Stoichiometry Module: Limiting Reactants

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General Stoichiometry

Limiting Reactants

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Chemical Analysis

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If 200 g salicylic acid is added to 100 g acetic anhydride, which reactant will limit the reaction?

Step 2: Choose one of the reactants and calculate how much of the other reactant is needed to react completely with the amount initially present.

The choice of reactants is arbitrary; you will arrive at the same conclusion choosing either reactant. Let's first choose salicylic acid.

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How many moles of acetic anhydride will react with 1.45 moles of salicylic acid?

0.725 moles 1.45 moles 2.90 moles

Good! Each mole of salicylic acid will react with half a mole of acetic anhydride:

Remember that each mole of salicylic acid will react with half a mole of acetic anhydride.