How do you figure out a limiting reactant problem?

1 Answer
anor277
Jul 5, 2017

The #"absolute requirement.........."#

Explanation:

#"........is a stoichiometrically balanced equation; for example..."#

#CO(g) + Cl_2(g)rarrCOCl_2(g)#

(I just answered a question on this equilibrium!) If you had 50 tonnes EACH of carbon monoxide, and of dichlorine gas, which is the limiting reagent? I am willing to bet that the limiting reagent is dichlorine gas. Why? Well, look at the formula masses of #Cl_2# versus #CO#.

So we nut out #"moles of reactant"#. Are they in stoichiometric proportion. If not, you must work out the molar quantities of each reagent. Are they in proportion? If no, which is in stoichiometric deficiency?

Let me know if you haven't grasped this principle. Someone will help you.

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