The Bayer process is the formation of aluminum hydroxide from metallic aluminum
and sodium hydroxide heated to high temperatures.
Al(s) + 3NaOH(aq) -->Al(OH)3(s) + 3Na
A manufacturing chemist observes that two distinctly different solids are present in
the solutions after the reaction has come to completion. The chemist collected the
following data:
Time after adding NaOH to Al
30 seconds
2 minutes
5 minutes
10 minutes
15 minutes
Mass of solid one
5.49
4.39
2.09
1.19
1.19
Mass of solid two
0.09
320
9 86 9
12.5 g
12.59
From the above information, identify the limiting and excess reagent, the supporting
evidence, and suggest a method to increase the amount of product produced.