What is the quantity of a reactant that is more than enough to react with a limiting reagent?

1 Answer
anor277
Apr 11, 2017

#"The reagent in excess.............."#

Explanation:

Particularly in combustion reactions, the reagent in excess is dioxygen. We assume complete combustion, and dioxygen is assumed to be present in quantity:

#C_6H_14(l) + 19/2O_2(g) rarr 6CO_2(g) + 7H_2O(l) +Delta#

This is balanced with respect to mass and charge, as indeed it must be if it purports to represent reality. The energy evolved from reaction may also be calculated quantitatively. Again, this is reasonable because we make a definite quantity of #C=O# and #O-H# bonds, and break a definite quantity of #C-H#, #C-C#, and #O=O# bonds.

In the internal combustion, and diesel engines (especially), this assumption of complete combustion is UNJUSTIFIED, and modern engines still produce quantities of the products of incomplete combustion, #CO#, and #C#, as particulate carbon or soot.

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