Limiting Reactant

[205873468]

When solving a stoichometry problem, do we always need to compare the calculated moles that we get after converting the molar masses to the amount of moles needed? Or do we only need to do this if we want to find the limiting reactant?

[Leia1H]

If you want to know how much product you are making, you will need to compare the moles of the reactants since you can only make as much product as you have limiting reagent. So yes, regardless of whether the question is asking about limiting reagents or not you would still at some step need to figure out which it is anyway.

[705912349 Dis 1C]

In a stoichiometry problem, even if you are not directly looking for the limiting reactant, the step you state is necessary. This is because the limiting reactant determines the amount of product formed. So, even though a question may not ask specifically for you to find the limiting reactant, comparing the calculated moles that we get after converting the molar masses to the number of moles needed is necessary for finding things like the theoretical yield and the percentage yield.