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When each reactant amount is used to work out how much product it would give, which reactant is the limiting one?
AThe one giving the greater amount of product
BThe one giving the smaller amount of product
CThe one with the larger coefficient in the equation
DThe one with the greater mass placed in the vessel
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. The one giving the smaller amount of product
1. Take each reactant separately and calculate the product it could give if fully consumed.
2. Compare the two results.
3. The reaction can only make as much product as the smaller figure allows.
4. So the reactant giving the lesser amount of product is the limiting reactant.
5. Larger mass does not decide the matter, since molar masses and coefficients differ.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry (CC BY 4.0), Ch 4 "Stoichiometry of Chemical Reactions", section 4.4 Reaction Yields_
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