EXPERIMENT 3

LAB REPORT

TITLE
Limiting Reagent of Reaction

OBJECTIVE
1. To determine the limiting reagent from the reaction between sodium
carbonate ( Na2 CO 3 ¿ and calcium nitrate ( Ca( NO 3)2 ).
2. To calculate the percentage yield of calcium carbonate ( CaCo 3 ).

APPARATUS
i. Beakers (100 ml)
ii. Filter funnel
iii. Filter paper
iv. Watch glass
v. Oven
vi. Measuring cylinder (10 ml)
vii. Conical flask (100 ml)
viii. Glass rod

CHEMICALS
a. Sodium carbonate, Na2 CO 3
b. Calcium nitrate, Ca( NO 3)2
c. Distilled water

THEORY
The excess reactant is the reactant in a chemical reaction with a greater amount
than necessary to react completely with the limiting reactant. It is the reactant(s) that
remain after a chemical reaction has reached equilibrium.
Percent yield is the percent ratio of actual yield to the theoretical yield. It is calculated
to be the experimental yield divided by theoretical yield multiplied by 100%. If the
actual and theoretical yield are the same, the percent yield is 100%. Usually, percent
yield is lower than 100% because the actual yield is often less than the theoretical
value.
 Percent yield can be calculated using the formula:

Actual yield
Percent Yield = x 100
Theoretical yield

Actual Yield: Amount of product actually obtained (experimental)

Theoretical Yield: Maximum amount of product obtained (calculated from chemical
equation)
Chemical Equation:
Ca( NO 3)2 + Na2 CO 3 → CaCo3 + 2Na NO 3

PROCEDURE
1) The mass of dry piece of filter paper was obtained and recorded.
2) Two solutions were prepared
a) Solution A: 0.50 g Na2 CO 3 was weighted in a clean and dry 100 ml beaker. Then,
10 ml of distilled water was added into the beaker.
b) Solution B: 1.50 g Ca( NO 3)2 was weighted in a clean and dry 100 ml beaker. Then,
10 ml of distilled water was added into the beaker.
3) Solution A and solution B was mixed and stirred with a glass rod.
4) Filter funnel was set up after the mixing completed. Filter paper was fold and rinsed with
distilled water.
5) The mixture was filtered through the filter funnel and filter paper.
6) The beaker and the glass rod were rinsed with distilled water and filtered through the
filter funnel and filter paper to maximise the yield.
7) The filter paper was put on the watch glass and then put in the oven for 35 minutes,
8) The mass of the filter paper and the solid was recorded.
9) The filter paper and the solid was discarded properly in the trash can.

DATA
Mass of Na2 CO 3 (g) 0.514

Mass of Ca( NO 3)2 (g) 1.565

Mass of filter paper (g) 0.850
Mass of CaCo3 precipitate + filter paper (g) 1.258
Mass of CaCo3 precipitate (g) 0.408
RESULTS
Theoretical
i. Balanced chemical equation:

Ca( NO 3)2(aq) + Na2 CO 3 (aq) → CaCo3 ( s) + 2Na NO 3(aq)

ii. Limiting reactant:

Ca( NO 3)2 + Na2 CO 3 → CaCo 3 + 2Na NO 3

reactant : product
1:1
Ca( NO 3)2 {reactant}
mass
No. of moles =
molar mass
1.565 g
=
236 g /mol
=6.63×10−3 mol

CaCo3 {product}
mass
No. of moles =
molar mass
mass
6.63×10−3 mol =
100 g /mol
mass = 0.663 g

Na2 CO 3 {reactant}

mass
No. of moles =
molar mass
0.514 g
=
106 g /mol
=4.85×10−3 mol

CaCo3 {product}
mass
No. of moles =
molar mass
 mass
4.85×10−3 mol =
100 g /mol
mass = 0.485 g

Na2 CO 3 is the limiting reactant because it produces the lowest mass of CaCo3 .

iii. Expected mass of CaCo3 :

Na2 CO 3 :Ca Co3

4.85×10−3 mol : 4.85×10−3 mol

mass
No. of moles =
molar mass
Mass = molar mass ×no . of moles
= 100 ×(4.85 ×10−3)
= 0.485 g

iv. Percentage yield

Actual yield
Percent Yield = x 100
Theoretical yield

4.08 ×10−3
Percent Yield = x 100
4.85 ×10−3
= 84%

Measurement
i. Accuracy
Percent yield difference = 100% - 84%
= 16%
∴ less accurate

ii. Precision
Class’s average percent yield = 84%+84%+82%+87%+85%
= 84.4%
Percent yield difference = 84.4% - 84.0%
= 0.4%
 ∴ precise

DISCUSSIONS
Theoretically, the limiting reactant for this experiment is Na2 CO 3 because the
mass of CaCo3 produced using this reactant is the lowest compared to mass of
CaCo3 produced when the reactant is Ca( NO 3)2. The expected mass of CaCo3
when Na2 CO 3 act as the limiting reactant is 0.485g. However, the mass CaCo3
obtained in this experiment is 0.408g. This is due to incomplete or competing
reactions and loss of sample during recovery. Thus, the percent yield of the
product is 84%. It is calculated to be the actual yield divided by theoretical yield
multiplied by 100%.
The accuracy of this experiment is calculated by getting the percent yield
difference. The percent yield difference is 16% which makes it less accurate. To
test the precision of this experiment, the average class’s reading is calculated.
Then, the value is compared to the percent yield. The difference is only 0.4%.
This makes the percent yield of CaCo 3 is precise. Thus, the percent yield is less
accurate but precise.

CONCLUSION
1. The limiting reactant is Na2 CO 3 because it produces the less amount of CaCo3
.
2. Percentage yield of CaCo3 is 84%. It is calculated by dividing the theoretical
yield with the actual yield and then multiplied by 100%.

QUESTIONS
1. Determine type of reaction occurred in this experiment
The type of reaction occurred is precipitation reaction. It is because precipitate
was produced at the end of the reaction.
2. If the mass of Na2 CO 3 was doubled and the mass of CaCo 3 was held
constant, would you have the same limiting reactant? Show calculations to
support your answer.
Na2 CO 3- 1.028 g
Ca( NO 3)2 – 1.565 g
Na2 CO 3

mass
No. of moles =
molar mass
1.028 g
=
106 g /mol
=9.70 ×10−3 mol
1:1
No. of moles of CaCo 3 = 9.70 ×10−3 mol

Ca( NO 3)2
mass
No. of moles =
molar mass
1.565 g
=
236 g /mol
=6.63×10−3 mol
1:1
No. of moles of CaCo3 = 6.63×10−3 mol

No. The limiting reactant would be Ca( NO 3)2 ∙ 4 H 2 O as it produces the lowest

no. of moles of CaCo3 .