How can you find a limiting reactant using moles?

Question

Caleb Adams · Accepted Answer

For this you just have to watch the balanced equation of the reaction.

For eg: #"N"_2 + 3"H"_2 -> 2"NH"_3# This means that #1# mole of #"N"_2# reacts with #3# moles of #"H"_2# and makes #2# moles of #"NH"_3#. If you are given #5# moles of #"N"_2# and #9# moles of #"H"_2#, then what's the limiting reagent? It is available here. #"1 mole N"_2# #"reacts with 3 moles H"_2# #"2 moles N"_2# #"react with 6 moles H"_2# #"3 moles N"_2# #"react with 9 moles H"_2# Oh see!! The #"H"_2# moles are consumed when #3# moles of #"N"_2# react. But you have #5# moles of #"N"_2# available, so in this case, #"H"_2# is the limiting reagent. I hope you get it.

Wyatt Atkins · Answer

undefined To find the limiting reactant using moles, you need to follow these steps:

1. Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction.
2. Convert the given amounts of reactants to moles using their respective molar masses.
3. Determine the mole ratio between the reactants based on the coefficients in the balanced equation.
4. Calculate the moles of product that each reactant could produce based on the mole ratio.
5. The reactant that produces the least amount of product is the limiting reactant.