Question

Can someone help me with limiting reactants?

Answer 1

The limiting reagent is the one that runs out first in the course of a chemical reaction. A simple example:

2A + B ---> C

If you start with 0.1 moles of A and 0.1 moles of B, you'll run out of A first. This can be proven by dividing the quantity of each reactants by its stoichiometric coefficient:

A / 2 ---> 0.05
B / 1 ---> 0.1

The lowest value obtained is the limiting reagent. Another example:

3A + B ---> C

If you start with 0.4 moles of A and 0.1 moles of B...

0.4 / 3 = ~0.133
0.1 / 1 = 0.1

B winds up with the smallest value, so it's the limiting reagent.

Answer 2

I see...thank you!