Senior High School

General
Chemistry 1
Quarter 1 Week 4 Module 4
Mass Relationships in
Chemical Reactions
General Chemistry 1 – Grade 11
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 Week 4 Module 4: Mass Relationships in Chemical Reactions
2nd Edition 2021

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Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

Development Team of the Module

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Language Editor:
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 What I Need to Know
This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master the nature of Chemistry. The scope of this module permits it to be used in
many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse
vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard
sequence of the course. The module is divided into three lessons, namely:
• Lesson 1 – Molecular Formula from Molar Mas
• Lesson 2 – Writing and Balancing Chemical Equations
• Lesson 3 – Stoichiometry
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. calculate molecular formula given molar mass (STEM_GC11PClf-33);
2. write and balance chemical equations (STEM_GC11CRlf-g-37);
3. construct mole or mass ratios for a reaction in order to calculate the amount
of reactant needed or amount of product formed in terms of moles or mass
(STEM_GC11MRlg-h-38);
4. calculate percent yield and theoretical yield of the reaction (STEM_GC11MRlg-
h-39);
5. explain the concept of limiting reagent in a chemical reaction; identify the
excess reagent(s) (STEM_GC11MRlg-h-40); and
6. determine mass relationship in a chemical reaction (STEM_GC11MRlg-h-42)

What I Know
Choose the letter of the correct answer. Please write down your answer in another
sheet of paper.
1. Nicotine, an alkaloid in the nightshade family of plants that is mainly responsible
for the addictive nature of cigarettes, contains 74.02% C, 8.710% H, and 17.27% N.
If 40.57 g of nicotine contains 0.2500 mol nicotine, what is the molecular formula?
A. CH2N B. C5H7N C. C10H14N2 D. C20H28N4
2. Balance the following equation with the SMALLEST WHOLE NUMBER
COEFFICIENTS possible. Which is the SUM of the coefficients in the balanced
equation: ___KClO3 → ___ KCl + ____ O2 ?
A. 5 B. 6 C. 7 D. 8
3. In the balanced equation 4NH3 + 7O2 → 4NO2 + 6H2O, how many mole(s) of O2 is
needed to react with 1.00 mole of NH3?
A. 1.25 B. 1.33 C. 1.75 D. 3.5
4. How many grams of H2O will be formed when 32.0 g H2 is allowed to react with
16.0 g O2 according to 2 H2 + O2 → 2H2O ?
A. 9.0 g B. 16.0 g C. 18.0 g D. 32.0 g
5. What is a limiting reagent? It is a reactant that is _____.
A. is never used up
B. in excess and does not get used up in the reaction
C. used up last and prevents more product from being made
D. used up first and prevents more products from being made
6. Consider the reaction: 2Al + 3Cl2 → 2AlCl3. How many grams of aluminum
chloride could be produced from 34.0 g of aluminum and 39.0 g of chlorine gas?
A. 0.367 g B. 1.26 g C. 12.30 g D. 48.9g
7. What mass in grams of AgCl is produced when 4.22 g of AgNO 3 react with 7.73 g
of AlCl3? Use the following equation: 3AgNO3 + AlCl3 → Al(NO3)3 + 3AgCl
A. 0.0248 g B. 0.174 g C. 3.56 g D. 24.9 g
8. In the oxidation of ethane, 2C 2H6 + 7O2 → 4CO2 + 6H2O, how many moles of
O2 are required to react with 1 mole of ethane?
A. 7 mol B. 2 mol C. 7/2 mol D. 2/7 mol
9. In the reaction 2C2H6 + 7O2 → 4CO2 + 6H2O, how many moles of CO2 are
formed when 1 mole of O2 is consumed?
A. 2 mol B. 7/4 mol C. 4/7 mol D. 7 mol
10. How many moles of CO2 are formed when 5 moles of ethane are consumed,
considering the reaction: 2C2H6 + 7O2 → 4CO2 + 6H2O?
A. 2 mol B. 4 mol C. 5 mol D. 10 mol
11. Which is studied in stoichiometry?
A. rates of chemical reactions
B. activation energy of chemical reactions
C. heat evolved or absorbed during chemical reactions
D. amounts of materials consumed and products in chemical reactions
12. What do you call the amount of product that can be made in a chemical reaction
based on the amount of limiting reactant?
A. Actual yield C. Theoretical yield
B. Percent yield D. None of these
13. What is the term for the number written before a chemical formula to balance a
chemical equation?
A. coefficient B. subscript C. superscript D. unit
14. What is a substance that undergo chemical change called?
A. excess reagent B. limiting reagent C. product D. reactant
15. Which states that matter is neither created nor destroyed during a physical or
chemical reaction?
A. Periodic Law C. Law of Conservation of Energy
B. Law of Entropy D. Law of Conservation of Matter

Lesson 1 Molecular Formula from Molar Mass

What’s In
Previously, you have learned how to calculate the chemical formula of a
substance by using its percent composition. The formula calculated from percent
composition by mass is always the empirical formula because the subscripts in the
formula are always reduced to the smallest whole numbers. In this lesson, we shall
learn to calculate the actual formula.

What’s New

Fructose, a sugar found in fruit, has

Figure 4.1. Fructose molecule
(Source: Tro, Nivaldo J. Introductory
Chemistry 4th ed., Prentice Hall Inc., 2012)
an empirical formula of CH2O, and has a
molecular formula of C6H12O6. Can you
spot the difference between the two
chemical formulas? Is there a pattern? If
so, what is it?
 What Is It
To calculate the actual, molecular formula we must know the approximate
molar mass of the compound in addition to its empirical formula. Knowing that the
molar mass of a compound must be an integral multiple of the molar mass of its
empirical formula, we can use the molar mass to find the molecular formula, as the
following example demonstrates.

Example:
A sample of a compound contains 1.52 g of nitrogen (N) and 3.47 g of oxygen
(O). The molar mass of this compound is between 90 g and 95 g. Determine the
molecular formula and the accurate molar mass of the compound.

Strategy:
To determine the molecular formula, we first need to determine the empirical
formula. How do we convert between grams and moles? Comparing the empirical
molar mass to the experimentally determined molar mass will reveal the relationship
between the empirical formula and molecular formula.

Solution:
We are given grams of N and O. Use molar mass as a conversion factor to
convert grams to moles of each element. Let n represent the number of moles of each
element. We write
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁
𝑛𝑁 = 1.52 𝑔 𝑁 × = 0.108 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁
14.01 𝑔 𝑁
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂
𝑛𝑂 = 3.47 𝑔 𝑂 × = 0.217 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂
16.00 𝑔 𝑂

Thus, we arrive at the formula N0.108 O0.217 , which gives the identity and the
ratios of atoms present. However, chemical formulas are written with whole
numbers. Try to convert to whole numbers by dividing the subscripts by the smaller
subscript (0.108). After rounding off, we obtain NO 2 as the empirical formula.

0.108 0.217
N O = N1.00O2.01 ≈ NO2
0.108 0.108

The molecular formula might be the same as the empirical formula or some
integral multiple of it (for example, two, three, four, or more times the empirical
formula). Comparing the ratio of the molar mass to the molar mass of the empirical
formula will show the integral relationship between the empirical and molecular
formulas. The molar mass of the empirical formula NO2 is

Empirical molar mass = 14.01 g + 2(16.00 g) = 46.01 g

Next, we determine the ratio between the molar mass and the empirical molar mass

𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 90 𝑔
= ≈2
𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 46.01 𝑔

The molar mass is twice the empirical molar mass. This means that there are two
NO2 units in each molecule of the compound, and the molecular formula is (NO2)2 or
N2O4. The actual molar mass of the compound is two times the empirical molar mass,
that is, 2(46.01 g) or 92.02 g, which is between 90 g and 95 g.

What’s More
Read each problem carefully and answer what is asked. Show your solutions. Use a
separate sheet of paper.
1. A sample of a compound containing Boron (B) and hydrogen (H) contains
6.444 g of B and 1.803 g of H. The molar mass of the compound is about 30
g. What is its molecular formula?

2. An unknown compound is found to contain 40.0% carbon, 6.7% hydrogen,

and 53.3% oxygen with a molecular mass of 60.0 g/mol. What is the
molecular formula of the unknown compound?

3. Naphthalene is a compound containing carbon and hydrogen that is often

used in mothballs. Its empirical formula is C5H4 and its molar mass is 128.16
g/mol. What is its molecular formula?

Writing and Balancing Chemical

Lesson 2
Equations
What’s In
At the heart of chemistry, is the study of chemical changes. Some chemical
changes are simple; others are complex. Some are dramatic, while some are very
subtle. Even as you sit reading this module, chemical changes are occurring within
your body. Chemical changes that occur in your eyes and brain, for example, allow
you to see these words and think about them. Although such chemical changes or
reactions are not as obvious as some, they are nevertheless remarkable for how they
allow us to function. In this lesson, we shall look at various chemical changes or
reactions and represent them with chemical equations.

What’s New
When a car is
driven,
hydrocarbons such
as octane (in
gasoline) react with
oxygen from the air
to form carbon
dioxide gas and
water (Figure 4.2).
This reaction Figure 4.2. Combustion reaction in automobile engines
produces heat, (Source: Tro, Nivaldo J. Introductory Chemistry 4th ed., Prentice Hall
Inc., 2012)
which expands the
gases in the car’s cylinders, accelerating it forward. Reactions such as this one—in
which a substance reacts with oxygen, emitting heat and forming one or more
oxygen-containing compounds—are combustion reactions.
 What Is It

A chemical equation is a representation of a chemical reaction that displays

the reactants and products with chemical formulas. The chemical equation for the
reaction of methane with oxygen is shown:

CH4 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

The equation above, called a skeleton equation, is an equation that shows

only the formulas of the reactants and products with nothing to indicate the relative
amounts. The first step in writing an accurate chemical equation is to write the
skeleton equation, making sure that the formulas of all substances involved are
written correctly. All reactants (substances that undergo change) are written to
the left of the yield arrow, separated from one another by a plus sign. Likewise,
products (substances formed) are written to the right of the yield arrow, also
separated with a plus sign.
It is often important to know the physical states of the reactants and products
taking part in a reaction. To do this, put the appropriate symbol in parentheses after
each formula: (s) for solid, (l) for liquid, (g) for gas, and (aq) for an aqueous (water-
based) solution. At room temperature, the components of the previous reaction are
in the following states:
CH4(g) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + H2O(l)

The following table shows a listing of symbols used in chemical equations.

Table 3.1 Symbols Used in Chemical Equations

Law of Conservation of Mass

The Law of Conservation of Mass states that, during a physical or chemical

change, matter is neither created nor destroyed. Therefore, for chemical
reactions:
1. The total numbers of each type of atom are the same before and after a
reaction has occurred.
2. The total mass of the products will be equal to the total mass of the
reactants.
 In other words, although chemical reactions involve the formation of new
substances, they do not involve the formation of new atoms. The only difference
between reactants and products is how atoms are arranged, as a result of the
breaking and forming of chemical bonds.

Balancing Chemical Equations

Often a formula equation does not show equal numbers of each type of atom
on both sides of the equation. Consider the following equation for the reaction
between nitrogen and hydrogen to form ammonia:
N2 + H2 → NH3
The left side of the equation (the reactants) shows 2 nitrogen atoms whereas
the right side of the equation (the product) shows 1 nitrogen atom. Similarly, the left
side of the equation shows 2 hydrogen atoms whereas the right side of the equation
shows 3 hydrogen atoms. When a formula equation shows unequal numbers of
atoms on either side of the equation, the equation is said to be unbalanced. The
equation is not demonstrating conservation of mass. To demonstrate conservation of
mass by having equal numbers of atoms on either side of the equation, the equation
needs to be balanced.
When first learning how to balance chemical equations, it can be helpful to
draw diagrams of reactants and products. For example, the above reaction between
nitrogen and hydrogen can be illustrated by the following diagram:

We can also create a tally to show the total number of each type of atom for
both sides of the equation:

If a formula equation is unbalanced when it is first written, it means that the

reactants and products do not exist in equal ratios. For example, in the above
reaction, one nitrogen molecule does not combine with one hydrogen molecule to
form one ammonia molecule. Therefore, we need to determine the correct ratio for all
reactants and products that will result in equal numbers of each type of atom on
both sides of the equation. When balancing a chemical equation, deal with one type
of atom at a time. Let us balance the above equation by first balancing the number
of nitrogen atoms. We will use diagrams and tallies to help us.
The only way to make the number of atoms equal on both sides of an equation
is to add more reactant or product molecules. For example, in the above equation we
cannot simply add 1 nitrogen atom to the products to balance the number of nitrogen
atoms. The only way we can increase the number of nitrogen atoms on the right side
is to add another ammonia molecule:
Now our diagram shows 2 nitrogen atoms on both sides of the equation. Let us
update the tally:

Now we have balanced the number of nitrogen atoms, but the number of
hydrogen atoms remains unbalanced. We have 2 hydrogen atoms on the left and 6
on the right. The only way to increase the number of hydrogen atoms on the left is
to add hydrogen molecules. To have 6 hydrogen atoms in total, we need 3 hydrogen
molecules, so we need to add 2 more:

Now our diagram shows 6 hydrogen atoms on both sides of the equation. Let us
update the tally:

We have now balanced the number of nitrogen atoms and the number of
hydrogen atoms. The last step is to rewrite the formula equation so that it
corresponds with our diagram. We do this by adding numbers called coefficients in
front of the chemical formulas of reactants and products that have more than one
copy. So we need to write “3” in front of H2 to represent 3 hydrogen molecules, and
a “2” in front of NH3 to represent 2 ammonia molecules.
We do not add a “1” in front of N2 to represent 1 nitrogen molecule (just as we
don’t have a subscript 1 next to the N in ammonia to represent 1 nitrogen atom).
Therefore, our balanced equation is:
N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3

Tips for Balancing Chemical Equations

• When first learning to balance chemical equations, use diagrams and tallies.
• Only adjust one type of atom at a time.
• Remember that coefficients change the tallies for all atoms in a substance, not
just the atom you are trying to balance.
• If the equation contains elements, leave them until last when adjusting
coefficients. This is because they can be adjusted without affecting the tallies
of other atoms.
• You can only balance an equation by placing coefficients in front of
substances. Never adjust the subscript numbers that are part of a chemical
formula. For example, you cannot change H 2O to H2O2, it must be written as
2 H2O if you wish to double the number of oxygen atoms.
• Only place whole numbers (2, 3, 4 etc.) in front of chemical formulas. If you
find that a fraction is required to balance an equation, multiply all coefficients
by the smallest number required to convert the fraction to a whole number.
 • Polyatomic groups, such as NO3 and SO4, often stay together in reactions. If
this is the case, consider them as one group in the tally, rather than as
individual atoms – this will simplify the process.

Example:

Pb(NO3)2 + NaCl → NaNO3 + PbCl2 (balance NO3 as a whole)

(NO3 is even on the left and
odd on the right)

Pb(NO3)2 + NaCl → 2NaNO3 + PbCl2 (multiply by 2 to make NO3 even)

Pb(NO3)2 + 2NaCl → 2NaNO3 + PbCl2 (balance the Na)

• Check that the coefficients are the smallest possible numbers. For
example, 4 H2 + 2 O2 → 4 H2O can be simplified to 2 H2 + O2 → 2 H2O.

What’s More
Copy and balance the following chemical equations in a separate sheet of paper.
Show your solution through a diagram or tally.

1. N2O5 → N2O4 + O2 6. P4O10 + H2O → H3PO4

2. KNO3 → KNO2 + O2 7. HCl + CaCO3 → CaCl2 + H2O + CO2
3. NH4NO3 → N2O + H2O 8. Al + H2SO4 → Al2(SO4)3 + H2
4. NH4NO2 → N2 + H2O 9. CO2 + KOH → K2CO3 + H2O
5. NaHCO3 → Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2 10. CH4 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

Lesson 3 Stoichiometry

What’s In
Stoichiometry is the area of study that examines the quantities of
substances consumed and produced in chemical reactions. This study of
stoichiometry provides an essential set of tools that is widely used in chemistry.
Aspects of stoichiometry include such diverse problems as measuring the
concentration of ozone in the atmosphere, determining the potential yield of gold
from an ore, and assessing different processes for converting coal into gaseous fuels.
We will study stoichiometry in this lesson to understand these processes better.

What’s New
Locate each given word and cross each out in the grid on the next page in any of the
eight possible directions horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Write down the first 14
uncrossed letters on the blank boxes at the bottom to reveal the hidden message.

BALANCED FORMULA MOLE REACTION

CHEMICAL LIMITING MOLECULAR REAGENT
EQUATION MASS PERCENT THEORETICAL
EXCESS MOLAR RATIO YIELD
Message:

What Is It
Making Pancakes: Relationship Between Ingredients

The concepts of stoichiometry are similar to the concepts we use in following

a cooking recipe. Calculating the amount of carbon dioxide produced by the
combustion of a given amount of a fossil fuel is similar to calculating the number of
pancakes that can be made from a given number of eggs. For example, suppose
you use the following pancake recipe:

1 cup flour + 2 eggs + ½ tsp baking powder → 5 pancakes

The recipe shows the numerical relationships between the pancake

ingredients. It says that if we have 2 eggs—and enough of everything else—we can
make 5 pancakes. We can write this relationship as a ratio.

2 eggs : 5 pancakes

What if we have 8 eggs? Assuming that we have enough of everything else,

how many pancakes can we make? Using the preceding ratio as a conversion factor,
we can determine that 8 eggs are sufficient to make 20 pancakes.

5 𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠
8 eggs × = 20 pancakes
2 𝑒𝑔𝑔𝑠

The pancake recipe contains numerical conversion factors between the

pancake ingredients and the number of pancakes. Other conversion factors from this
recipe include:
1 cup flour : 5 pancakes
½ tsp baking powder : 5 pancakes

The recipe also gives us relationships among the ingredients themselves. For
example, how much baking powder is required to go with 3 cups of flour? From the
recipe:
 1 cup flour : ½ tsp baking powder

With this ratio, we can form the conversion factor to calculate the appropriate
amount of baking powder.
1
tsp baking powder 3
2
3 cups flour × = tsp baking powder
1 cup flour 2

Making Molecules: Mole-to-Mole Conversions (Mole Ratio)

In a balanced chemical equation, we have a “recipe” for how reactants combine

to form products. For example, the following equation shows how hydrogen
and nitrogen combine to form ammonia (NH3).

The balanced equation shows that 3H2 molecules react with 1 N2 molecule to
form 2 NH3 molecules. We can express these relationships as the following ratios.
3 H2 molecules : 1 N2 molecule : 2 NH3 molecules

Since we do not ordinarily deal with individual molecules, we can express the
same ratios in moles.
3 mol H2 : 1 mol N2 : 2 mol NH3

If we have 3 mol of N2, and more than enough H2 how much NH3 can we
make? We first sort the information in the problem.

Given: 3 mol N2
Find: mol NH3
Solution Map:
We then strategize by drawing a solution map that begins with mol N 2 and
ends with mol NH3. The conversion factor comes from the balanced chemical
equation.

Relationships Used: 1 mol N2 : 2 mol NH3 (from balanced equation)

Solution: We can then do the conversion.

We have enough N2 to make 6 mol of NH3.

Making Molecules: Mass-to-Mass Conversions

We have seen how a chemical equation contains conversion factors

between moles of reactants and moles of products. However, we are often
interested in relationships between mass of reactants and mass of products. For
example, we might want to know the mass of carbon dioxide emitted by an
automobile per kilogram of gasoline used. Or we might want to know the mass
of each reactant required to obtain a certain mass of a product in a synthesis
reaction. The general outline for these types of calculations is:

where A and B are two different substances involved in the reaction. We use the
molar mass of A to convert from mass of A to moles of A. We use the ratio from
the balanced equation to convert from moles of A to moles of B, and we use the
molar mass of B to convert moles of B to mass of B. For example, suppose we
want to calculate the mass of CO2 emitted upon the combustion of 5.0 X 102 g of
pure octane. The balanced chemical equation for octane combustion is:

2 C8H18(l) + 25 O2(g) → 16 CO2(g) + 18 H2O(g)

We begin by sorting the information in the problem.

Given: 5.0 x 102 g C8H18

Find: g CO2
Notice that we are given g C8H18 and asked to find g CO2. The balanced
chemical equation, however, gives us a relationship between moles of C 8H18 and
moles of CO2. Consequently, before using that relationship, we must convert from
grams to moles.
The solution map uses the general outline

Mass A → Moles A → Moles B → Mass B

where A is octane and B is carbon dioxide.

Solution Map:
We strategize by drawing the solution map, which begins with mass of octane and
ends with mass of carbon dioxide.

Relationships Used:

Solution:
We then follow the solution map to solve the problem, beginning with g C 8H18
and canceling units to arrive at g CO2.

Upon combustion, 5.0 x 102 g of octane produces 1.5 x 103 g of carbon dioxide.
More Pancakes: Limiting Reactant, Theoretical Yield and Percent Yield

Let us return to our pancake analogy to understand two more concepts

important in reaction stoichiometry: limiting reactant and percent yield. Recall our
pancake recipe:
1 cup flour + 2 eggs + ½ tsp baking powder → 5 pancakes

Suppose we have 3 cups flour, 10 eggs, and 4 tsp baking powder. How many
pancakes can we make?

We have enough flour to make:

We have enough eggs to make:

We have enough baking powder to make:

We have enough flour for 15 pancakes, enough eggs for 25 pancakes, and
enough baking powder for 40 pancakes. Consequently, unless we get more
ingredients, we can make only 15 pancakes. This is because the amount of flour we
have is only enough for 15 pancakes. Therefore, the amount of flour we have limits
the number of pancakes we can make. If this were a chemical reaction, the flour
would be the limiting reactant, the reactant that limits the amount of product in a
chemical reaction. Notice that the limiting reactant (or reagent) is simply the
reactant that makes the least amount of product. The excess reactant (or reagent)
is the reactant that is not completely consumed when the reaction is complete. If this
were a chemical reaction, 15 pancakes would be the theoretical yield, the amount
of product that can be made in a chemical reaction based on the amount of limiting
reactant.

Let us carry this analogy one step further. Suppose we go on to cook our
pancakes. We accidentally burn three of them and one falls on the floor. So
even though we had enough flour for 15 pancakes, we finished with only 11
pancakes. If this were a chemical reaction, the 11 pancakes would be our actual
yield, the amount of product actually produced by a chemical reaction. Finally, our
percent yield, the percentage of the theoretical yield that was actually attained, is:

Since four of the pancakes were ruined, we got only 73% of our theoretical
yield. In a chemical reaction, the actual yield is almost always less than 100%
because at least some of the product does not form or is lost in the process of
recovering it (in analogy to some of the pancakes being burned).
To summarize:
• Limiting reactant (or limiting reagent) – the reactant that is completely
consumed in a chemical reaction and makes the least amount of product
• Excess reactant (or excess reagent) – reactant that remains when a reaction
stops because there is nothing with which it can react
• Theoretical yield – the amount of product that can be made in a chemical
reaction based on the amount of limiting reactant
• Actual yield – the amount of product actually produced by a chemical
reaction
𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐘𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝
• 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐘𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝

When working in the laboratory, we normally measure the initial amounts of

reactants in grams. To find limiting reactants and theoretical yields from initial
masses, we must add two steps to our calculations. Consider, for example, the
synthesis reaction:
2 Na(s) + Cl2(g) → 2 NaCl(s)

If we have 53.2 g of Na and 65.8 g of Cl2, what is the limiting reactant and theoretical
yield? We begin by sorting the information in the problem.

Given: 53.2 g Na
65.8 g Cl2
Find: limiting reactant
theoretical yield
Solution Map:
We find the limiting reactant by calculating how much product can be made
from each reactant. Since we are given the initial amounts in grams, we must first
convert to moles. After we convert to moles of product, we convert back to grams of
product. The reactant that makes the least amount of product is the limiting reactant.

Relationships Used:
From the balanced equation, we know:

We also use the molar masses:

 Beginning with the actual amounts of each reactant, we follow the solution
map to calculate how much product can be made from each.

Since Cl2 makes the least amount of product, it is the limiting reactant. It
follows that Na is the excess reactant. Notice that the limiting reactant is not
necessarily the reactant with the least mass. In this case, we had fewer grams of Na
than Cl2, yet Cl2 was the limiting reactant because it made less NaCl.

The theoretical yield is therefore 108 g of NaCl, the amount of product

possible based on the limiting reactant.

Now suppose that when the synthesis was carried out, the actual yield of
NaCl was 86.4 g. What is the percent yield? The percent yield is:

What’s More
Read each problem carefully and answer what is asked. Show your solutions. Use a
separate sheet of paper.
1. Write a balanced equation for the combustion of propane, C3H8. When
balanced, how many moles of O2 are needed for each mole of C3H8 ?
2. Calculate the mass of hydrogen formed when 27 g of aluminum reacts with
excess hydrochloric acid according to the balanced equation below.
2Al + 6HCl → 2AlCl3 + 3H2
3. How many grams of nitric acid, HNO3, can be prepared from the reaction of
138 g of NO2 with 54.0 g H2O according to the equation below?
3NO2 + H2O → 2HNO3 + NO
4. Ammonia can be synthesized by the reaction of nitrogen monoxide and
hydrogen gas: 2NO + 5H2 → 2NH3 + 2H2O A reaction vessel contains
initially contains 4.0 mol of NO and 15.0 mol of H 2. How many moles of NO,
H2, NH3 and H2O are there inside the reaction vessel once the reaction has
occurred to the fullest extent possible?

What I Have Learned

Fill in the blanks with the correct word(s). Write your answers in the space provided
for.

1. If we know the percent composition by mass of a compound, we can deduce

the empirical formula of the compound and also the _______ formula of the
compound if the approximate _________ is known.
 2. Chemical changes, called chemical reactions, are represented
by_________________. Substances that undergo change are called
the______________ and are written on the __________ side of the equation. The
substances formed are called the _______________ and are written on the
__________side of the equation. Chemical equations must be balanced, in
accordance with the law of _______________. The number of atoms of each
element in the reactants must
be ___________ to the number of atoms of each element in the products.

3. _____________is the quantitative study of products and reactants in chemical

reactions. Stoichiometric calculations are best done by expressing both the
known and unknown quantities in terms of moles and then converting to other
units if necessary. A ___________ reagent is the reactant that is present in the
smallest stoichiometric amount. It limits the amount of product that can be
formed. The amount of product obtained in a reaction, the ___________ yield
may be less than the maximum possible amount which is the _____________
yield. The ratio of the two multiplied by 100 percent is expressed as the
____________ yield.

What I Can Do
Consider the following scenario and answer the questions that follow. Show your
solution.
Astronauts need to make sure they are consuming enough calories and oxygen to
create ATP (energy) for the cells in their bodies. A person at rest consumes 550 L of
oxygen per day (this figure obviously changes if you are more active).
C6H12O6 + 6O2(g) → 6H2O(l) + 6CO2(g)
1. How many grams of glucose will be broken down by your body in a single day
(assuming you are at rest and at STP)? (Hint: 1 mole of any ideal gas at
standard temperature and pressure (STP) occupies a volume of 22.4 L)
2. How many liters of carbon dioxide will you produce each day?

Assessment
Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers on a separate sheet of
paper.
1. Consider the reaction: NaCl + AgNO3 → AgCl + NaNO3. If 52 g of salt reacts with
silver nitrate, what mass in grams of silver chloride will be produced?
A. 0.89 B. 98 C. 128 D. 150
2. How many grams of hydrogen gas will be produced from the reaction of zinc metal
with 47 grams of hydrochloric acid?
A. 1.3 B. 95 C. 128 D. 132
3. 78.2 g of solid iron reacts with oxygen gas forming iron (III) oxide. How many moles
of oxygen will react?
A. 1.05 B. 1.40 C. 95 D. 98
4. Consider the reaction: Cu + 2AgNO3 →Cu(NO3)2 + 2Ag. If 12.0 g of Cu reacts with
silver nitrate, how many grams of Ag are recovered?
A.0.89 B. 40.7 C. 250 D. 309
5. For the reaction H2O + SO2 → H2SO3, what mass in grams of sulfurous acid is
produced, when 195 g of sulfur dioxide is reacted with water?
A. 1.3 B. 20 C. 150 D. 250
6. Consider the reaction: C + 2ZnO → CO2 + 2Zn. How many grams of carbon dioxide
will be produced if 74 grams of ZnO is completely reacted?
A. 1.05 B. 3.3 C. 20 D. 38
7. The complete conversion of 128 grams of hydrogen to ammonia would require how
many moles of nitrogen gas?
A. 3.04 B. 21.1 C. 63.4 D. 190
8. For the reaction 2Fe + 3S → Fe2S3, how many grams of sulfur are involved in this
reaction if 83 grams of iron are needed to react with sulfur?
A. 2.2 B. 63.4 C. 68.3 D.71
9. A compound with molar mass of 74.1 g/mol is found to contain 64.8% Carbon,
13.5% Hydrogen, and 21.7% Oxygen. What is its molecular formula?
A. C2H5O B. C4H10O C. C6H12O6 D. C6H14O3
10. Consider the reaction: C + 2H2 → CH4. How many grams of methane gas will be
produced if 3.4 moles of hydrogen gas are available to react?
A. 21.1 B. 27 C. 59 D. 190
11. A compound having a molar mass of 175 g/mol contains 40.0% Carbon, 6.7%
Hydrogen, 53.3% Oxygen. What is its molecular formula?
A. C2H5O B. C4H10O C. C6H12O6 D. C6H14O3
12. After analysis, the percentage composition of a certain compound was found to
be 85.7% Carbon and 14.3% Hydrogen by mass. What is the molecular formula of
this compound?
A. CH3 B. CH4 C. C6H D. C2H4
13. Calcium carbonate decomposes when heated: CaCO3 → CaO + CO2. What is the
mass of calcium oxide produced by the complete decomposition of 25 grams of
calcium carbonate?
A: 8 grams B. 10 grams C. 14 grams D. 25 grams
14. Hydrogen gas is easily produced by the reaction between an active metal and
sulfuric acid solution. The reaction may be represented as: M + H2SO4 → H2 + MSO4
(where M is a metal). Which of the following, when reacted this way, would produce
the largest amount of hydrogen per gram of metal?
A. magnesium B. nickel C. tin D. zinc
15. How many moles of oxygen gas are necessary to burn one mole of acetone?
A. 2.5 B. 3 C. 3.5 D. 4

References
Brown, Theodore L. et al. Chemistry the Central Science 11 ed., Prentice Hall Inc., 2009, pp. 79-80
Chang, Raymond. Chemistry 10 th edition. McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., 2010. pp. 93, 112, 109
Tro, Nivaldo J. Introductory Chemistry 4th ed., Prentice Hall Inc., 2012, pp. 250-262
UNSW Foundation Studies Australia
RealLife Stoichiometry Worksheet by Keystone Science
Stoichiometry by Escape Room EDU
https://www.chemteam.info/Stoichiometry/Limiting-Reagent-Prob1-10.html
http://www.wiredchemist.com/chemistry/instructional/general-chemistry-
modules/stoichiometry/multiple-choice-and-short-answer
https://opentextbc.ca/chemistry/chapter/3-2-determining-empirical-and-molecular-formulas/
https://www.ck12.org/book/ck-12-chemistry-intermediate/section/11.1/
https://www.goodscience.com.au/year-10-chemistry/balancing-chemical-equations/
https://www.alvinisd.net/cms/lib03/TX01001897/Centricity/Domain/4240/practice%20test%20sto
ich.pdf
https://openedgroup.org/books/Chemistry.pdf
https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/iso/practice_exams/gr11_chem_fpe_key.pdf
https://www.thoughtco.com/molecular-formula-practice-test-questions-604125
https://www.chem.tamu.edu/class/fyp/mcquest/ch3.html
https://www.sparknotes.com/chemistry/stoichiometry/stoichiometriccalculations/section2/
https://lorenowicz.weebly.com/uploads/4/6/1/6/4616010/sch3u_limiting_reagent_lab.pdf
https://www.onlinemathlearning.com/how-to-balance-chemical-equation.html
Lesson 3:
What’s New
Message: CHEMISTRY IS FUN
What I Have
Learned
Lesson 1
molecular;
molar mass
Lesson 2:
chemical
equations;
reactants;
left;
products;
right; conservation
of mass; equal
Lesson 3:
Stoichiometry;
limiting;
actual;
theoretical;
percent
What I Can Do
1. 737 g C6H12O6
2. 550 L CO2
Answer Key
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