LAB: LIMITING REACTANTS
Prelab

Define:
 Limiting
Reactant:
 Excess Reactant:

Write the balanced equation for the reaction
between baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and
vinegar (actetic acid or hydrogen acetate).
Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Add 5.0 mL of vinegar to a Erlenmeyer flask.
Obtain a balloon and add the specified amount
of baking soda.
Carefully stretch the balloon over the mouth of the
Erlenmeyer flask without mixing the contents.
Work in assigned groups. All at once, mix the
baking soda and vinegar together.
Make observations and determine which is the
limiting reactant and which is the excess reactant
in each Erlenmeyer flask.
Data:

Draw a picture showing the end result in each
Erlenmeyer flask.
 Erlenmeyer
flask 1: 0.25 g
 Erlenmeyer flask 2: 0.50 g
 Erlenmeyer flask 3: 1.00 g
 Erlenmeyer flask 4: 2.00 g
 Erlenmeyer flask 5: 3.00 g
Write the reaction…
Calculations:
1.
2.
3.
If there are 0.012 moles of acetic acid, what is the
maximum amount (g) of sodium bicarbonate that can
react?
How much more baking soda can be added to
Erlenmeyer flask 1? Erlenmeyer flask 2?
How much excess baking soda is in Erlenmeyer flask
4? Erlenmeyer flask 5?
Conclusion





In Erlenmeyer flask 1, the limiting reactant is
____________.
In Erlenmeyer flask 2, the limiting reactant is
____________.
In Erlenmeyer flask 3, the limiting reactant is
____________.
In Erlenmeyer flask 4, the limiting reactant is
____________.
In Erlenmeyer flask 5, the limiting reactant is
____________.