INTRODUCTION

The limiting reagent is the reactant that completely used up in a reaction and thus determines when
the reaction stops. From stoichiometry, one can calculate the exact amount of reactant needed to
react with another element. If the reactants are not mixed in the correct stoichiometric proportions
(as seen in the balance chemical equation), then one of the reactants will be entirely consumed. The
limiting reagent limits the reaction from continuing because there is none left to react with the
excess reactant.

For this experiment, the reaction is between sodium carbonate, Na2CO3 and calcium nitrate Ca(NO3)2.
The colour of products obtain is white solid of Calcium carbonate, CaCO3 . At the end of this
experiments, student will be able to determine the limiting reactant and calculate the percentage
yield of the product using the formula below.

Percent yield ¿ Actual yield × 100

Theoretical yield

Actual yield : Amount of product actually obtained (experimental)

Theoretical yield : Maximum amount of product obtained (calculated from chemical equation)

OBJECTIVES

1. To determine the limiting reagent from the reaction between sodium carbonate and calcium
nitrate.
2. To calculate the percentage yield of calcium carbonate.

APPARATUS

Beaker (100 mL)

Measuring cylinder (10 mL)
Filter funnel
Conical flask (100 mL)
Filter paper
Glass rod
Watch glass
Oven

CHEMICALS

Sodium carbonate, Na2CO3

Calcium nitrate, Ca(NO3)2
Distilled water
PROCEDURE

1. The mass of a dry piece is obtained and the mass is recorded.

2. Two solutions prepare:
a. Solution A: 100 mL beaker in a clean and dry was weigh 0.50 g Na2CO3. 10 mL of distilled
water added exactly.
b. Solution B: 100 mL beaker in a clean and dry was weigh 1.00 g Ca(NO3)2. 10 mL of
distilled water added exactly.
3. Solution A and B mixture together and then glass rod stir the mixture.
4. Set up a filter funnel after complete mixing, fold as instructed (figure 2) by using filter paper.
The filter paper placed in the funnel and used distilled water wet the sides.
5. The mixture filter through the filter funnel continued until clear the solution in conical flask.
(This may require you to rinse the reaction beaker with distilled water several times).
6. The watch glass placed the filter paper and put them in the oven 70˚ c. The filter paper was
dry in 30-35 minutes for the solid. The mass of the filter paper and the solid is recorded.
7. The trash can discard the filter paper and solid.
QUESTION

1. Determine type of reaction occurred in this experiment.

2. If the mass of Na2CO3 was doubled and the mass of CaCO3 was held constant, would you
have the same limiting reactant? Show calculations to support the answer.