Limiting Reactants
Chemistry: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 3.1.13
Limiting Reactants
In many chemical reactions, it is important to use up a reactant completely.
What is a limiting reactant?
- The reactant that is completely used up is called the limiting reactant because the reaction stops when it is used up.
E.g. neutralising an acid
- It's important that no acid remains after the reaction.
- This is achieved by using an excess (‘more than necessary’) amount of the other reactant.
Test yourself on Limiting Reactants
Why is a reactant used in excess during a neutralisation reaction?
Why does a chemical reaction stop once the limiting reactant is used up?
What would most likely happen if too little of the other reactant, rather than an excess, was added during an acid neutralisation reaction?
Why does a reaction stop as soon as the limiting reactant is used up, even though some excess reactant remains?
Select the correct statement for each pair