In: Chemistry
The concept of determining which reactant is limiting and which is in excess is akin to determining the number of sandwiches that can be made from a set number of ingredients. Assuming that a cheese sandwich consists of 2 slices of bread and 3 slices of cheese, determine the number of whole cheese sandwiches that can be prepared from 28 slices of bread and 51 slices of cheese.
What are the number of sandwiches?
Which of the two ingredients limits the number of sandwiches that can be made?
What quantity of the ingredient in excess remains?
28 slices of bread can give 14 number of sandwiches.
51 slices of cheese can produce 17 number of sandwiches.
So, if all the cheese slices to be used then 34 slices of bread would be required.
We have less number of breads.
So, total sandwiches can be made = 14.
Breads are less here, so it is the limiting factor.
Cheese will be in excess.(51-14*3) = 9 slices.