Key Concepts: Limiting Reagents

Core Definitions

• Limiting Reagent: The reactant that is completely consumed first and determines the maximum amount of product formed.
• Excess Reagent: The reactant that is left over after the reaction is complete.
• Finding the Limiting Reagent: Convert both reactants to moles of product; the one that produces LESS is the limiting reagent.
• Stoichiometry: Using mole ratios from balanced equations to calculate amounts of reactants/products.
• Theoretical Yield: The maximum amount of product calculated from the limiting reagent.
• Analogy: Like a sandwich recipe: if you run out of bread before cheese, bread is the limiting reagent.