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Limiting Reactant Problems

The idea in a limiting reactant problem is that one of the reactants may be limiting. In
other words, when you combine 2 reagents, one will run out first and the reaction will
stop at that point. You need to find out which one runs out first. The easiest way to solve
these problems is to treat them as multiple stoichiometry problems. Compare the answers
and the one that makes the least amount of product is the limiting reagent.
Hint: If there is a quantity given for more than one reactant, its probably a limiting
reactant problem.
Example 1:
You combine 10.0 grams of hydrogen gas and 15.0 grams of oxygen gas. How many
grams of water vapor are made? Which is the limiting reactant?
2H2 + O2  2H2O
10.0 g H2

1 mole H2

2 moles H2O

18.0 g H2O

2.02 g H2

2 moles H2

1 mole H2O

1 mole O2

2 moles H2O

18.0 g H2O

32.0 g O2

1 mole O2

1 mole H2O

= 89.1 g H2O
15.0 g O2

= 16.9 g H2O Oxygen is limiting reactant, as the amount of H2O is much less than
that produced by hydrogen. 16.9 g, of H2O, therefore, is the correct answer.
HINT: A common error in limiting reactant problems is to add the two answers
together. This is not correct. Simply pick the smaller of the two (or more) values.

Example 2
If 5.00 grams of copper metal react with a solution containing 20.0 grams of AgNO3,
which reactant is limiting and what mass silver is produced? A copper (II) product is
formed.
1.

Write the balanced reaction:

2AgNO3 + Cu  2Ag + Cu(NO3)2


Solve for the product of copper first:
5.00 g Cu

1 mole Cu

2 mol Ag

107.9 g Ag

63.5 g

1 mol Cu

1 mol Ag

=17.0 g Ag
Then solve for the product of AgNO3
20.0 g AgNO3

1 mol AgNO3

2 mol Ag

107.9 g

169.9 g

2 mol AgNO3

1 mol Ag

= 12.7 g Ag result of limiting reactant, AgNO3

Example 3
20.0 grams of potassium hydroxide react with 15.0 grams of ammonium sulfate calculate
the grams of potassium sulfate produced.
1.

Write the word equation, then convert to chemical equation and balance it.

Potassium hydroxide + Ammonium sulfate  potassium sulfate + ammonium hydroxide


2KOH + (NH4)2SO4  K2SO4 + 2NH4OH
Actually the following is more correct, as ammonium hydroxide is really ammonia and
water.
2KOH + (NH4)2SO4  K2SO4 + 2NH3+ 2H2O
Start with potassium hydroxide
20.0 g KOH

1 mol KOH

1 mol K2SO4

174.3 g

56.1 g

2 mol KOH

1 mol K2SO4

=31.1 g K2SO4

Then calculate the result of the other reactant ammonium sulfate:

15.0 g (NH4)2SO4

= 19.8 g K2SO4

1 mol (NH4)2SO4

1 mol K2SO4

174.3 g

132.2 g

1 mol (NH4)2SO4

1 mol K2SO4

Smaller amount, therefore the product of the limiting reactant

Example 4
In the reaction of chlorine and sodium to form sodium chloride, determine (1) the mass of
sodium chloride produced and (b) the amount of excess reactant left if 30.0 grams of
chlorine react with 30.0 grams of sodium
2Na + Cl2  2 NaCl
30.0 g Na

1 mol Na

2 mol NaCl

58.5 g NaCl

23.0 g Na

2 mol Na

1 mol NaCl

1 mol Cl2

2 mol NaCl

58.5 g NaCl

71.0 g

1 mol Cl2

1 mol NaCl

= 76.3 g NaCl

30.0 g Cl2

= 49.4 g NaCl Result of limiting reactant Cl2


So if chlorine gas is limiting, as shown by the fact that it has the smaller product, then
were going to have some sodium metal left over. Find out how much sodium youre
going to need, then subtract that from how much you were given at the start of the
problem to find the amount left over.
30.0 g Cl2

1 mol Cl2

2 mol Na

23.0 g Na

71.0 g

1 mol Cl2

1 mol Na

You need 19.4 g of sodium.


30.0 g 19.4 g = 11.6 g sodium left over

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