5.12 Limiting Reactants

Question 1

What is the ‘limiting reactant’ of a reaction?

Answer 1

The reactant that’s used up in a reaction because it limits the amount of product that’s formed

Question 2

If 4g of calcium reacts with oxygen from the air, which is most likely to be a limiting reactant, the calcium or the oxygen?

Answer 2

Calcium

Question 3

What does it mean for a reactant to be ‘in excess’?

Answer 3

It does not all react, and has no affect on the amount of product formed