What is a limiting reactant?

– Limiting Reactant – limits or

determines the amount of product that
can be formed in a reaction.
– Excess Reactant – the reactant that is
not completely used up in a reaction.
– Limiting reactant determines the
theoretical yield – how much should be
formed.
• The reaction will stop when the reactants
are used up.
• If one reactant is used up before the other,
the reaction then stops.
• The first reactant used up is the limiting
reactant, use it for the calculation.
• The other reactant is the excess
reactant, it is unimportant in the
calculation.
Sample Problem:

2 Na (s) + Cl2 (g)  2 NaCl (s)

100. g Na 100. g CI2

Which is the limiting reactant?

Plan: grams-grams calculation from Na to NaCl,

then Cl2 to NaCl; see which results in the smaller
amount of product
100. g Na 1 mol Na 2 mol NaCl 58.44 g =
22.99 g Na 2 mol Na 1 mol NaCl

254 g NaCl

100. g Cl2 1 mol CI2 2 mol NaCl 58.44 g =

70.90 g Cl2 1 mol Cl2 1 mol NaCl
164 g NaCl
Limiting Reactant is Cl2
Excess Reactant is Na
Theoretical yield is 164 g NaCl
 Theoretical vs. Actual
Theoretical Yield – The maxiumum possible that could be
formed
Actual Yield = amount that is actually produced

Percent yield = actual x 100

theoretical
Reasons: Reaction is reversible
Conditions are not ideal
Side reactions occur
Human error
What is the most common street
name in America?

2nd street
(1st street is #3)