Limiting Reagents How Stoichiometry and Limiting Reagents are related
What is a limiting reagent? It is the substance in a chemical reaction that runs out first. Example: Test tubes and stoppers
General Procedures to follow for limiting reagents 1. Check to make sure you have a BALANCED EQUATION. 2. Convert the amount of one reagent/reactant to a product. 3. Convert the amount of the second reagent/reactant TO THE SAME PRODUCT.
General Procedures to follow for limiting reagents continued 4. Determine which of the answers in steps 2 and 3 produced the LEAST amount of product and that will be your limiting reagent. 5. In addition, your limiting reagent determines your theoretical/actual yield.
Example Problems Consider the reaction: 2Al + 3I 2 2AlI 3 Determine the limiting reagent and the theoretical yield of the product if you start with: 1.20 mol Al and 2.4 mol I 2 1.20 g of Al and 2.4 g of I 2 How many grams are left over in part two?