Multiple Choice
When 8 g of CaCO3 are combined with 4 g of HCl, which substance is the limiting reagent in the reaction CaCO3 + 2 HCl → CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Limiting Reagent
Multiple Choice
In a chemical reaction, what is the limiting reagent?
A
The product formed in the smallest amount.
B
The catalyst that speeds up the reaction.
C
The reactant that is completely consumed first, limiting the amount of product formed.
D
The reactant present in the greatest quantity.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that the limiting reagent in a chemical reaction is the reactant that is completely consumed first during the reaction.
Recognize that the limiting reagent determines the maximum amount of product that can be formed because once it is used up, the reaction cannot proceed further.
Differentiate the limiting reagent from other concepts such as catalysts (which speed up reactions but are not consumed) and reactants present in the greatest quantity (which may not be limiting).
To identify the limiting reagent in a problem, compare the mole ratios of the reactants used to the mole ratios required by the balanced chemical equation.
The reactant that produces the least amount of product when calculated based on stoichiometry is the limiting reagent.
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