Concept:
The limiting reactant is the substance that gets fully consumed first and determines the maximum amount of product formed.
Step 1:
In many reactions, reactants are not supplied in exact stoichiometric ratio.
Step 2:
The reactant that finishes first stops the reaction because no more product can form.
Step 3:
It limits the amount of final product obtained.
Step 4:
Excess reactant remains unused, catalyst speeds reaction, inert reactant does not participate.
Step 5:
Hence, the completely consumed first reactant is the limiting reactant.