What is a limiting reactant?

Answer 1

Limiting reactant is the reactant that limits the amount of a product that can be formed in a chemical reaction.

For example, suppose we have 4 bolts and 8 nuts. No matter how many nuts are there, we need only 4 nuts as we have got 4 bolts. Same thing about a chemical reaction.

If the limiting reactant is fully consumed, the reaction will stop even if the other reactant still remains unreacted. That reactant is called excess reactant. I hope this picture will make it easier for you to understand.

< Sorry I couldn't find a nut-bolt one, but this car body and tire example will do>

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Answer 2

Ellie Andrews

The limiting reactant in a chemical equation is the reactant that is completely used up at the end of the reaction.

I would watch this video from Khan Academy about limiting reactants if you want some more info!

https://tutor.hix.ai

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Answer 3

Axel Alvarado

A limiting reactant is the reactant in a chemical reaction that is entirely consumed first, thereby limiting the amount of product that can be formed. It determines the maximum amount of product that can be produced in the reaction.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.