Name ______________________________________

Period _______________
Name ______________________________________
_________________

Date

Limiting Reactant Lab

Purpose:
To find the ratio of moles of a reactant to moles of a product of a
chemical reaction.
To relate this ratio to the coefficients of these substances in the
balanced equation for the reaction. To determine which reactant is the
limiting reactant and which is the excess reactant.
Background
Chemical reactions are represented by balanced chemical equations.
Proper interpretation of an equation provides a great deal of
information about the reaction it represents and about the substances
involved in the reaction. For example, the coefficients in a balanced
equation indicate the number of moles of each substance. This, the
ratio of moles of a substance to moles of any other substance in the
reaction can be determined at a glance.
In this experiment, iron metal will be added to an aqueous solution of
copper(II) sulfate. A single replacement reaction will take place, the
products being iron(II) sulfate and copper metal.
The limiting reactant is the reactant that gets used up completely
in a reaction. It determines the maximum amount of product that can
be produced. The excess reactant will be the reactant or reactants
that are left over after the reaction has run its course.
Materials
Hot plate
Filter Paper
distilled water
Balance
Iron filings
beakers
Weighing dishes Copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate

Stirring rod

Procedure
Day 1
1. Obtain a 100-mL beaker. Write the name of one member of your
group on the beaker.
2. Place a 100-mL beaker on the balance and zero the balance.
Leave the beaker on the balance and continue to step #3.
3. Measure about 6.0 grams of copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate
crystals and place them in the 100-mL beaker. Record the mass

of the copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate. Record observations of

the copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate.
4. Measure approximately 50.0 mL of distilled water in a graduated
cylinder. Pour the water from the cylinder into the beaker that
contains the copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate.
5. Set up the hot plate. Heat the mixture in the beaker to just below
boiling. DO NOT ALLOW THE LIQUID TO BOIL.
6. Continue heating and stir the mixture (using the stirring rod not
the rubber policeman end) until the crystals are completely
dissolved. Turn off and unplug the hot plate. Record
observations of the solution. While step #6 is being completed a
lab member may continue on to step #7.
7. Obtain approximately 1.2 grams of iron filings. Record the exact
mass of the iron filings in your data table. Record all values the
balance provides. When complete with steps 5 and 6 proceed to
step 8. Record observations of the Fe filings.
8. Add the iron filings, small amounts at a time, to the hot copper(II)
sulfate solution. Stir continuously using the stirring rod. After all
of the iron has been added and the mixture stirred, use the
thermal gloves to transfer your beaker to the fume hood. Clean
up your other supplies and wipe the table down with the sponge.
Day 2
9. Obtain your beaker from the fume hood. Record observations of
the reaction that has taken place over night.
10.
Record the mass of a filter paper with your initials written
on it. Your initials should be on the outside of the filter paper
after you have folded it. Set up a filtration apparatus by placing
your piece of filter paper into a funnel and placing the funnel on
top of an Erlenmeyer flask. All materials will be at your table.
Decant the liquid into the filter paper slowly. Try not allow any
solid to get on the filter paper yet.
11.
Using distilled water bottle, rinse your solid in the beaker.
Let the solid settle and decant the liquid through the filter paper.
Repeat the washing twice more. The last time, guide all of the
solid onto the filter paper.
12.
Obtain a 250-mL beaker. Place the name of one member of
your group either in the painted box on the beaker using pencil
or on the glass using a permanent marker. Take and record the
mass of this 250-mL beaker. Place this value in your data table.
Record all values the balance provides. Carefully transfer the
filter paper from the funnel into the beaker. This may need to be
completed by using the tweezers at your station. Place the filter
paper in the beaker. Place the beaker on the appropriate shelf in
the oven.
Day 3

13.
Obtain your beaker from the oven. Take the combined
mass of the beaker, filter paper, and product. Record all values
the balance provides. Record observations on the product left
behind on the filter paper.

Data Table (use the space below to develop your own data table be
sure that all data is properly labeled and has proper units on each
value it must be neat and organized)

Observations
Step 3

Step 6

Step 7

Step 9

Step 13

What Was the Limiting Reactant?

This series of calculations will guide you in determining whether
copper(II) sulfate or iron metal was the limiting reactant in the reaction
that took place. Use a separate sheet of paper for your calculations
you will need to provide a heading for each calculation, show work for
each, provide proper units, and provide answers in correct sig. figs.
Calculations
1. Write the balanced chemical reaction for this lab. copper(II)
sulfate reacted with iron filings to produce iron(II) sulfate and
copper metal. To do this you will need to first determine the
formulas for copper(II) sulfate and iron(II) sulfate, then write the
reaction.
2. If copper(II) sulfate was the limiting reactant, what theoretical
mass of copper metal would have been produced? Answer a, b, and
c to find out.
a) How many moles of copper(II) sulfate did you have before adding
iron? To determine this, start with your mass of copper(II) sulfate
pentahydrate (molar mass = 249.685g/mol) you weighed in step
3, and convert this to moles.
b) If all of the copper(II) sulfate from question #2 reacted, how
many moles of Cu metal would have been produced? Make an
ICF chart using your balanced equation from question #1 and
moles of copper(II) sulfate from question #2 to answer.
c) Convert your answer to question #3 into grams to determine the
theoretical mass of Cu that would be produced if all of your
copper(II) sulfate reacted.
3. If iron was the limiting reactant, what theoretical mass of copper
metal would have been produced? Answer a, b, and c to find out.

a) How many moles of iron filings did you add to the copper(II)
sulfate solution? Start with your mass of iron you weighed in
step 7, and convert this to moles.
b) If all of the iron from question #5 reacted, how many moles of Cu
metal would have been produced? Make an ICF chart using your
balanced equation from question #1 and moles of iron from
question #5 to answer.
c) Convert your answer to question #5 into grams to determine the
theoretical mass of copper that would be produced if all of the
iron were used up in the reaction.
4. What was the experimental mass of copper produced in the
reaction?
Analysis
Using your observations as evidence identify the limiting reactant
and excess reactant in this chemical reaction. Your choices are
either copper(II) sulfate or iron. Your answer should follow the
following format:
1. Claim: 1 sentence stating which was the limiting reactant and
which was the excess reactant. (1 point for correctly identifying
limiting and excess reactants)
2. Evidence: 1 sentence for each observation you made that
support your claim. The more relevant evidence you can provide
the stronger your claim will be. (2 points for relevant evidence that
supports your claim about both of the reactants)
3. Reasoning: 1-2 sentences explaining how your evidence supports
your claim. This must explain why your evidence leads you to your
claim. (1 point for reasoning that uses scientific principles to
connect your evidence to your claim)
Using your data and calculations as evidence identify the limiting
reactant and excess reactant in this chemical reaction. Your choices
are either copper(II) sulfate or iron. Your answer should follow the
following format:
1. Claim: 1 sentence stating which was the limiting reactant and
which was the excess reactant. (1 point for correctly identifying
limiting and excess reactants)

2. Evidence: 1 sentence for each piece of data or calculation that

supports your claim. The more relevant evidence you can provide
the stronger your claim will be. (2 points for relevant evidence that
supports your claim about both of the reactants)
3. Reasoning: 1-2 sentences explaining how your evidence supports
your claim. This must explain why your evidence leads you to your
claim. (1 point for reasoning that uses scientific principles to
connect your evidence to your claim)
Error Analysis (4 points)
Divide your experimental mass of copper by the theoretical mass of
copper produced from the limiting reactant to get your percent yield?
In a laboratory, this reaction should produce a percent yield of at least
90%. If your percent yield was less than that, explain in 3-5
sentences why that might have happened.
Final Thoughts (4 points)
Compare your limiting reactant/excess reactant answer from your
observations and your limiting reactant/excess reactant answer from
your data and calculations. Do they match? If they dont, how do you
explain the discrepancy? Whether they match or not, explain whether
your observations or your data/calculations make a stronger argument
for which is the limiting reactant.