WAVE IT LIKE YOU
KNOW IT!
• If the compound shows its molecular
formula, wave both of hands from
left to right
• If it shows empirical formula, wave
both hands from right to left.
• If it shows both, wave both hands
from the back to the front.
CO2
C6H12O6
O2
C10H22
N2O4
+ plus 16 tires
excess
8 car bodies 48 tires 8 cars
CB + 4T CT4
Explain the concept of limiting reagent in a
chemical reaction; identify the excess
reagent(s) STEM_GC11MRIg-h-40
Calculate the limiting and excess
reagent in a chemical reaction
Relate the concept of limiting and
excess reagent in daily life situation
LIMITING
and
EXCESS
REACTANT
Limiting Reactants
Methane, CH4
+ plus 8
hydrogen
molecules
excess
plus 16
hydrogen
atoms
8 carbon 24 hydrogen 8 methane excess
atoms molecules molecules
C + 2 H2 CH4
Grilled Cheese
Sandwich
Bread + Cheese ‘Cheese Melt’
2B + C B2C
100 bread 30 slices 30
? sandwiches
Multiple Guess:
130 sandwiches
100 sandwiches
90 sandwiches
60 sandwiches
30 sandwiches
Not enough information given
Limiting Reactants
• Available Ingredients
– 4 slices of bread
– 1 jar of peanut butter
– 1/2 jar of jelly
• Limiting Reactant
– bread
• Excess Reactants
– peanut butter and jelly
Courtesy Christy Johannesson www.nisd.net/communicationsarts/pages/chem
Limiting Reactants
• Limiting Reactant
– used up in a reaction
– determines the amount of product
• Excess Reactant
– added to ensure that the other reactant is
completely used up
– cheaper & easier to recycle
Courtesy Christy Johannesson www.nisd.net/communicationsarts/pages/chem
METHODS USED TO DETERMINE
THE LIMITING REACTANT
I. Calculate the moles needed of each
reactant and compare with the moles
given
II. Divide the moles of each reactant by its
stoichiometric coefficient and then
compare them
III. Calculate the moles of product
produced by each reactant and
compare them
Example I. Consider the reaction of H2 and N2 to
give NH3, and assume we have 3.0 mol N2 and
6.0 mol H2.
We have the balanced equation:
N2(g) + 3 H2(g) → 2 NH3(g)
1 mol 3 mol 2 mol
Factor = moles N2 we have
moles N2 in equation
= 3.0 mol N2
1.0 mol N2
= 3.0 (multiply all coefficients in
balanced equation by this factor)
Multiply all coefficients by factor (x 3):
N2(g) + 3 H2(g) → 2 NH3(g)
1 mol 3 mol 2 mol
3 mol 3 x 3 = 9 mol 3 x 2 = 6 mol
Try N2 as limiting reagent:
3 mol N2 requires how many moles H2?
= 3 x 3 = 9 mol
We only have 6 mol H2, so H2 is the
limiting reagent.
Example II. Divide the moles of each
reactant by its stoichiometric coefficient
Consider the following reaction:
2 Na3PO4(aq) + 3 Ba(NO3)2(aq) Ba3(PO4)2 + 6
NaNO3
How much Ba3(PO4)2 can be formed if we
have in the solutions 3.50 g sodium
phosphate and 6.40 g barium nitrate?
Step 1. Convert to moles:
First work out numbers of Moles:
Na3PO4 = 3.50 g x 1 mol = 0.0213 mol
164 g
Ba(NO3)2 = 6.40 g x 1 mol = 0.0245 mol
261 g
Step 2. Divide moles by its stoichiometric
coefficient
2 Na3PO4(aq) + 3 Ba(NO3)2(aq) Ba3(PO4)2 + 6
NaNO3
Na3PO4 : 0.0213 mol = 0.01065
2 mol
Ba(NO3)2 : 0.0245 mol = 0.00817 LR
3 mol
Example III. Calculate the amount of
product produced by each reactant
1N2(g) + 3H2(g) → 2NH3(g)
Given 3.0 mole 6.0 mole
3.0 mol N2 x 2 mol NH3 = 6.0 mol NH3
1 mol N2
6.0 mol H2 x 2 mol NH3 = 4.0 mol NH3 (theoretical yield)
3 mol H2
The reactant that produces the least amount of product is the
L.R.H2
Limiting Reactants
aluminum + chlorine gas aluminum chloride
Al(s) + Cl2(g) AlCl3
2 Al(s) + 3 Cl2(g) 2 AlCl3
100 g 100 g ?g
A. 200 g B. 125 g C. 667 g D. 494 g
Limiting Reactants
aluminum + chlorine gas aluminum chloride
2 Al(s) + 3 Cl2(g) 2 AlCl3
100 g 100 g xg
How much product would be made if we begin with 100 g of aluminum?
1 mol Al 2 mol AlCl3 133.33 g AlCl3
x g AlCl3 = 100 g Al = 494.18 g AlCl3
26.98 g Al 2 mol Al 1 mol AlCl3
Al AlCl3
How much product would be made if we begin with 100 g of chlorine gas?
1 mol Cl2 2 mol AlCl3 133.33 g AlCl3
x g AlCl3 = 100 g Cl2 = 125.37 g AlCl3
70.9 g Cl2 3 mol Cl2 1 mol AlCl3
Cl2 AlCl3
LIMITING REACTANT?
EXCESS REACTANT?
Practice Exercise:
Zn metal (2.00 g) plus solution of AgNO3
(2.50 g) reacts according to:
Zn(s) + 2 AgNO3(aq) Zn(NO3)2+ 2 Ag(s)
1 mol 2 mol
Which is the limiting reagent?
How much Zn will be left over?
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) reacts with
phosphoric acid (H3PO4) to form
sodium phosphate (Na3PO4) and water
(H2O) by the reaction:
