Explain the connection between reactants, products and limiting reactant.

In easy words the connection between Reactants, Products and Limiting reactants is as follow,

Reactants and Products:

Reactants are the starting materials for the synthesis of final synthesized materials called as products.

Example:

CH₄ + 2 O₂ → CO₂ + 2 H₂O

In above reaction Methane (CH₄) and Oxygen (O₂) are the reactants while, CO₂ and H₂O are the products.

Reactants, Products and Limiting Reactants:

Considering the same example it is seen that for one mole of CO₂ two moles of O₂ are required to completely convert into CO₂ and H₂O. If either of the reactant is taken less than the required amount then it will act as a limiting reactant because it will consume first leaving the second reactant present in excess as compare to it. Hence, we can say that the limiting reactant is the starting material which controls the amount of product being formed.