Final answer:
To find the limiting reactant's chemical formula, compare the mole ratio of reactants to their stoichiometric coefficients in the balanced equation. The limiting reactant is the one that yields the least amount of product when the mole ratio is applied.
Step-by-step explanation:
The chemical formula for the limiting reactant in a chemical reaction can be determined by comparing the mole ratio of the reactants to the coefficients in the balanced chemical equation. To identify the limiting reactant, calculate the number of moles of each reactant and use the balanced equation to determine which reactant has fewer moles than required stoichiometrically. The reactant that yields the least amount of product is the limiting reactant. Here's an example using a simple generic reaction: For instance, if hydrogen and chlorine were reacting, the equation might look like this when balanced: H2 + Cl2 → 2HCl. This shows a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio between hydrogen and chlorine. If you had 3 moles of H2 and enough Cl2, H2 would be the limiting reactant, and you could produce up to 6 moles of HCl.