Limiting Reactants

A( (he bl:ginning ol Chapter.8, a comparison wrs nrade bclrvcctr solving

sk)ichiollretry problcrns and nmking turkey sandrviclrcs. Look rt thc
sandwich rec i!'lc oncc rnorc.
2 blcacl

sliccs

2 turkcy sliccs

Il you havc 24 sliccs ol

I lcttucc lcill + I chccsc slicc +

I tulkcy,lnd chccsc sandrvich

tru.kcy. you cirn nr:rkc

I2 sirnclrvichcs at 1sliccs pcr.

sirrrdwich r'orr /rrn,c cttough rl all the otlrcr ingulicnr.t.ll. hou,cvcr. \,pu
lrlve,rnly l(r sliccs,)l hrcild. you (.iln nlilkc {)nl) I stndwiclrcs. cvcrr
though you ntay an anrplc supply ol'lhc otlter ingrcdicnts. Thc bruad is lhc
/irnirlrrg ingledicnt tltal plijvenls you f'r.om rnaking tnorc than g sandwiches.
Thc sanrc idca applies to chentical reactions. Look irt a rcaction uscd
(o gcnc[ate hydrogcn gas in thc laboratory.

Zn(s)

H2SOlnrT)

---+

ZnSO.,(.r.,

Hr(g)

Thc balanccd equation tells you thal I ntol Zn tcacts witlt I nr<tl H.SO]
ro produce I nrol ZnSOr and I ntol H,. Supposc vou l.trvc I rnol Zn aod
5 nrol H,SO]. Whar will happcn. and whar willyou gcr'l Only I nl(rl ol'
H.SO, will rcacl and only I mol ol each ol lhe prcducts willhc pr.ocluccrl
bccausc only I ntol Zn is available to react. In this sirlalion. zinc is tlte
liltiting reactant. When it is used up the rcaclion stops even thougl.t ntolc
H.SO., is available.
It is dil'ficlllt to directly ohserve molar anrounls ol-rcaclants as thcy arc
used up. It is nruch casiel to dc(erntine wl.rcn a ccrtain nrass of a rcactanr
has bccn conrplctely used. Usc ntolar nlasscs to t.cstatc thc cquation in
tcrnls ()l- nu\s. rrs li'llow.

Zn + 98.09 8 H:SO.,
- 161.46 g ZnSO., + 2.02 g Hr
This version ol the cquation lells you thal zinc and sulllric acid
will rilr|4r's rcitcr in a mass ratio ol-65.39 g ol Zn:91{.09 g ol H.S01 or.
0.667 g ol'Zn : L(X)0 g ol' HrSOr. If you have 65.39 g ol Zn bur only
87.55 g ol H,S0]. you will not be able lo nrakc 2.02 g ol hydrogen. Sr.rlluric acid will be the limiting reacrani. prevcnting thc zinc lhrnr rcacting
conrpletely. Suppose you place 20 g of zinc and l00golsullirr-icacicl
into a llask. Which would he used up first. In orher words. is thc lirriring
rcactant z-inc or sulluric acid? Horv much ol'each product will bc pro_
duccd'l Thc sanrple prohlems in this chaptcr will show you how ro an_
6-5.39 g

swcl thcsc questiOns.

Limitino

Rea.tant( 97

General Plan for 5olving Limiting Reactant Problms

of

Mass

Mass

of

reactant B
available

reactant A
available

rt
using the

Convert
using the
molar mass
of A.

Co nve

molar mass

of

B.

Amount of
reactant B
in mol

Amount of
rea(tant A
in mol
available

availa ble

Convert
using the mole

.B
I.

ratro,

lf there are more moles of B

ava ilable than needed,
A is the limitinq reactant.
lf there are fewer moles of B
than needed, B is the
limitino reactant.

Amount of
reactant B
needed to

Limiting
Reactant

react with A

convert using the

mole ratio,
product
limiting reactant

Mass

Convert using the molar

mass of the product.

of

product

Amount of
product in mol

Calcium hydroxide, used to neutralize acid spills, reacts rvith

hydrochloric acid according to the following equation:

Ca{OH), + 2HCt -.-CaCt; + 2HrO

If -r'ou have spilled 6.3 mol of HCI and put 2.g mol of Ca(OH)"
on it, rvhich substance is the linliting reactant?
SOLUTION

1.

ANALYZT

c llhat is gir.ctt itt the

o lVlnt urt, vtu u.rketl rrt.fitull

lhc balanccd cquation. the anrounts

ol'Ca(OH)r and HCI in nrolcs
(hc lirniting rcaclant

Items

Data

Reactant

Ca(OH),

HCI

Coefficient in balanced equation

Molar mass

NA*

NA

2.8 mol'

6.3 mol

NA

NA

Amount of reactant
Mass of reactant
Limiting reactant

* nol applicable to the probtem

2. PLAN

lVhut srt'1ts urc ncetlcti to

detcnninc tlr limirin g

Chrr,rsc Lrrrc (rl thc rc,lLtJ l\. Usc thc

n)r)lc rillir) hetrvccn lhu l\\r) rclt i \

lo compute the antount ol the ethcr

reactant tltat would bc neecicd to rc_
act with it. Conrpare thht anrount
with llte at ount availtble.

Amount of Ca(OH),
in mol

Amount of HCI
in mol

Hol
Y

Am ount of HCI needed to

react with Ca(OH),

(t4 !'dt1, rk,tt! 4 HCI

aKJ..ln trh uLtut I llct

g
Limitin g rea ctar't
Limitino

Re,.r,nt< oo

Choose one ol-the reaclanrs, tbr instance, Ca(OH)1

t,l. tI i

nrol Ca(OH),

3.

nlrl HCI

I nlol Ca(OH):

mol HCI needed

COMPUTE
2.8

uiofqgFr,; x

2 inol HCI

lu*t@tf;, = -5.6 nrol HCI nccdcd

Thc con'rputation shows rlta( nxrlc HCI (6.3 ntol) is available than is
needcd (5.6 nrol)10 rercl wi(h the 2.ll mol Ca(OH). availablc. Thcr.clorc. HCI is prescnt in cxccss. nraking Ca(OH), the linliting lcaclitnt.

4.

EVALUATE

' .

'L

l.t thc uttsrr'ct rt'ttsonttblt'

Ycs: you crn scc thal 6.3 nrol HCI is

nrorc lhan is necdcd to rcact wirh
2.8 nrol Ca(OH ). .

Alunrinum oxidizes according to tlte lbllowine equation:

4AI + 3Or*2Al'Or
Po\\,defed Al (0.048 ntoli is pl:rccd into a conlainer
containing 0.0ii0 nrol O.. Whrt is {hc Iinriring rcrcran(

./r

r.r: O.

Chlorine can replace bromine in bromide compounds fbrming

a chloride compound and clemntal bronrine. The lbllowing
cquation is an example of this reaction.
ZKlli|taql + Clr(dgl -- 2Kcl(aqt + lJr.!(/)
When 0.855 g of Cl2 and 3.205 g of KIJr are mixed in solution,
whicli is the limiting reactant? Horv many grams of IJr, are
lbrmed?
SOLUTION

1.

ANALYZE

Wltat is giten in the

pr ohlcn )
c Wlut are yot trsketl ro lutd

thc halanccd cqualion. and the

nrasscs ol Cl, and KBI available

which rcactant is limiting and the

nrass ol' Brl produced

Items

Data

Substance

KBr

clz

Brz

70.90 g/mol

Coefficient in
balanced equation

Molar mass*
Amount of

19.00 g/mol

? mol

Mass of substance

3.205 g

0.855 q

Limiting reactant

',

59.80 q/mol

? mol

mol

substance

?9
NA

* determined from the perjodic table

2.

PLAN

What stcps trc naulul nt

d et erntin e t ha I i ui t i tt g

Convcrl ntass ol citch rcaclanl k)

. anlounl in n(rlcs. Choosc

onC

ol tlrc

thc antounl ol'

othcr
lhc
rcilclilt' nccdcd. Contplrc
lhill wilh lhc artrount uvailrblc.
rcill-^tan(s. Cl)rnplr1c

What steps qre nectletl to

tletLrnirte the nttss ol- Brltruduterl iu tlt<' rertL'tiort

limiting reactanl
rnolc rillio givcn in thc cclua
tion t,' dt telrninc tlrc lrrrrrrunt rrl Br ..
Convcrt lhc ilnrcunt ol Br. lo thc
nrass ol Br. using thc nrolar ntass.
Use anrount of the

ancl tlrc

Itr

Mass of C l,ing

Mass of KBr in g

,*n,1, ru ,t,, ,,,,,,,

l., ru, .,^.,4 t u,

tnlru,lt ht

trn

u't,-

.,'t,,' ,,,,t,,t Ct

Amount of KBr in mol

l.,u'yt, t" -,,t.

Amount of cl,
in mol

,,'u.,.

t#

.. ,rr t t,'t(\tl t.r\n"n

,la|l \ith fults "l

Amount of Cl2 needed ,,rr /,x'.,,

to react with KBr

x/,,/'/
.--l-

it

Lrmrtrng,reactant
t r t : t\ntr,t4t

- U'
^ """""' " ,,* ,+
.t

EE <---------------

Mass of Br, in q

r't lt! l\ h, th' r', t,tl ar{

Amount
'' o{ Br. in mol

Limitinq Reactants

lOl

'gKBrX

I mol KBr
= mol KBr'
I 19.00 g KBr

p,?x
I Cl. ,,.
Choose one o[

th

r)lat,!t\tCt.
I mol Cl.
70.90 g Ct"

rrrol Cl-

Ractants, KBr lbr instancc.

L,dtfu
..tdtn\ I mol
cl.
tol KBr \ . -:- I ntol KBr

,nh

nroi Cl, net'dcd

Delerminc th litniting reactant.

'!dhthu.luh^e
nrol Iinliting reactanr X

3.

mol Br'.
mol linriting reactant

..

c Br,
I nrol Br,

l-s9.R()

-cBr.

COMPUTE
3.205

I mol KBr

-KBr x

0.855

I I

sl:

9.00 g-l<Bi

I nol Cl'
10.90

s4

0,02693 mol KBr

0.0121 nrol Cl.

Choose one oi the reactants, KBr. lbr instancc.

0.0269-l

I nrol Cl,
= 0.01346 nrol Cl.
2 oroHtBf

uol-KBi x

ncedcd

Only 0.0I2I nrol Cl, is availablc. For allol thcKBrrolcacr.0.{)I36

mol Cll is needed. Thelelb[e. Cl, is thc liniling reactallt.
0-012

4.

I Dro+l; X

lDrerffi
I

uotfl;

159.80 g Br'1

L""1-ts11

1.93 g Br,

EVALUATE

o ls

the detern[uarion o.f

lintititry reacttutt

l02

Yes: the mass ol2 nrol KBI is

238 g and the mass ol l nlol CI' is
about 7l g. so they rcact in roughly
r -1: I ratio by mass. 3.2 g KBr
would require about IgolCl..but
.. )
only 0.85-5 g is

availablc.

Are the atits untl sigttili<'ont

.figures ol tlte nass of Br.
corfect?

Chapter 9

Thc nunrbcr ol signilicant ligLrrcs is

colrcct because thc nlass ol Clt wals
given to three signilicant ligures.
Units cancel to give granrs of Br,.

1.

A process by which zirconiunr nrctal can bc produced lront thc ntin_

eral zirconium(lV) orrhosilicare. ZrSiOr, srarts by rcacting it rvitlr
chlorine sas lo tbrnr zirconium(lV) chloride.

+o,

zrsio) + 2cl" ---> zr.cll + Sio'

Whlt

mass ol-ZrCl., can bc ploduccd

if

862 g ol-ZrSiO, and 950. g ol Cl, arc

availahlc? You nrust firsl dctclnrinc

tlrc

ons:

linriting reactant.

ZrSi(\

l.l0 x I0r gZrCll

1. Hcittin-q zinc sulllde in lhc Drcscncc ol oxyl:cn vickjs thc lirllorvin!:

ZnS+O,-ZnO+SO:
Il

l.72 nrol ol-ZnS is hcared in rhe prescnce o1 3.04 nlol ol O,.

whiclt rrtctrnt will hc rrscJ un.,Balancc tlrc cquulion lirst.

2. Use the fbllowing eqtiation for the oxidation of aluminum in the tbllowing problenrs.

a.

4AI + 3(). -- 2Al:Or

Which reacrant is linriting il 0..i2 nrol Al lnd 0.26 nxrl O. lrc
available

b.

How nranv rnoles ol Alror lrc lbnltcd lr.ont lhc fcaclion ()l'
6.18 X I(l I nrol ol O, anti 9. l-5 X l0 I nrol of Al..)

c. ll 3.l7 g ol Al and 2.-5.5 g ol O, ar.c rvailable . which reilcllnl

linririns

is

3. In the production ol copper lron ore containing coppcr(ll) sulfide.

tllc orc ls hlst roasrcd ro cltangc it lo th,.' ,)\idc accordinc to thc li,ll
lowing eouation:
2CuS

iO'+

2CuO

2SO!

a. If 100 g of CuS and 56 g ol O. arc availablc. which reacranr is

linrir ine?

b.

What nrass of CuO can he tblnrcd fionr lhc rcaclion

CUS and I 2.0 g ol'O,'l

ol lll.T

g ol'

4. A rcaction such as ll'tc one shown hcrc is oltcn uscd lo dcnlotrstrit(c

a sin-slc rcplacentent rctction.. - )
3CuSOl(ar7)

2Fe(.r)

3cu(.r)

Fe

.(Sol)i(aq)

If you place 0.092 mol of iron filin-ss in a solrrlion containing

0.158 nrol olCuSOr. whar is the li;iring reactanr.l Hn* muiy
nroles of Cu will bc lor.rncd?
Limitinq Reactants

I03

5. In the reaction BaCOr + 2HNO, -+ Ba(NOl)r + COr + HrO.

what mass of Ba(NOq)1 can be lbrmed by combining 55 g BaCOI
and 36 g HNOII
6. Bromine replaccs iodinc in magncsiunr iodide by thc tbllowing
process:

Mgl,+Bt'-MgBrl*1"

7-

a.

Whiclr is the exccss rcactant when 560 g ol'Mgll and 360 g oi

Br- react. and rvhal nrass rcnrainsl

l).

what

nrirss

Nlckcl rcphces sillcr lrorn silvcr nitratc in soltttion according to thc

li)llowing equation:
' 2AgNO1 + Ni -2As + Ni(NOr)r'
a. ll you have 22.9 g ol Ni :rrd I l2 g ol AgNO,. \\'hrclr rcrctrnt is
in cxcess

b.
8.

ol'1. is lblnrcd in thc sarrrc process ]

What nrass of nickcl(ll) nitrale would bc produced given the

quanlities abovc l

Cartnn disullide. CS2, is an important industrial subslance. lts tumes

citn hurn cxplosivell, in air to linlrl sulllr dioxidc and carbon dioxide.
SO:(.q) + COr(.q)
CSn c) + Or(,()

II l.60 mol of CS; burns with 5.60 rnol ol O'. horv rll.lrlY nrolcs olthc cxccss rcac(artl will slill bc Dlcscnl whcn thc lcilcti(n'l is ovcll

9.

Althoush poisonous. nrcrculy conrpounds \!crc once tlscd to kill

biloteria in wounds lntl on lhc skin. Onc was cllled atnnroniatcd
rncrcury'and is nudc liont mcrctrty(ll) chloridc according 1() thc
lollowin! rqualion:
HgCll(ary) + ?NH1(4(, .- Hg(NHr)Cl(s) + NHrCI(r/4)

a.

b.
10.

Alunrinunr chips are sonrctinrcs lddcd to sodiutrl hydroxidc-based

dnin cleancrs bccause thcy rcuct lo scncrate hydrogen gas which
bubbles and helps loosen material in thc drain Thc cqration tilllows'
Al(s) + NaOH(rrq) + HrO(i ) .- NaAIO'(aq) + H:(S)

Bolnce

a.
b.

c.
l04

What mass ol Hg(NH:)Cl coLrltl lre produccd l[on] 0 91 g ol'

HgCll assuming plcnty ol-rnltnonia is available'l
What nrass ol Hg(NH:)Cl could hc prodtrccd lr-om 0 9l g ol'
HgCll and 0.15 g ol NHr in solution l

the

cquation.

How nrany tnoles ol Hl can bc gcneratcd lronr 0.57 nrol Al and

o.17 mol NaOH in cxcess wittct.l
Which reactant should be linliting in order for tlte rrixtule to bc
nrost elleclive as a clrain cleaner'l Explain your choicc'

Chapter 9

li

11.

Copper is changed lo copper(Il) ions by nitric acid according ro lhe

lbllowing equation:

4HNOI + Crr -.CutNO,t.

+ lNO. + lH'O

a.

How ntany moles cach {'l HN(),:rntl Cu rrrusl rcacl in order t(}
producc 0.0845 mol ol'NOr'i

b.

If 5.94 g ol'Cu and 21.23 g ol HNOl alc conrbincd. whiclr rclc-

lrnl is in exccss'l

12.

Onc industrial ptr.ccss lbr producirrg

Iowing lcaclion:

litric tcid hcgins with thc lirl-

4NHi + 5(), +.1N() + 6HrO

13.

a.

Il-2.90 nrol NH1and3.75nxll

ol each product are lbrnrcd l

b.

Whiclr reaclant is linriting i1 4.20

l .3 l
l0' g ol O. arc avrilablc l

c.

What ntass ol NO is lbrnrcd in thc lclction o1 869 kg

and 2480 kg O1'l

0, llc

availahle- how nrany rnolcs

X l0r g ol'NH1

and

ol NH,

Acetaldehyde CHICHO is manulaclured by tlre reaction olerhanol

with copper(Il) oxide according to the fbllowing equation:

CHICHTOH

+ CUO--CHICHO + H.O +

Cu

Wha( mass ol-acetaldehydc cln bc ploduccd by the rcaction bc,

lwcen 620 g of ethanol and i 020 g ol CuO'l What nrass ol- which rc,
actrnl will bc leli over"l

14.

Hydrogen bromide can bc produced hv ir lcaction among brorninc.

snllur dioxide. and watcr as li)llo$,s.

SO,

+ Br. + H.O+ 2HBr +

H.SOI

11250 g ol S0, and 650 g ol Br, rclct in thc presencc ol.exccss wil
tcr. What rr ss ol HBr will bc liu nrcd l

15.

Sullur dioxidc can be pn uccd in lhc laboratory by tltc [enc(ion ol'

hydrochloric acid and a sul{itc sul!such as sodium sullite.
NarSOr

+ 2HCl -+2NaCl + SO, + H.O

What nrass ol-SO, can bc nudc lionr 15.0 s ol'Na'SOr and 22.() g
of HCI'l

16.

The rar-e-earth nletal terbiunr is produced tiom terbium(lll) fluoridc

and calcium mclal by the tbllowing single replacemenr reaction:

'

2TbFr + 3Ca

3CaF3

2Tb

a.

Given 2?.5 g ofTbFl and 6.96 g ol Ca. how many gnnrs

bium could be produced'l

b.

How nrany grams of the cxcess reactanl is lefi ovef]

ol tcr-

Limiting Reactants 105