What is limiting reactant in chemistry?

CHEMISTRY: I would like to know how limiting reactant works...?

• Hello, I seem to be having trouble understanding limiting reactant and non-limiting reactant. This is a random example from my textbook, it says: 100 mL of AgNO3 (0.1M) reacts with 50mL of NaCl (0.12M) Find the LR and NLR. I know that the NaCl is the LR, but I want some tips on HOW to correctly find it, since I seem to be getting the wrong numbers as results. Thank you.

• Answer:

  Start with the balanced to see the mole ratio: NaCl + AgNO3 ---------> AgCl + NaNO3 Now calculate the moles of each reactant. The one with the smallest no. of moles is the limiting reagent. ? mole AgNO3 = 0.100 L x 0.1 mole AgNO3/ L = 0.0100 mol AgNO3 ? mole NaCl = 0.050 L x 0.12 mole NaCl/L = 0.0060 mole NaCl NaCl is the limiting reagent since it is present in the smaller number of moles.