Question

formula to find limiting reagent
in chemistry class 11​

Answer 1

Limiting reagent is the reactant in a chemical equation that gets used up completely and then limits/stops the reaction.

suppose the question goes like this:

hydrogen and oxygen react to form water. if one mole hydrogen reacts with one mole oxygen, find limiting reagent.

1)balance the equation

H2 + O2---------> H20

on balancing

2H2 + O2---------> 2H20

In the above, 1 and 2 are called stoichiometric coefficients.

This also means that two moles of hydrogen reacts with one mole of oxygen to form two moles of water.

2)see the given data

O2: 1 mole

H2: 1 mole

3)As we see in the balanced equation, 1 mole oxygen requires 2 moles of hydrogen to react completely. But here, we are given only 1 mole of hydrogen. So, clearly, hydrogen is the limiting reagent.