Extent of a reaction

• The extent of reaction, ξ, is based on a specified stoichiometric

equation and denotes how much reaction occurs. Its units are “moles
reacting”.
• The extent of reaction is calculated by dividing the change in the
number of moles of a species that occurs in a reaction, for either a
reactant or a product, by the associated stoichiometric coefficient
(which has the units of the change in the moles of species i divided by
the moles reacting).
• The products of reaction have positive stoichiometric coefficients and
the reactants have negative stoichiometric coefficients.
Example
• For example, consider the chemical reaction equation for the
combustion of carbon monoxide

• If 20 moles of CO are fed to a reactor with 10 moles of O 2 and form 15

moles of CO2, the extent of reaction can be calculated as:

Be aware of sign of stoichiometric coefficient!!!!

Above equation can be rearranged to calculate the number of moles of component i
from the value of extent of reaction as follows
Limiting and excess reactants
• In industrial practice, stoichiometric amounts are rarely used and to completely
consume a costly reactant, excess reactants are mostly used. The excess reactant
comes out together with, or separately from, the product and sometimes can be
used again.

• The limiting reactant is defined as the species in a chemical reaction that

theoretically would be the first to be completely consumed if the reaction were to
proceed to completion according to the chemical equation—even if the reaction
does not proceed to completion!

• The fractional excess of a reactant A is defined by:

• % excess = (fractional excess) × 100

 Limiting Reactant
As a straightforward way of determining which species is the limiting reactant,
you can calculate the maximum extent of reaction, a quantity that is based on
assuming the complete reaction of each reactant. The reactant with the smallest
maximum extent of reaction is the limiting reactant. For example: for 1 g mole
of C7H16 and 12 g mole of O2, maximum extent of reaction is:
Example
A + 3B + 2C ===== P

• 1.1 moles of A, 3.2 moles of B, and 2.4 moles of C are fed as reactants
in the reactor.
• By using the formula for extent of reaction find out limiting reactant .