Jodi reacts 6.087 grams of cobalt (mw=58.933) with a solution containing excess gold (iii) chloride and recovers 13.572 g of solid gold (mw=196.967). which reaction, 1 or 2, most likely occurred in their experiment?

The correct answer is reaction 2 most likely occurred in their experiment.

So the given two reactions are as follows:

1) Au³⁺(aq) + Co(s) --> Au(s) + Co³⁺(aq)

2) 2Au³⁺(aq) + 3Co(s) --> 2Au(s) + 3Co³⁺(aq)

Mass of Co = 6.087 g

Molar mass of Co = 58.933 g/mol

Moles of Co = = 0.1032

Mass of Au = 13.572 g

Molar mass of Au = 196.967 g/mol

Moles of Au = = 0.069

Now based on reaction 1) the molar ratio between Co and Au is 1:1

So as per this reaction 0.1032 moles of Co would produce 0.1032 mole of Au

Again based on reaction 2) the molar ratio between Co and Au is 3:2

So as per this reaction 0.1032 moles of Co would produce mole of Au

or, As per the second reaction 0.1032 moles of Co would produce 0.0688 moles of Au

the answer is 303.15 or 303