CALCULATIONS STEPS IN CHEMISTRY INVOLVING A REACTIONS

1. Write balance equation

2. Write the information of each reactant and products given under the equation.

3. Calculate the number of mol of the reactant or product with the complete information using
a suitable formula

4. Calculate the mol ratio of the compound in the question.

5. Solve the question asked using the correct formula.

Some useful formulae

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
mol =
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠

𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
mol = 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
𝑛𝑜 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 (𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑚,𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑜𝑛)
mol = 𝑁𝐴

𝑀𝑉
mol of solution (salt, acid, base solution) = 1000 , M : molarity ; V : Volume
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
Concentration = 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
Molarity =
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

÷ molar mass
Concentration Molarity
x molar mass

Example

Calculate mass of MgO produced if 2 g of Magnesium reacted in excess oxygen.

[relative atomic mass : Mg : 24 ; O : 16]

Step 1 : Write balance equation

2Mg + O2 ==> 2MgO

Step 2 : Write the information of each reactant and products given under the equation.

2Mg + O2 ==> 2MgO

m=2g m=?

Step 3 : Calculate the number of mol of the reactant or product with the complete information using
a suitable formula

Mol of Mg = mass/molar mass = 2/24 = 0.0833mol

Step 4 : Calculate the mol ratio of the compound in the question.

2 mol of Mg : 2 mol of MgO

0.0833 mol of Mg : 0.0833 mol of MgO

Step 5 : Solve the question asked using the correct formula.

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
mol = 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠

so, mass = mol x molar mass = 0.0833 x (24+16) = 3.33 g of MgO

!!! Do not round up your calculation until your final answer. Use ‘Ans’ on the calculator to use the
previous calculated value.