GOROMONZI HIGH SCHOOL: FORM 3 HOLIDAY WORK

STOICHIOMETRY & THE MOLE CONCEPT CONTINUATION

CALCULATING PERCENTAGE COMPOSITION
Can help chemists to get high yields in industrial processes e.g. extraction of metals from
different ores.
Worked Example
Calculate the percentage by mass of iron, Fe, in iron (III) oxide, Fe 2O3.
Answer
Mr (Fe2O3) = 2(56) + 3(16) = 160
%age of iron in Fe2O3 = 2(56)/160 x 100 = 70%
Calculating the mass of an element in a compound
Calculate the mass of copper in 32g of copper (II) sulphate, CuSO4.
Answer
There is one Cu atom in the CuSO4 formula.
Mr (CuSO4) = 64 + 32 + 4(16) = 160
Mass of Cu = Ar of one Cu/Mr of CuSO4 x mass of sample

= 64/160 x 32 = 12.8g
CHEMICAL FORMULAE
a) Empirical formula: of a compound shows the simplest whole number ratio of the
atoms present.
b) Molecular formula: of a compound shows the actual number and kinds of atoms
present.
c) Structural formula: of a compound shows how the atoms are joined in the
molecules.
Calculating Empirical formulae
1. e.g 32g of sulphur combines with 32g of oxygen to form an oxide of Sulphur.
What is its empirical formula?
Answer
Elements (symbols) S : O
Mass used/g 32 32
Ar of each 32 16
No. of moles reacted 32/32 32/16
= 1 = 2

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 Mole ratio 1 : 2
Therefore EF = SO2

2. An experiment shows that compound Y is 80% carbon and 20% hydrogen. What
is its empirical formula?
3. Experimental Determination:
Magnesium combines with oxygen to form magnesium oxide.

Results
Mass of empty crucible with lid/g = 8.10
Mass of crucible + magnesium ribbon/g = 10.50
Mass of crucible + magnesium oxide/g = 12.10
Calculate the empirical formula of magnesium oxide from the results above.
4. A sample of an oxide of copper contains 8g of copper combined with 1g of
oxygen. Find the empirical formula of the compound.
5. Find the empirical formula of a compound consisting of 2.8g of iron combined
with 1.2g of oxygen.

Calculating Molecular Formula

1. Compound Y in question 2 above has a relative molecular mass of 30. What is
its molecular formula?
Answer
(CH3)n = 30; 15n = 30; n = 2
Molecular formula = (CH3)2 = C2 H 6

Structural formula:

H H

H C C H

H H
2. Octane is a hydrocarbon (contains only C & H). It is 84.2% carbon and
15.8% hydrogen by mass. Its Mr is 114. What is its molecular formula?
(Assume a 100g sample was used)
3. The empirical formula of a compound is COH3. Its relative molecular mass is
62. Find the molecular formula.

Molar Gas Volume

-of a gas is the volume occupied by one mole of the gas. It is usually given at
the bottom of the Periodic Table insert in Paper 1 and 2.

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 Avogadro’s Law: Equal volumes of gases, at the same temperature and
pressure, contain an equal number of particles or molecules.

No. of moles of a gas = Volume of gas

Molar gas volume

n = V
Vm

Questions
a. A gas jar (240cm3) is full of chlorine gas. What is the number of moles of chlorine at
r.t.p? ( Molar gas volume = 24dm3mol-1)
b. What is the volume of 7g of nitrogen, N2, at r.t.p?
c. What is the mass in grams of 3dm3 of carbon dioxide gas, CO2, at r.t.p?

Writing Formulae
-The formula shows the ratio of the number of each type of atom that combines to
make the compound.
-For ionic compounds, the positive charge on the metal ions must be balanced by the
negative charge on the non-metal ions.
NB: The charge on the metal ion is equal to its group number. The charge on the non-
metal ion is equal to 8 minus the Group number. Charge equals valency.
-Metals do not usually change their names in compounds. However, non-metals
change their name by becoming –ides e.g oxygen becomes oxide in MgO; chlorine
becomes chloride in NaCl.

Charges on some common ions

charge Ions
1+ Group I metal ion; H+; ammonium radical, NH4+; silver ion, Ag+; copper
(I) ion, Cu+
2+ Group II ion; zinc ion, Zn2+; lead (II) ion, Pb2+; iron (II) ion, Fe2+, copper
(II) ion, Cu2+.
3+ Group III ion; chromium (III) ion, Cr3+; iron (III) ion, Fe3+
1- Group VII ion; nitrate ion, NO3-; hydroxide ion, OH-; nitrite ion, NO2-;
manganate (VII) ion, MnO4-; hydrogen carbonate ion, HCO3-; hydrogen
sulphate ion, HSO4-
2- Group VI ion; carbonate ion, CO32-; sulphate ion, SO42-; sulphite ion,
SO32-; chromate (VI) ion, CrO42-; dichromate (VI) ion,Cr2O72-
3- Phosphate ion, PO43-

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 Variable valences
Transition metals will have variable charges where the charge is equal to the number
in Roman numerals in brackets and in front of the name of element (and lead and tin
in Group IV).
e.g copper (I) is Cu+; iron (II) is Fe2+; chromium (III) is Cr3+; tin (IV) is Sn4+

steps in writing formulae

Symbols, radicals and valences are used to write formulae of compounds.
A radical is a group of atoms that has its own valency. It exists in several compounds
but does not exist on its own e.g. SO42-; NO3-; OH- ; NH4+ radicals.

Use sodium sulphate and copper (II) hydroxide as examples

1. Write the symbols for the elements and radicals;
Na SO42- Cu OH
2. Write valences above and to the right of the symbols;
Na1 SO42 Cu2 OH1
3. Write the symbols again, reversing the valences and writing the numbers (but not
1) below and to the right of the symbols.
Na2SO4 Cu (OH) 2
NB: take note that the radical has been affected as a whole by the 2 as shown in
copper (II) hydroxide above. The formula of the radical should never be
changed at all e.g a common mistake by learners is to write CuOH2 for copper
(II) hydroxide used as example above.

Activity
Write formulae for the compounds:
a. Sodium nitrate
b. Potassium chromate
c. Calcium hydroxide
d. Barium sulphate
e. Sodium carbonate
f. Ammonium sulphate
g. Iron (III) sulphate
h. Magnesium oxide
Chemical Equations
-Reactants are written on the left hand side of the equation, products on the right hand
side.
-A balanced chemical equation shows the proportions of substances reacting and of
products formed.

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 Steps to follow: Balancing Chemical Equations
1. Write the formulae of all the reactants and products. It may help you to write
these in words first.
2. Write a state symbol next to each substance ( where these are asked for or if you
are very sure of them)
(S) ------------- solid
(l) ------------- liquid
(g) ------------- gas
(aq) ------------- aqueous (meaning dissolved in water)
3. Now inspect the equation and count the atoms of each element on each side. As
atoms are neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction, balance the
equation so that there are the same numbers of each type of atom on both sides
of the equation.
 Charges may also be used in balancing ionic equations.
 Numbers to balance can only be written in front of each substance.
Changing numbers in the formula changes the formula and must never be
attempted.
Examples

 Chlorine + sodium iodide sodium chloride + iodine

Cl2 (g) + NaI(aq) NaCl(aq) + I2(aq)

Cl2 (g) + 2NaI (aq) 2NaCl (aq) + I2 (aq)

 Calcium + water calcium hydroxide + hydrogen
Ca(s) + H2O (l) Ca (OH) 2(aq) + H2 (g)

Ca(s) + 2H2O (l) Ca (OH)2(aq) + H2(g)

 Magnesium + oxygen magnesium oxide
Mg(s) + O2 (g) MgO(s)

1
Mg(s) + 2 O2 (g) MgO(s)
 Potassium chromate (V) potassium chloride + oxygen
heat
KClO3(s) KCl (s) + O2 (g)

3
KClO3(s) heat KCl (s) + 2 O2 (g)
NB: Note that fractions may also be used in balancing chemical
equations as shown in the last 2 examples above.

Ionic Equations
Many chemical reactions take place between ions and not molecules.

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 Examples
Acid + metal
e.g Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)
 By writing all the ions in the equation it becomes :
Zn(s) + 2H+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) Zn2+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) + H2(g)
It will be useful to remember ionic and covalent compounds here.
Only ionic compounds should be split into constituent ions. Covalent
molecules and elements not reacted like Zn and H2above do not exist
as ions.
 By omitting the ions appearing on both sides it becomes:
Zn(s) + 2H+(aq) Zn2+(aq) + H2(g)
 This is an ionic equation. The charges on both sides must be equal.
Ions eliminated do not take part in the reaction and are called
spectator ions. H+(aq) ions represent an acid (any acid contain these in
solution)

Other examples (Try these)

(i) Acid on hydroxides and oxides:
HCl (aq) + NaOH(aq) NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)
2HCl (aq) + MgO(s) MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l)
(ii) Acid on carbonates/hydrogen carbonates:
2HCl (aq) + CaCO3(s) CaCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
(iii) Precipitation :
Pb(NO3)2(aq) + 2KI(aq) PbI2(s) + 2KNO3(aq)
Bright yellow ppt
FeSO4 (aq) + BaCl2(aq) BaSO4(s) + FeCl2(aq)
White ppt
CuSO4 (aq) + 2NaOH (aq) Cu(OH)2 (s) + Na2SO4 (aq)
Pale blue ppt
NB: in precipitation, the solid is the desired product hence
ions that form it are needed as reactants. In fact precipitate
means solid and ppt is an acceptable short form for
precipitate by the examining board, Zimsec.

Masses and volumes of reactants and products

1) Calculate the mass of water produced from the complete combustion of
0.25 mol of methane
CH4 (g) + 2O2 (g) CO2 (g) + 2H2O (l)
From equation: 1mole CH4 (g) = 2mole H2O (l)
0.25 mol n (H2O)
Therefore n (H2O) = 2(0.25) mol = 0.5 moles
Then m = nMr = 0.5(18) = 9g
2) Calcium carbonate decomposes when heated to form calcium oxide
according to the equation:

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 heat
CaCO3 (s) CaO (s) + CO2 (g)
What mass of calcium oxide is produced from 40g of calcium carbonate?
n (CaCO3) = m/Mr = 40/100 = 0.4 mol
From equation: 1mol CaCO3 = 1mol CaO
Therefore 0.4 mol of CaO are produced
Then m(CaO) = nMr = 0.4(56) = 22.4g

Activity : page 153 of All About Chemistry

3) Magnesium reacts with hydrochloric acid according to the equation:
Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
Calculate the volume of hydrogen gas produced at r.t.p , from a reaction
between 14.6g of hydrochloric acid and magnesium.

n(HCl) = m/Mr = 14.6/36.5 = 0.4mol

From equation: 2mol HCl = 1mol H2

0.4 mol n(H2)
n(H2) = 0.4 x 1 = 0.2mol
2
Then Volume of H2 (g) = nVm
= 0.2 x 24
= 4.8dm3
4) Lead (IV) oxide, PbO2, decomposes when heated strongly. The equation
for the reaction is:
heat
2PbO2 (s) 2PbO (s) + O2 (g)
Calculate the mass of lead (IV) oxide that decomposes to produce 1.2 dm3
of oxygen at r.t.p.

n(O2) = V/Vm = 1.2/24 = 0.05mol

From equation: 1mol O2 (g) = 2mol PbO2 (s)

0.05mol n(PbO2)
n(PbO2) = 2(0.05) mol = 0.1mol

m(PbO2) = nMr = 0.1(239)

= 23.9g
Activity: page 155 All About Chemistry

Volumes of reacting gases

Avogadro’s Law: the volume of a gas in a reaction is proportional to the number of
moles i.e. moles can be used as volumes in gaseous reactions

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 e.g. 10cm3 of nitrogen reacts with excess hydrogen to produce ammonia. Calculate:
(a) the volume of hydrogen that will react with the nitrogen, and
(b) the volume of ammonia expected.
N2 (g) + 3H2 (g) 2NH3 (g)
From equation: 1volume of N2 reacts with 3 volumes of H2.
(a) Volume of H2 needed = 3(10)cm3 = 30cm3
(b) Volume of NH3 expected = 2(10) cm3 = 20cm3

Limiting reagents
In a chemical reaction, one reagent is usually added in excess than the other. The
reagent that stops the reaction when it has been used up is called the limiting
reactant.
e.g when Mg ribbon is added to excess hydrochloric acid, all the Mg will be used up
when the reaction stops and Mg is the limiting reactant.
Importance
- In the industry, some reactants are cheaper than others.
- To get a high yield, Chemists often choose the most expensive reactant to be the
limiting reactant and use excess of the cheaper reactants i.e. all the expensive
reactant is used up making production cheaper.
Question
Propane gas, C3H8, burns in oxygen according to the following chemical equation:
C3H8 (g) + 5O2 (g) 3CO2 (g) + 4H2O (l)
In an experiment, 10cm3 of propane was burnt in 70cm3 of oxygen.
(a) Which of the two reacting gases was in excess? Calculate the volume of the
excess gas remaining at the end of the experiment.
(b) Calculate the volume of CO2 (g) produced.

Percentage yield & purity

The yield is the amount of product you obtain from a reaction.

% yield = actual mass obtained x 100

Calculated (theoretical) mass
Worked Example
The medical drug aspirin is made from salicylic acid. 1 mole of salicylic acid gives
1 mole of aspirin:
C7H6O3 C9H8O4
Salicylic acid aspirin
In a trial, 100.0g of salicylic acid gave 121.2g of aspirin. What was the % yield?

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 Answer
Mr (salicylic acid) = 138 ; Mr (aspirin) = 180
n(salicylic acid) = 100/138 = 0.72464moles
n(aspirin) = 0.72464mole (since 1mol salicylic acid = 1mol aspirin)
Theoretical mass of aspirin = nMr = 0.72464 x 180
= 130.4g
But the actual mass of aspirin obtained = 121.2g

Therefore % yield = 121.2/130.4 x 100 = 92.9%

% purity of a product = mass of pure product x 100
Mass of impure product obtained
Worked Example
(a) Aspirin is itself an acid. Its full name is acetylsalicylic acid. It is neutralised by
sodium hydroxide in this reaction:
C9H8O4 (aq) + NaOH (aq) C9H7O4Na (aq) + H2O (l)
Some aspirin was prepared in the lab. Through titration, it was found that 4.00g
of the aspirin were neutralised by 17.5cm3 of 1.0moldm-3 solution of sodium
hydroxide. How pure was the aspirin sample?

Answer
Mr (C9H8O4) = 180
n(NaOH) = CV = 1.0moldm-3 x 17.5/1000dm3
= 0.0175mole
From equation: 1mol NaOH reacts with 1 mole C9H8O4
Therefore n(C9H8O4) 0.0175mole
m(aspirin) = nMr = 0.0175(180) = 3.15g
but mass of aspirin sample was 4g.
%purity = 3.15/4 x 100 = 78.75%
(b) Chalk is almost pure calcium carbonate. 10g of chalk was reacted with an excess
of dilute hydrochloric acid. 2280cm3 of carbon dioxide gas was collected at r.t.p.
what was the purity of the sample? Ans: = 95% show working

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