March 19, 2024

LIMITING
REACTANTS
Presented by: Sir AJ Thone
LET’S LOOK BACK!
Limiting reactants are:
Used up first in a chemical reaction
Determine the maximum amount of
product
Limits the product of the reaction
EXAMPLE:
10.0 g of Aluminum reacts with 35.0 g of Chlorine
gas to produce Aluminum chloride. Which reactant
is:

a. limiting;
b. in excess

and

c. how much product is produced?

STEP 1: Write and balance the chemical equation

Al + Cl 2 AlCl 3

_ Al + _ Cl 2 _ AlCl 3

Reactant: Product:

Al = 1 Al = 1

Cl = 2 Cl = 3
STEP 1: Write and balance the chemical equation

Al + Cl 2 AlCl 3

_ Al + 3
_ Cl 2 2
_ AlCl 3

Reactant: Product:

Al = 1 Al = 1

Cl = 2 x 3 Cl = 3 x 2
STEP 1: Write and balance the chemical equation

Al + Cl 2 AlCl 3

_ Al + 3
_ Cl 2 2
_ AlCl 3

Reactant: Product:

Al = 1 Al = 1 x 2

Cl = 2 x 3 = 6 Cl = 3 x 2 = 6
STEP 1: Write and balance the chemical equation

Al + Cl 2 AlCl 3

2
_ Al + 3
_ Cl 2 2
_ AlCl 3

Reactant: Product:

Al = 1 x 2 = 2 Al = 1 x 2 = 2

Cl = 2 x 3 = 6 Cl = 3 x 2 = 6
STEP 2: Find the atomic mass of the product
AlCl 3
Al = 27.0 g
+
Cl = 35.0 g x 3 = 105.0 g

Total mass: 133.5 g AlCl 3

STEP 3: Solve for the amount of the product

2 Al + 3 Cl2 2 AlCl 3
For Aluminum:

10.0 g Al 1 mol Al 2 mol AlCl 3 133.5 g AlCl 3

27.0 g Al 2 mol Al 1 mol AlCl 3

=

49. 4 g AlCl 3
STEP 3: Solve for the amount of the product

2 Al + 3 Cl2 2 AlCl 3
For Chloride:

35.0 g Cl 2 1 mol Cl 2 2 mol AlCl 2 133.5 g AlCl 3

71.0 g Cl 2 3 mol Cl3 1 mol AlCl 3

=

43.9 g AlCl 3
STEP 4: Compare and decide for the limiting reactant
and excess reactant

2 Al + 3 Cl2 2 AlCl 3

For Aluminum: 49. 4 g AlCl 3

For Chloride: 43.9 g AlCl 3 limiting reactant

March 19, 2024

LIMITING
REACTANTS
Presented by: Sir AJ Thone
FIND ME!
Instructions:

The class will be divided into groups. Each group

will be given 15 minutes to answer the given
problem. Find the limiting reactant, the excess
reactant in the chemical reaction.

After 5 minutes, each group will be asked to

present their answers. (1-2 speakers only)
FIND ME!

Suppose 16.5g of aluminum react with

21.2g of hydrobromic acid. Find the
amount of AlBr3 produced and the
limiting and excess reactants

Al + HBr AlBr3 + H 2
For Aluminum

For Hydrobromic Acid

STEP 1: Write and balance the chemical equation

Al + Cl 2 AlCl 3

_ Al + 6
2 _ HBr _ AlBr 3 + 3
2 _H 2

Reactant: Product:

Al = 1 x 2 = 2 Al = 1 x 2 = 2

Br = 1 x 3 x 2 = 6 Br = 3 x 1 x 2 = 6
H= 1x3x2 =6 H= 2x3=6
STEP 2: Find the atomic mass of the product
AlBr3
Al = 27.0 g
+
Br = 79.9 g x 3 = 239.7g

Total mass: 266.7 g AlBr3

STEP 3&4: Solve for the amount of products and decide
For Aluminum

For Hydrobromic Acid limiting reactant

March 19, 2024

LIMITING
REACTANTS
Presented by: Sir AJ Thone