General Chemistry Lab

Experiment 4

Limiting Reactant

INTRODUCTION

Two factors affect the yield of products in a chemical reaction: (1) the amounts of starting
materials (reactants) and (2) the percent yield of the reaction. Many experimental conditions, for
example, temperature and pressure, can be adjusted to increase yield of a desired product in a
chemical reaction. The reactant determining the amount of product generated in a chemical
reaction is called the limiting reactant. Sometimes only a limited amount of the one of the
reactants needed for the reaction is available, or perhaps it is easier to carry out a reaction by
adding an excess of one of the reactants. The maximum amount of product that can be formed is
determined by the amount of reactant that is used up first.

Chemicals react according to fixed mole ratios (stoichiometrically), so only a limited amount of
product can form from given amounts of starting materials. To better understand the concept of
the limiting reactant, let us look at the situation where a toy store is trying to assemble bicycles.
Suppose that each bicycle requires six nuts, six bolts, and six washers. If the shipment of parts
includes 60 nuts, 60 washers and only 59 bolts, then the bolts become the limiting factor and
only 59 bicycles can be assembled.

In his experiment, the reaction of sodium phosphate dodecahydrate, Na3PO4·12H2O, and barium
chloride dihydrate, BaCl2·2H2O, in an aqueous system produces solid barium phosphate,
Ba3(PO4)2. The molecular form of the equation for the reaction in aqueous solution is

2 Na3PO4·12H2O(aq) + 3 BaCl2·2H2O(aq) → Ba3(PO4)2(s) + 6 NaCl(aq) + 30 H2O(l)

The two reactant salts and sodium chloride are soluble in water but barium phosphate is
insoluble. The ionic equation for the reaction is

6 Na+ + 2 PO43- + 24 H2O(l) + 3 Ba2+ + 6 Cl- + 6 H2O(l) → Ba3(PO4)2(s) + 6 Na+ + 6 Cl- + 30 H2O(l)

Presenting only the ions that show evidence of a chemical reaction occurring, i.e., the formation
of a precipitate (and removing spectator ions from the equation), the net ionic equation for the
observed reaction is

2 PO43- + 3 Ba2+ → Ba3(PO4)2(s)

Spectator ions, cations or anions, do not participate in any observable or detectable chemical
reaction.

Net ionic equation is an equation that includes only those ions that participate in the observed
chemical reaction. From the balanced net ionic equation, 2 moles of phosphate ion (from the 2
mol of Na3PO4·12H2O, molar mass = 380.12 g/mol, or 760.24 g) react with 3 moles of barium

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ion (from 3 mol of BaCl2·2H2O, molar mass = 244.27 g/mol, or 732.81 g), if the reaction
proceeds to completion. The equation also predicts the formation of 1 mole of Ba3(PO4)2 (molar
mass = 601.93 g/mol), or 601.93 g.

In this experiment the solid salts Na3PO4·12 H2O and BaCl2·2 H2O form a heterogeneous mixture
of unknown composition. The mass of the solid mixture is measured and added to water, then
insoluble Ba3(PO4)2 forms. The Ba3(PO4)2 precipitate is collected, via gravity filtration and
dried, and its mass is measured.

The percent composition of the salt mixture is determined by first testing for the limiting
reactant. The limiting reactant for the formation of solid barium phosphate is determined from
two precipitation tests of the solution: (1) the solution is tested for an excess of barium ion with
a phosphate reagent. The formation of a precipitate indicates the presence of an excess of
barium ion (and a limited amount of phosphate ion) in the salt mixture. (2) The solution is also
tested for an excess of phosphate ion with a barium reagent. The formation of a precipitate
indicates the presence of an excess of phosphate ion (and a limited amount of barium ion) in the
salt mixture.

CALCULATIONS

The calculations required for the analysis of the data in this experiment are involved. The
question, after collection of all of the data, becomes, "How do I proceed to determine the percent
composition of a salt mixture containing the salts Na3PO4·12H2O and BaCl2·2H2O from the data
of a precipitation reaction?"

Consider the following example: A 0.942 g sample of the salt mixture is added to water and
0.188 g of Ba3(PO4)2, precipitate forms. Tests reveal that BaCl2·2H2O is the limiting reactant.
What is the percent composition of the salt mixture?

• BaCl2·2H2O is the limiting reactant

• The stoichiometry of the reaction indicates that 1 mole Ba3(PO4)2 precipitate requires 3
moles Ba2+ and therefore 3 moles BaCl2·2H2O.
• To find the number of grams of BaCl2·2H2O in the original mixture that produced 0.188 g
Ba3(PO4)2, the following calculation is performed.

0.188g Ba3(PO4)2 x 1 mole Ba3(PO4)2/601.93g Ba3(PO4)2 x 3 mole Ba2+/1 mole Ba3(PO4)2

= 9.37 x 10-4 mole Ba2+

9.37 x 10-4 mole Ba2+ x 1 mole BaCl2·2H2O/1 mole Ba2+ x 244g BaCl2·2H2O/1 mole BaCl2·2H2O
= 0.228 g BaCl2·2H2O is a part of the original salt mixture

The mass of the Na3PO4·12H2O in the salt mixture must be the difference between the total mass
of the original salt sample and the mass of the BaCl2·2H2O, or (0.942 g - 0.229 g =) 0.713 g.

The percent BaCl2·2H2O in the salt mixture is

0.229 g/0.942 g x 100 = 24.3% BaCl2·2H2O

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The percent Na3PO4·12H2O in the salt mixture is
0.713 g/0.942 g x 100 = 75.7% Na3PO4·12H2O

PROCEDURE

Part A

1. Weigh a clean, dry 400 mL beaker. Record this mass for Trial 1 on the Report Sheet.
2. Transfer all the unknown salt mixture to the 400-mL beaker and reweigh. Record the
mass on the Report sheet. Add 200 mL (±0.2 mL) of deionized water.
3. Stir the mixture with a stirring rod for about 1 minute and then allow the precipitate to
settle. Leave the stirring rod in the beaker.
4. Digest the precipitate by covering the beaker with a watchglass and warm the solution
(80-90°C) over a hotplate.
5. While the precipitate is being kept warm, proceed to set up the gravity filtration
apparatus.
• Place your initials (in pencil) on a piece of filter paper.
• Fold the filter paper and tear off its corner. Determine its mass (±0.001 g).
• Seal the filter paper into the filter funnel with a small amount of deionized water.
• Discard the deionized water from the receiving flask. Have your instructor
inspect your apparatus before continuing.
Periodically check on the progress of the heating solution.
6. After 30 minutes, remove the heat and allow the precipitate to settle; the solution does not
need to cool to room temperature.
7. While the precipitate is settling, heat (80-90°C) about 30 mL of deionized water for use
as wash water.
8. Once the supernatant has cleared, while still warm, filter the precipitate. Transfer any
precipitate on the wall of the beaker to the filter with the aid of a rubber policeman.
9. Transfer two 50 mL volumes of the filtrate (measure with a graduated cylinder) into
separate 100 mL beakers, labeled Beaker I and Beaker II. Save for Part B.
10. Wash the Ba3(PO4)2 precipitate on the filter paper with two additional 5 mL portions of
warm water.
11. Remove the filter paper and precipitate from the filter funnel.
12. Air-dry the precipitate on the filter paper over the weekend. Return on Monday at your
convenience to weigh.
13. Determine the combined mass (±0.001 g) of the precipitate and filter paper. Record.

B. Determination of the Limiting Reactant

1. Add 2 drops of the test reagent 0.5 M BaCl2 to the 50 mL of supernatant liquid in Beaker
I. If a precipitate forms, the PO43- is in excess and Ba2+ is the limiting reactant in the
original salt mixture.
2. Add 2 drops of the test reagent 0.5 M Na3PO4 to the 50 mL of supernatant liquid in
Beaker II. If a precipitate forms, the Ba2+ is in excess and PO43- is the limiting reactant in
the original salt mixture. An obvious formation of precipitate should appear in only one

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 of the tests.

Disposal: Dispose of the barium phosphate, including the filter paper, in the "Waste
Solids" container. Dispose of the waste solutions in the "Waste Liquids" container.

CLEANUP: Rinse each beaker with small portions of warm water and discard in the
"Waste Liquids" container. Rinse twice with tap water and twice with deionized water
and discard in the sink.

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Name _____________________________________
Class ________________________

Prelaboratory Assignment

1. A 1.146 g mixture of the solid salts Na2SO4 and Pb(NO3)2 forms an aqueous solution
with the precipitation of PbSO4. The precipitate was filtered and dried, and its mass was
determined to be 0.672 g. The limiting reactant was determined to be Na2SO4.

a. Write the molecular form of the equation for the reaction.

b. Write the net ionic equation for the reaction.

c. How many moles and grams of Na2SO4 are in the reaction mixture?

d. What is the percent by mass of each salt in the mixture?

2. The Ba3(PO4)2 (molar mass = 601.93 g/mol) precipitate that formed from a salt mixture
has a mass of 0.667 g. Experimental tests revealed that Na3PO4·12H2O (molar mass =
380.12 g/mol) was the limiting reactant in the formation of the precipitate and that
BaCl2·2H2O was the excess reactant in the salt mixture. Determine the mass of
Na3PO4·12H2O in the salt mixture.

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Name ________________________________
Class _____________________________

Data Sheet

Unknown number ___________

Part A
Trial 1
1. Mass of 400 mL beaker + salt mixture (g) _______________
2. Mass of empty 400 mL beaker _______________
3. Mass of salt mixture (#1- #2) _______________
4. Mass of filter paper + Ba3(PO4)2 (g) after drying _______________
5. Mass of filter paper _______________
6. Mass of Ba3(PO4)2(g) (#4- #5) _______________

Part B
1. Limiting reactant in salt mixture (write complete formula)

2. Excess reactant in salt mixture (write complete formula)

Data Analysis

1. Moles of Ba3(PO4)2 precipitated (mol) ________________

2. Moles of limiting reactant in salt mixture (mol)
• formula of limiting hydrate ________________
3. Mass of limiting reactant in salt mixture (g)
• formula of limiting hydrate ________________
4. Mass of excess reactant in salt mixture (g)
• formula of excess hydrate ________________
5. Percent limiting reactant in salt mixture (%)
• formula of limiting hydrate ________________
6. Percent excess reactant in salt mixture (%)
• formula of excess hydrate ________________

Show calculations for the trial below.

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