TUKURAN TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

San Carlos, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur 7019

General Chemistry I Handout 6

STOICHIOMETRY

Stoichiometry – is the study of the quantitative aspects of formulas and reactions.

– It is the calculation of quantities of substances involved in chemical reactions.
– It is the numerical relationships of elements and compounds, and the mathematical proportions of
reactants and products in chemical reactions (Greek words stoicheion “element or part” and metron
“measure”)

Understanding the Mole Concept and Mole Ratio in a Chemical Equation

Let’s consider a chemical equation below.

2 Na + Cl2 2 NaCl

In microscale level, we can say that in order for this chemical reaction to proceed, 2 sodium atoms and
1 molecule of diatomic chlorine is needed to form 2 formula units of sodium chloride. Henceforth for the
macroscale level, you need 2 mol of Na atoms and 1 mol of Cl 2 to create 2 mol of NaCl. Thus the mole ratio
for this reaction is 2 mol Na: 1 mol Cl2: 2 mol NaCl. You can express the mole ratio in fractional form too like
below. The fraction can be reversed depending on which component substance you want to determine in terms
of quantity.

2 mol Na 2 mol Na 1 mol Cl2

1mol Cl 2
= 2mol NaCl
=
2mol NaCl
Likewise, the same thing happens when you express them by the number of particles and the atomic
and formula/molecular masses (always multiply them with the coefficent for the respective components based
from the chemical equation).

Reaction Stoichiometry Framework

A balanced equation gives more information than simply reactants and products. Consider the
combustion reaction of propane and oxygen.
C3H8 + 5 O2 3 CO2 + 4 H2O
Using the equation above, we can already see the fixed number and amount of reactants and products
in microscale (molecular) and macroscale (in moles) levels. So what about the molecular masses? You can
see them in the framework below.
In order for you to be guided in solving problems involving stoichiometric calculations, the reaction
stoichiometry framework can help you by studying it.
Reaction Stoichiometry Framework
1. Name of reactants and
products
Propane + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water
2. Balanced equation C3H8 + 5 O2 → 3 CO2 + 4 H2O
3. Number of moles of
1 mol 5 mol 3 mol 4 mol
reactants and products
4. Molar masses in each of
44.11 g/mol 32.00 g/mol 44.01 g/mol 18.02 g/mol
substances
5 x 32.00 g/mol = 3 x 44.01 g/mol = 4 x 18.02 g/mol =
5. Stoichiometry masses 44.11 g/mol
160.00 g/mol 132.03 g/mol 72.08 g/mol
6. Total mass 204.11 g/mol 204.11 g/mol
7. Number of particles in each 5 (6.02 x 1023) 3 (6.02 x 1023) 4 (6.02 x 1023)
6.02 x 1023 molecules
substance molecules molecules molecules

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San Carlos, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur 7019

Notice that the total mass of reactants is equal to the total mass of the products. If you can remember
the Law of Conservation of Mass, mass of substances before and after reaction remains the same. This means
that the mass is conserved!

Stoichiometric Calculations
A. Mole-to-Mass Calculations
1. Given the equation

CH4 + 2 O2 Δ CO2 + 2 H2O

A. Find the following information:
a. number of moles in each susbtance
b. masses of reactants and products
c. number of particles derived from mole ratio (use Avogadro’s number)

Solution:
a. 1 mol CH4 + 2 mol O2 1 mol CO2 + 2 mol H2O
b. 16.05 g CH4 + 64.00 g O2 = 44.01 g CO2 + 36.04 g H2O
80.05 g = 80.05 g
6.02 x 1023 molecules 6.02 x 1023 molecules
c. (1 mol CH4 x mol CH 4 ) + (2 mol O2 x mol O 2 )
6.02 x 1023 molecules 6.02 x 1023 molecules
(1 mol CO2 x mol CO 2 ) + (2 mol H2O x mol H 2 O )
1.8 x 1024 molecules 1.8 x 1024 molecules

B. Using the give chemical equation, how many moles of carbon dioxide are produced when 5.0
moles of oxygen reacts with methane?
Solution:
1mol CO 2
mol CO2 = 5.0 mol O2 x = 2.5 mol CO2
2 mol O 2
2. How many grams of ammonia are produced from 44.00 g of nitrogen?

N2 + 3 H2 2 NH3
Solution:
The key stoichiometric calculation in this kind of problem is to make use of conversion factors to
convert from moles of substance A to moles of substance B. Using the dimensional analysis (see
the box below), you can have
1 mol N 2 2mol NH 3 17.04 g NH 3
Mass NH3 = 44.00 g N2 x x x
28.02 g N 2 1 mol N 2 mol NH 3
= 53.52 g NH3

Molar mass Mole ratio Molar mass

Mass Mole Mole Mass
of A 1 mol of A
[ ×
gram ] Coefficient
of A and B
of B
[ ×
gram
mol ] of B

Procedure used to solve problems involving mass-to-mole stoichiometric calculations

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San Carlos, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur 7019

B. Mole-to-Mass Calculations

3. Pure silver can be obtained by heating Ag2CO3.

2 Ag2CO3 Δ 4 Ag + 2 CO2 + O2

Given 1.8 x 1024 molecules of Ag2CO3,

a. How many atoms of Ag are produced?
b. How many molecules of CO2 are produced?

Solution:
Taking note of the coefficients in the balanced equation, set up the equation and use
dimensional analysis.

1 mol Ag 2 CO 3
a. Atoms of Ag = 1.8 x 1024 molecules of Ag2CO3 X
[ 6.02 x 1023 molecules Ag 2 CO 3
X
]
4 mol Ag
[ 2 mol Ag 2CO 3 ]
6.02 x 1023 atoms Ag
[
X
1 mol Ag ] = 3.6 x 1024 atoms of Ag

1 mol Ag 2 CO 3
b. Molecules of CO2 = 1.8 x 1024 molecules of Ag2CO3 X
[ 6.02 x 1023 molecules Ag 2 CO 3 ]
2 mol CO 2 6.02 x 1023 molecules CO 2
X [ 2 mol Ag 2CO 3
X][ 1 mol CO 2 ] = 1.8 x 1024 molecules CO2

Avogadro’s no. Mole ratio Avogadro’s no.

Particles Mole Mole Particles
of A 1 mol
[ ×
6.02 x 1023 ] of A Coefficient
of A and B
of B
[ ×
6.02 x 10
1 mol
23

] of B

Mass Mass
of A of B

Procedure used to calculate the number of particles or mass of another substance when the number of
particles or mass of one substance is given.

Exercise
1. Hydrazine, N2H4, used as rocket fuel and in making pesticides, is prepared from the reaction
2 NaOH + Cl2 + 2 NH3 N2H4 + 2 NaCl + 2 H2O
a. How many moles of N2H4 are produced when 6.0 moles of NH3 is used?
b. How many grams of NH3 are used to produce 32.00 grams of N2H4 ?
c. How many molecules of NaOH are needed to produce 1.2 x 1024 molecules of H2O?
d. How many particles of Cl2 is needed to produce 32.00 grams of N2H4 ?

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San Carlos, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur 7019

Limiting Reagent
Limiting Reagent (Limiting Reactant) – is a reactant that is completely used up during the reaction.
Excess Reagent – is a reactant that exceeds from the required amount for a reaction.
Example:
Dichlorodifluoromethane, CCl2F2, a refrigerant, is prepared from the reaction of CCl4 and HF.
CCl4 + 2 HF CCl2F2 + 2 HCl
What will happen when 3.00 grams of CCl4 reacts with 3.00 grams of HF?
a. Which is the limiting reagent?
b. How much of the excess reagent remains unreacted?
c. How many grams of CCl2F2 was produced?

Solution:
a. Start with a mole ratio from the balanced equation.

1 mol CCl 4 2 mol HF 20 g HF

Mass HF = 3.00 g CCl4 X X X = 0.779 g HF
154 g CCl 4 1mol CCl 4 1mol HF
This shows that 3.00 g g of CCl 4 reacts completely with 0.779 g HF, so CCl 4 is the limiting
reagent and HF is the excess reagent.
b. The amount of excess reagent unreacted is the difference between the given amount and the
amount consumed in the reaction

Mass HF unreacted = 3.00 g HF – 0.779 g HF = 2.221 g HF or 2.22 g HF

c. The mass of CCl2F2 produced can be calculated using either the mass of HF consumed in the
reaction or the given mass of CCl4 .

1mol HF 1mol CCl 2 F 2 123 g CCl 2 F 2

Mass CCl2F2 = 0.779 g HF X X X = 2.40 g CCl2F2
20 g HF 2 mol HF 1 mol CCl 2 F 2
Or
1 mol CCl 4 1mol CCl 2 F 2 123 g CCl 2 F 2
Mass CCl2F2 = 3.00 g CCl4 X X X = 2.40 g CCl2F2
154 g CCl 4 1 mol CCl 4 1 mol CCl 2 F 2

Exercise:
1. Wood alcohol, methanol (CH3OH), is used in the preparation of many chemicals. Methanol is produced
from the reaction of carbon monoxide and hydrogen at high temperature and pressure.
CO + 2 H2 → CH3OH
If 10.00 g of CO reacts with 8.00 g of H2,
a. What is the limiting reagent?
b. How much of the excess reagent remains unreacted?
c. How many grams of methanol was produced?

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San Carlos, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur 7019

NOTE: In case that the given reactants do not have the same amount in grams or moles, identify which
substance or reactant that has a lesser mass or amount. This can be a factor to determine the limiting
reagent. However, doing computations to prove that the reactant is a limiting reagent remains the best
way.
Percentage Yield
Theoretical Yield – the calculated amountof products in a chemical reaction.
Actual Yield – the amount of product that is actually produced.
Percentage (Percent) Yield or % Yield – is the ratio between the actual yield over the theoretical yield in
percent.
Formula for computing % yield,
actual yield
% yield = x 100%
theoretical yield
Example:
Urea, CO(NH2)2, a commonly used fertilizer, is produced from the reaction
2 NH3 + CO2 → CO(NH2)2 + H2O
If 51.0 g of NH3 and 44.0 g of CO2 are made to react, and 25.0 grams of urea form per mole of NH 3 that
reacts, what is the (a) theoretical yield, (b) actual yield, and (c) percent yield in this reaction?

Solution:
a. Let’s identify the limiting reagent. Based from the reaction, the mole ratio of NH 3 to CO2 is 2:1 to
produce 1 mol of CO(NH2)2, hence the mass ratio for the reaction is 34.0 g NH3 (17.0 g/mol NH3 x 2 moles) is
to 44.0 g CO2 (34:44) to produce 60.0 g/mol of urea. Therefore, the limiting reagent is CO2.
Now, let’s solve for the theoretical yield

1mol NH 3 1mol CO ( NH 2 ) 2 60.0 g CO ( NH 2 ) 2

Theoretical yield = 51.0 g NH3 X X X
17.0 NH 3 2 mol NH 3 1 mol CO ( NH 2 ) 2
= 90.0 g CO(NH2)2
b. Note that in every mole of NH 3, 25.0 grams of urea is produced, and since 2 mol of NH 3 is required
for the reaction based from the equation, this means that the actual yield is 50.0 g.
25.0 g CO(NH2)2 x 2 = 50.0 g CO(NH2)2
Note: If the actual/theoretical yield is given in moles, you have to convert it in grams!
c. For the percentage yield,
actual yield 50.0 g
% yield = x 100% = x 100% = 55.6%
theoretical yield 9 0.0 g

Exercise
1. In a reaction of 2 moles of H2 with 2.0 moles of CO, 0.86 moles of CH3OH is produced.
CO + 2 H2 → CH3OH

What are the (a) theoretical yield, (b) actual yield, and (c) percent yield of the reaction?