Finding limiting reactant

[Sei Lam 3F]

Is there a reliable shortcut or most efficient method to identifying the limiting reactant in a chemical equation? Thanks!

[706212653]

I'm not sure if this is the most efficient way, but what I do is calculate the moles of each of reactant present, and then divide by the number of moles required to complete the reaction, and then compare the numbers. The reactant that has a lower ratio is the limiting reactant

[Kenneth Lin 2G]

When doing limiting reactants, I like to convert both reactants to mols. Then I would multiply one of the reactants by the ratio of necessary reactants in the equation to determine which reactant is left over. The reactant with an extra amount is the excess reactant and it can be determined which is the limiting reactant. Another method that is longer but also works is to use the reactant's mols to find the product's mols through multiplication with reactant/product ratios but this is a slightly longer method. Both methods work, however, I would say the second one is a a safer method.


For example if the reaction is : 2H2 +O2----> 2H2O

If there are 2.5 mols of H2O and 1 mol of O2. I would multiply 1 mol of O2 by 2 due to the ratio of H2 and this would give me 2 mols of H2O. As there is 0.5 mol of H2O left over, the reactant O2 is the limiting reactant.

[Ava_Osborn_3I]

I believe the quickest way to find the limiting reactant would be to balance the equation, convert everything to moles, and use stoichiometry to determine the limiting reactant.