Answer:
Oxygen is the limiting reactant.
Explanation:
Based on the reaction:
C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ + 12O₂ → 12CO₂ + 11H₂O
1 mole of sucrose reacts with 12 moles of oxygen to produce 12 moles of CO₂ and 11 moles of H₂O.
10.0g of sucrose (Molar mass: 342.3g /mol) are:
10.0g C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ × (1mole / 342.3g) = 0.0292 moles of C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁
And moles of 10.0g of oxygen (Molar mass: 32g/mol) are:
10.0g O₂ × (1mole / 32g) = 0.3125 moles of O₂
For a complete reaction of 0.0292 moles of C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ you need (knowing 12 moles of oxygen react per mole of sucrose):
0.0292 moles of C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ × (12 moles O₂ / 1 mole C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) = 0.3504 moles of O₂
As you have just 0.3125 moles of O₂, oxygen is the limiting reactant.
