Question

Which term is used to describe the reactant that is used up completely and controls the amount of product that can be produced during a chemical reaction? Catalytic reactant Excess reactant Limiting reactant Theoretical reactant

Answer 1

Answer: Option (c) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

A limiting reagent is defined as a reagent that completely gets consumed in a chemical reaction. A limiting reagent limits the formation of products.

For example, we have given 5 mol of A and the reaction is $2A + 4B \rightarrow 2AB$

Whereas when 4 mol B will react with 2 mol of A. Hence, 8 mol of B will react with 4 mol A as follows.

                        $\frac{2}{4} \times 8$ = 4 mol

As, the given moles of A is more than the required moles. Thus, it is considered as an excess reagent.

Hence, B is a limiting reagent because it limits the formation of products.

Thus, we can conclude that limiting reactant is the term used to describe the reactant that is used up completely and controls the amount of product that can be produced during a chemical reaction.