 10, => percentage of H2O = 23%.