Limiting Reagents

Limiting reagents are the substances in a chemical reaction that are completely used up first, limiting the amount of product that can be formed. Once the limiting reagent is exhausted, the reaction stops, even if other reactants are still available. Understanding which reagent is limiting helps predict the maximum amount of product that can be produced. Essentially, it’s like running out of a crucial ingredient in a recipe; no matter how much other ingredients you have, you can't make more than the limit set by the smallest or least abundant ingredient.