Which of the following is true about a limiting reactant?

Which of the following is true about a limiting reactant?

• A. It is always present in excess.
• B. It determines how much product can be formed in the reaction.
• C. It is the slowest reacting substance.
• D. It is the reactant that does not get consumed.

Answer: (B)

A limiting reactant is the substance that is completely consumed first in a chemical reaction, effectively stopping the reaction and determining the maximum amount of product that can be produced. Because it runs out before the other reactants, it limits the extent of the reaction. In contrast, other reactants may still be present in excess; therefore, they do not limit the formation of products. This characteristic of the limiting reactant is crucial in stoichiometric calculations, as it enables chemists to predict the yield of products based on the available quantities of reactants. Understanding this concept is important for efficiently carrying out chemical reactions and for optimizing product yields in various processes.

A limiting reactant is the substance that is completely consumed first in a chemical reaction, effectively stopping the reaction and determining the maximum amount of product that can be produced. Because it runs out before the other reactants, it limits the extent of the reaction.

In contrast, other reactants may still be present in excess; therefore, they do not limit the formation of products. This characteristic of the limiting reactant is crucial in stoichiometric calculations, as it enables chemists to predict the yield of products based on the available quantities of reactants. Understanding this concept is important for efficiently carrying out chemical reactions and for optimizing product yields in various processes.