Education
Limiting Reactant Calculator
Enter the balanced equation's coefficients and the available amount of each of two reactants (in moles, or grams with molar mass). The calculator returns the limiting reactant, the excess, and an optional theoretical product yield.
Balanced equation coefficients
Enter the coefficients from a balanced equation and the available amount of each reactant. The calculator finds which one runs out first.
Reactant A
e.g. 2
Amount unit
Reactant B
e.g. 2
Amount unit
Optional: theoretical product
Provide the product coefficient (and optionally its molar mass) to also get the theoretical product yield.
e.g. 2
You need a balanced equation first. Try the balancing equations calculator if you have not balanced it yet.
Limiting reactant
Reactant B
Excess: Reactant A; 1 mol left over
The limiting reactant runs out before the other; the excess reactant has leftover material when the reaction stops. The theoretical product is the maximum possible from the limiting reactant on a balanced equation.
Examples
2 mol H2, 0.5 mol O2 in 2 H2 + O2 → 2 H2O
O2 limits; 1 mol H2O
5 mol N2, 9 mol H2 in N2 + 3 H2 → 2 NH3
H2 limits; 6 mol NH3
10 g Al, 20 g HCl in 2 Al + 6 HCl → 2 AlCl3 + 3 H2
HCl limits
Equal moles, equal coefficients
Both run out together
How it works
The limiting reactant is the one that supports the smallest number of unit reactions. The number of unit reactions a reactant can support is its available moles divided by its balanced coefficient.
Step 1 · reactions(A) = moles(A) / coef(A)
Step 2 · reactions(B) = moles(B) / coef(B)
Step 3 · smaller value = limiting reactant
With grams: moles = grams / molar mass before comparing.
Related chemistry calculators
- Balancing equations calculator for the balanced coefficients you need before applying this calculator.
- Grams to moles calculator if you want to convert reactant masses to moles separately first.
- Percent yield calculator for the follow-up step once you have the theoretical product mass.
- Molarity calculator if a reactant is supplied as a solution rather than a pure mass.
- All education calculators.
Frequently asked questions
The limiting reactant is the one that runs out first in a chemical reaction. It limits how much product can form. The other reactant is called the excess reactant; some of it remains unreacted when the limiting reactant is gone. 'Limiting reagent' is another name for the same concept.
Divide the moles of each reactant by its coefficient from the balanced equation. The smaller ratio is the limiting reactant. The calculator does this division for both reactants and reports the limiting and excess names plus the reactions actually possible.
The coefficient says how many moles of that reactant are consumed per 'unit' reaction. Dividing available moles by coefficient gives the number of unit reactions each reactant can support on its own; the smaller number wins.
Yes. Switch the amount unit to grams for either or both reactants and add the molar mass. The calculator converts to moles using n = m / M before comparing.
Yes. The whole approach uses the balanced coefficients. If the equation is not balanced, the limiting reactant calculation will be wrong. Use the balancing equations calculator first if needed.
Once you know how many unit reactions are possible (limited by the limiting reactant), multiply by the product's coefficient to get product moles. Multiply by the product's molar mass to get grams. The calculator returns both when the optional product fields are filled.
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