2 Limiting Reagents

[405289292]

What if both reactants produce the same amount of product? What would that be called? Can a reaction have two limiting reactants? I don't believe that the last question is possible, but I would just like clarification.

[Jamie Lee 1H]

In regards to your second question, you can not have two limiting reactants because then that means that either there's too little to be used or the ratio of each reactant are being completely used up and in that case, they wouldn't be able to physically limit each other.

[haileyramsey-1c]

If both products produce the same amount of product you would still have to look at the molar ratios. For example if in a balanced equation one substance was 3 moles and the other was 1, you would have to multiply the first substance by 3 to determine the needed number of moles. So, just because they produce the same amount doesn't mean that there isn't a limiting reactant it just means you have to go onto the next step.

[MTanikella_1K]

I've had the same question but this is really helpful, thank you!

[Abby Soriano 1J]

There is either one limiting reagent or none at all. If two reactants are presented as having the same amount, you still need to look at the molar ratios of the balanced chemical equation to see which one runs out first. There can be times when the reactants come in ratios that perfectly use each other up, though this is not always the case.

[PranaviKolla2B]

It's also important to remember that even though the amounts of the reactants may be the same, we have to compare how many moles of each reactant are present, not the actual masses of the reactants.