When an automobile production plant runs out of tires no more cars can be produced even if there are still plenty of engines, bodies, seats, and other parts. When one of the reactants in a chemical reaction runs out the reaction stops as well. The substance that limits production in a chemical reaction is known as the limiting reactant. The reactant that is left over when the reaction stops is called the excess reactant. BEFORE limiting reactant 1 Ca + 1 I2 1 CaI2 Consider the chemical reaction between calcium and iodine. When 160 g (4 moles) of calcium reacts with 254 g (1 mole) of calcium iodine iodine the reaction makes 294 g (1 mole) of calcium iodide. 160 g 254 g 4 moles 1mole Although there is enough calcium to make more calcium iodide, the iodine runs out first. Since all of the iodine gets used up it is called the limiting reactant. According to the balanced equation, if one AFTER excess reactant mole of iodine reacts, one mole of calcium will react. This means that there are still 3 moles of calcium left. Because calcium is left over it is called the excess reactant. leftover calcium no Iodine calcium iodide 294 g 120 g 3 moles left 1 mole
Example What mass of iron (II) sulfide will be produced if 9.68 g of iron reacts with 6.28 g of sulfur? __Fe + __S __FeS - balance the equation 1 Fe + 1 S 1 FeS
- perform a calculation for each reactant: 9.68 g Fe 1 mol Fe 1 mol FeS 87.91 g FeS F: × × × = 15.24 g FeS 1 55.85 g Fe 1 mol Fe 1 mol FeS
6.28 g S 1 mol S 1 mol FeS 87.91 g FeS
S: × × × = 17.22 g FeS 1 32.06 g S 1 mol S 1 mol FeS
- whichever reactant makes less product is Iron is the limiting reactant. There is enough sulfur to make 17.22 g the limiting reactant: FeS, but only enough iron to make 15.24 g of FeS.
Find the amount of product formed in each of the following reactions.
1. What mass of H2O will be produced if 9.5 g of H2 6. What mass of aluminum chloride could be made from reacts with 1.2 g of O2? 8.1 g of aluminum and 4.2 L of chlorine at STP? __ H2 + __ O2 __ H2O __ Al + __ Cl2 __ AlCl3 2. If 1.85 g of Mg(OH)2 reacts with 3.71 g of HCl, 7. If 5.26 L of nitrogen monoxide and 7.64 L of oxygen how much MgCl2 is produced? What is the limiting are combined, what mass of nitrogen dioxide is reactant? formed? Assume conditions are STP. __ Mg(OH)2 + __ HCl __ MgCl2 + __ H2O __ NO + __ O2 __ NO2 3. What mass of AgCl is produced when 53.42 g of 8. If 18.1 g of silicon tetrachloride reacts with 8.4 L of AgNO3 reacts with 14.19 g of NaCl? hydrogen at STP, what mass of silicon is formed? __ AgNO3 + __ NaCl __ AgCl + __ NaNO3 __ SiCl4 + __ H2 __ Si + __ HCl 4. If 14.7 g of calcium is placed in 11.5 g of water, 9. What mass of Cu(OH)2 is produced in the reaction of what mass of hydrogen gas is produced? 7.6 g Cu(NO3)2 with 6.2 g of KOH? __ Ca + __ H2O __ Ca(OH)2 + __ H2 __ Cu(NO3)2 + __ KOH __ Cu(OH)2 + __ KNO3 5. What mass of potassium hydroxide is formed when 10. What mass of carbon dioxide is formed when 64 kg 8.2 g of potassium oxide is added to 1.3 g of water? of ethylene is burned in 142 kg of oxygen? __ K2O + __ H2O __ KOH __ C2H4 + __ O2 __ CO2 + __ H2O
