SOLVING LIMITING & EXCESS REAGENT QUESTIONS

STEP 1: Solve moles for both reactants.

STEP 2: Choose one reactant. Solve for how much is required by using the moles of the chosen reactant
and multiplying it by the mole ratio of both reacts. If there are more required moles than what you
have, it is limiting. If there are less required moles than what you have, the reagent is in excess. (This
only needs to be done for one of the reactants!).
STEP 3: Solve the question with the moles of the limiting reactants.
STEP 4: To find the amount of left over excess, i.e. what mass of reagent is excess, first use the moles of
the excess found in step 1 (known as the available moles) and convert it to grams. Next, use the moles
of the limiting reactant and multiply it by the mole ratio by which the two reactants occur in the
equation. Then convert it to grams. This is known as the amount of reagent used in the reaction. Now,
subtract the amount used from the amount of available to find the amount left over.