Slide 1

STOICHIOMETRY

Slide 2

STOICHIOMETRY
A + B → AB
■ From Ancient Greek words “stoicheion” (element) and
“metron (measure)
■ Founded on the Law of Conservation of Mass where
the total mass of the reactants equals the total mass
of the products
■ Using a balanced chemical equation to calculate
amounts of reactants and products

It is very important that at this stage, you know how to balance chemical equations. Balancing equations
is a very vital step in stoichiometry.
Slide 3

2 H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O(l)

■ The coefficients in a balanced equation indicate

both the relative number of MOLECULES (or formula
units) in the reaction and the relative number of
MOLES
■ 2 mol H2, 1 mol O2, and 2 mol H2O are called
stoichiometrically equivalent quantities

2 mol H2 1 mol O2 2 mol H2O

means “stoichiometrically equivalent to”

The term "stoichiometrically equivalent" means that a definite quantity of one

substance reacts with a definite quantity of all the other substances represented in the
equation.

Slide 4
Video:

Mole-level interpretation: Calculation of grams of each substance from their respective moles. Notice
the conservation of mass – the total mass of the reactants is equal to the mass of the products.

Slide 5

2 H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O(l)

■ Ex. Calculate the number of moles of H2O produced

from 1.57 mol of O2.

Since the mole of each substance (or the coefficients of the balanced equation) is stoichiometrically
equivalent, therefore, it can be used as a conversion factor to convert from moles of substance A to moles
of substance B. In this example, H2 can also be used to solve for the H2O produced if its mass is given.
Slide 6

C4H10(g) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + H2O(l)

■ Calculate the mass of CO2 produced when 1.00 g of

C4H10 is burned.

The first step in solving stoichiometry problems is to balance the equation. Using the scheme above, we
can find the grams of substance B from grams of substance A. Their connecting factor is the mole. Thus,
when the given is in grams, always convert it to moles. Then, mole of substance A can be converted to
moles of substance B using the coefficients from the balanced equation since they are stoichiometrically
equivalent. It is important that we follow the steps, no shortcuts. Make sure that your units cancel and
you arrive at the desired unit.
Note 1: If the given is already in moles, skip step 1 and proceed to step 2.

Video:
Slide 7

C4H10(g) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + H2O(l)

■ Calculate the amount in grams of O2 consumed

when 1.00 g of C4H10 is burned.

Different substance B but same method.

Video:

Slide 8

TYPES OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS

1. Addition or Combination Reactions
– when two or more substances combine to form another substance
2 H2 + O2 → 2 H2O S + O2 → SO2
Mg + Cl2 → MgCl2 PCl3 + Cl2 → PCl5
2. Decomposition Reactions
- when one compound breaks down (decompose) into two or more substances
2 KClO3 → 2 KCl + 3 O2 2 H2O → 2 H2 + O2
SiH4 → Si + 2 H2 CaCO3 → CaO + CO2
3. Displacement or Substitution Reactions
– when one part of the compound is replaced by another
2 NaI + Cl2 → 2 NaCl + I2 Zn + 6 HCl → ZnCl2 + H2
2 Al + 6 HCl → 2 AlCl3 + 3 H2 Mg + NiCl2 → MgCl2 + Ni
4. Double Decomposition or Metathetical Reactions
- when two compounds exchange parts
MgO + 2 HCl → MgCl2 + H2O Na2S + 2 HCl → 2 NaCl + H2S
H2SO4 + Mg(OH)2 → MgSO4 + 2 H2O

Review of Types of Chemical Reactions

Slide 9

By now, you should be able to interpret this type of problem. Balance after giving their correct chemical
formula. Practice solving by yourself.

2 LiOH(s) + CO2 (g) → Li2CO3 (s) + H2O (l)

MMLiOH = 23.95 g/mol; MMCO2 = 44.01 g/mol
ANSWER: g CO2 = 0.919 g CO2

Slide 10

LIMITING REACTANTS

Cheese Sandwich:
1 cheese
2 slices of bread

= 5 sandwiches and
2 extra cheese

10 slices of bread + 7 pieces of cheese

Suppose you want to make a cheese sandwiches using one cheese & 2 slices of bread. Now you
have 10 slices of bread and 7 slices of cheese, how many cheese sandwiches can you make?
Answer: 5 sandwiches and 2 extra cheese. The amount of bread, therefore, limits the number of
sandwiches that can be made.
Slide 11

LIMITING REACTANTS

= 5 sandwiches and
2 extra cheese

10 slices of bread + 7 pieces of cheese

2 Bd + Ch → Bd2Ch

Bread: limiting reactant

Cheese: Excess reactant

If we make it into a chemical equation it can look like this (of course it is also balanced):
2 Bd + Ch → Bd2Ch

where Bd is bread, Ch is cheese, and Bd2Ch is the cheese sandwich.

Since the bread limits the number of cheese sandwiches produced, therefore, it is the limiting
reactant. On the other hand, since there are pieces of cheese left, therefore, it is the excess
reactant.

Slide 12

LIMITING REACTANTS
Ex. Consider respiration, one of the most common chemical reactions on
earth: C6H12O6 + 6 O2 → 6 CO2 + 6H2O + energy

What mass of CO2 forms in the reaction of 25 grams of glucose with 40

grams of oxygen?

Plan:
1. Balance the chemical equation for the chemical reaction.
2. Convert the given information for the reactants into moles.
3. Calculate the mole ratio from the given information. Determine the
limiting reactant.
4. Use the amount of limiting reactant to calculate the amount of CO2 or
H2O produced.
5. If necessary, calculate how much is left in excess.

When the amounts of the reactants are both given, then you have to find which is the limiting reactant.
The limiting reactant will determine how much product is produced. Because once the limiting reactant
is consumed, the reaction can no longer proceed.

Again, the first step is to balance the equation. But this one is already balanced. Then the second step is
to convert all given into moles.
Video:

*Based on my experience, some students have a different way of solving Limiting Reactants
from the way that I solve. That is ok as long as we arrive with the same values, even if our
process is different. This is the way that I solve based on the reference.

PLAN:
1. The equation is already balanced.
2. Convert the grams of glucose (C6H12O6) and O2 to moles using their respective molar masses.
This number of moles is the “AVAILABLE” amount that can be used up in the reaction.
3. The purpose of multiplying the mole ratio is to determine what amount of Reactant A is
“NEEDED” for Reactant B to be completely consumed. For example, for Glucose, for it to be
completely consumed, 0.8328 mole of O2 is needed. On the other hand, for O2 to be
completely consumed, 0.208 mole of glucose is needed. Then, compare these values to the
actual or the Available amount. 0.8328 mol O2 is needed (for glucose to be consumed) and O2
has 1.25 mol. 0.208 mol glucose is needed (for O2 to be consumed), but glucose has only
0.1389 mol therefore, glucose is the Limiting Reactant (LR). Its available amount is less than
what is needed. It follows then that O2 is the Excess Reactant (ER).
4. When the LR is consumed, the reaction can no longer proceed, therefore, no more products
will be formed. That is why the LR is used to calculate the amount of product (CO2 or H2O, in
this example) produced. Take note that we use the actual or the AVAILABLE amount and not
the NEEDED amount.
5. To solve for the amount left in the ER, just subtract the AVAILABLE amount from the NEEDED
or the amount that was used up. Convert to grams using molar mass, if asked.
Slide 13

LIMITING REACTANTS
Ex. Mg + O2 → MgO

a. Calculate the mass of

magnesium oxide possible if 24.0
g Mg reacts with 10.0 g O2.
b. Calculate the mass of the excess
reagent.

Same procedure. Note: More grams as the reactant, doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the excess
reactant.

Video:
Slide 14

PERCENT YIELDS
% yield = x 100%

Theoretical yield - the quantity of product

calculated to form when all of a limiting
reactant is consumed.
Actual yield* – the amount of product
actually obtained

*almost always less than (and can never be greater than) the
theoretical yield

Yield is to produce or the amount of product produced. Theoretical yield (TY) is the ideal yield that a
reaction should produce. This is based on calculation and does not take in to account any losses from an
actual experimentation. The actual yield (AY) is the amount of product you produced after an experiment.
It is always less than the TY since there is no such thing as a perfect experiment, there will be errors and
losses.

Slide 15

PERCENT YIELDS
Ex. Adipic acid, H2C6H8O4, used to produce
nylon, is made commercially by a reaction
between cyclohexane (C6H12) and O2:
2 C6H12 + 5 O2 → 2 H2C6H8O4 + 2 H2O
a. Assume that you carry out this reaction with
25.0 g of cyclohexane and that cyclohexane
is the limiting reactant. What is the
theoretical yield of adipic acid?
b. If you obtain 33.5 g of adipic acid, what is
the % yield for the reaction?