Stoichiometry problems which give a known amount of one reactant and solve for an amount of product frequently state that there is "an excess" or "plenty" of the reactant(s) not given. (For example, in the equation 2Na + 2H2O → 2NaOH + H2, how many grams of sodium hydroxide are produced from 3.0 mol of sodium with an excess of water?) Why is it necessary to know that there is an excess of these reactant(s)?