Question

Which of the reactants in this reaction is the limiting reagent? Which is the reagent in excess?

sodium bicarbonate (s) + hydrochloric acid (aq) -> sodium chloride (aq) + carbon dioxide (g) + water:
NaHCO3 (s) + HCl (aq) -> NaCl (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l)

Answer 1

Because the reaction carried out to completion, forming water, carbon dioxide and a salt, it is likely that the acid was in excess and sodium bicarbonate was limiting.