Limiting reactions

[Lara Almeida 3D]

If the elements are not measured in proportion is there ALWAYS going to be a limiting reactant? If so, is it possible to have two limiting reactants?

[Kiku Shirakata 2A]

If there's more than one reactant, a limiting reactant should always exist, unless there is a perfect amount of reactants and all of it gets used with no excess left. In that case, neither reactants limits the other, so there is no limiting reactant. It's also not possible to have two limiting reactants since only one reactant can stop the reaction from continuing once it's used up.

[amara ajon 1d]

Hi,
Yes, there will most likely always be a limiting reactant (assuming there are multiple reactants). It is highly unlikely for there to be two limiting reactants in the same chemical reaction since a limiting reactant will prevent a reaction from continuing once it has been used completely, but there could be two limiting reactants if both are entirely consumed at the same time.

[kylanjin]

Yes, a limiting reactant would always exist if 2 reactants are present and even more so in uneven proportions. There cannot be 2 limiting reactants, as if both reactants are completely consumed based on the definition of a limiting reactant, then neither reactant is "limiting" the other.

[Srikar_Chintala_1E]

Generally, there will always be one limiting reactant. This is because, given more than one reactant, one reactant will always be used up first. Even if there were a perfect ratio of reactants, both of them would be used up simultaneously; one would not limit the other. Hence, there will generally always be one limiting reactant.

[Vivek Chotai 2C]

What if you had three reactants, and then two reactants were used up with the third in excess? Wouldn't you have two limiting reactants?

[Amanda Tran 1D]

I think even if there were three reactants, it would be highly unlikely that two of those reactants would be at the same ratio to be limiting reagents? So even then there would rarely be two limiting reagents, because more often than not, one reactant will 'run out' before the others.

[Holly Do 2J]

It would be highly unlikely for there to be 2 different limiting reactants even if there are 3+ reactants. This is because it is uncommon for 2 reactants to have the exact same ratio of atoms that would make them run out at the same time. It may be possible, but highly unlikely.