UNIT 3

Lesson 5: Stoichiometry
Lesson 6: Limiting and Excess Reagent
Lesson 7: Theoretical and Percent Yield

MARY-ANN V. GALO

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 UNIT 3
Lesson STOICHIOMETRY (Part 2)
5-7

Overview
In our daily activities we cannot avoid to do counting or measuring things. Counting is just simply as
tallying the object you are working on. These activities are easily done on objects of larger sizes. But have you
ever tried counting the number of particles in a kilo of rice, flour, corn grits, or mongo beans? Isn’t it difficult?
Definitely it is…because the particles are very small and are too many to count. So, instead of buying it from a
merchant by particles, what we normally and usually do is purchased such items in collective counting form as
by a cup, kilogram, bucket, or even by sack.
As we study Chemistry, we always deal with substances we used and produced during chemical
reactions, and knowing the mass of both reactants and products in a chemical reaction are of most important.
The branch of chemistry that deals with the counting of matter entities is Stoichiometry. Stoichiometry is from
the Greek words stoicheion and metron which mean element and measure, respectively. This branch of
chemistry involves in determining the quantitative relationships between reactants and products in a certain
chemical reaction grounded by the basic Laws of Matter. However, if rice and flour particles are small, then how
about atom that makes up the substance? We learned from the previous lesson how small the atoms are.
Chemists in the early times also encountered problems when they try to count atoms. Because they are so small,
it is difficult to measure the mass of each atom that you need to take a very large number of them to get a gram
of an element or compound. This unit will help you understand, how masses and number of particles of each
substance involve in a chemical reaction are being determined.

Learning Objectives:

After going through with this Learning Material, you are expected to;
1. Construct mole or mass ratios for a reaction in order to determine the amount of reactant needed or
amount of product formed in terms of moles or mass;
2. Identify the limiting and the excess reagents through stoichiometric calculations; and
3. Calculate percent yield and theoretical yield of the reaction.

5 hours

Unlocking of Terms

Actual yields Are the amount of the products that are actually produced in a reaction.
and pressure contain the same number of molecules.
Excess Reactant Is the reactant present in quantities greater than necessary amount needed
to react with the limiting reactant in a chemical reaction.
Limiting Reactant Is the reactant that is completely used up in a chemical reaction.
Percent Yield Is the ratio of the actual yield to the theoretical yield expressed in percent.
Stoichiometry Is the calculation of relative quantities of reactants and products in chemical
(stoi-kio-me-tree) reactions.
Theoretical yields Are the amount of products calculated from the complete reaction of the
limiting reactant.

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 Lesson 5: STOICHIOMETRY

Stoichiometry (stoi-kio-me-tree) is the calculation of relative quantities of reactants and products in chemical
reactions. Stoichiometry is found on the Law of Conservation of Mass where the total mass of the reactants
equals the total mass of the products. This means that if the amounts of the separate reactants are known, then
the amount of the product can be calculated. Also, if one reactant has a known quantity and the quantity of the
product can be determined, then the amount of the other reactants can also be calculated.

For example, when methane (CH4) reacts with oxygen gas (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2) and water are
formed as in balanced equation below:

Methane + oxygen gas carbon dioxide + water

CH4(g) + 2O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2H2O(l)

From the equation, one molecule of methane reacts with two molecules of oxygen gas to form one
molecule of carbon dioxide and two molecules of water.

Stoichiometry measures these quantitative relationships, and is used to determine the amount of
products or reactants that are produced or needed in a given reaction.

Masses of reactant and product given the mass of one reactant

We have learnt how to construct balanced chemical equation. The substances which react are
called the reactants and the substances which are formed are called the products. We have also learnt
that a chemical equation represents the actual atoms or molecules taking part in a reaction.
From a balanced chemical equation, we are able to calculate the amount of reactants required
and the amount of products formed as well.

Let us consider the reaction between zinc (Zn) and hydrochloric acid (HCl). The products formed are
zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and hydrogen gas (H2).

The chemical equation for the reaction is:

zinc + hydrochloric acid zinc chloride + hydrogen gas

Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) → ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)

The graphical illustration of the reaction between zinc and hydrochloric acid is shown on the next page:

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 The above illustration shows us that the mole ratio is proportional to the number of atoms or molecules
taking part in a chemical reaction. Therefore, we can convert the number of atoms or molecules taking part in a
chemical reaction directly into moles.

The equation can be interpreted as 1 mole of zinc reacting with 2 moles of hydrochloric acid to produce
1 mole of zinc chloride and 1 mole of hydrogen.

Mole Relationships of Reactants and Products from the Balanced Equation

Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) → ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)
1 mol Zn = 2 mol HCl
1 mol ZnCl2 = 1 mol H2
1 mol Zn = 1 mol ZnCl2
1 mol Zn = 1 mol H2
2 mol HCl = 1 mol ZnCl2
2 mol HCl = 1 mol H2

The use of moles is very useful as it allows chemical calculations to be done and expressed as grams or
kilograms and volumes of gases as cubic decimeter cubic centimeter.

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 2H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O(l)

Note: The coefficients in the balanced equation give the ratio of moles of reactants and products.
Coefficients are numbers written before the chemical formula of a compounds. The numbers in RED
are the coefficients of the corresponding reactant/product of the chemical equation.

Unit Plan for Stoichiometric Calculation

Sample Problems
1. Automotive air bags inflate when sodium azide, NaN3, rapidly decomposes to its component
elements:
2NaN3(s) → 2Na(s) + 3N2(g)
a) How many moles of N2 are produced by the decomposition of 1.50 mol of NaN3?
b) How many grams of NaN3 are required to form 10.0 g of nitrogen gas (N2)?
c) How many grams of NaN3 are required to produce 283.2 L of nitrogen gas, about the size of an
automotive air bag, if the gas has a density of 1.25 g/L?

Solution:
Mole Reactant to Mole Product
a) How many moles of N2 are produced by the decomposition of 1.50 mol of NaN3?

Unit plan: mole NaN3 → mole N2

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Mass Reactant to Mass Product
b) How many grams of NaN3 are required to form 10.0 g of nitrogen gas (N2)?

Unit plan: mass N2 → mole N2 → mole NaN3 → mass NaN3

Volume Product to Mass Reactant

c) How many grams of NaN3 are required to produce 283.2 L of nitrogen gas, about the size of an
automotive air bag, if the gas has a density of 1.25 g/L?
Hint: Convert first volume of Nitrogen gas to grams Nitrogen gas using density formula
volume N2 → mass N2 using Mass = Density x Volume

Unit Plan: mass N2 → mole N2 → mole NaN3 → mass NaN3

Mass N2 = Density x Volume

g
= (1.25 ) (283.2 L) = 354 g N2
L

2. Given the balanced equation:

4Al(s) + 3O2(g) → 2Al2O3
a) How many grams of O2 are needed to produce 158.00 g Al2O3?
b) How many molecules of Al2O3 is produced from 22.0 g of Al?

Solution:
Mass Product to Mass Reactant
a) How many grams of O2 are needed to produce 158.00 g Al2O3?

Unit Plan: Mass Al2O3 → Mole Al2O3 → Mole O2 → Mass O2

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 b) How many particles of Al2O3 is produced from 22.0 g of Al?

Unit Plan: Mass Al → Mole Al → Mole Al2O3 → Molecules Al2O3

Lesson 2: LIMITING and EXCESS REAGENTS

Knowledge in mole and solving stoichiometric problems is helpful in determining the Limiting reagent and
Excess reagent in the chemical process.

Let’s make use of an analogy to understand concept on Limiting and Excess Reactants.

With the given number of loaves and slices of cheese, a certain number of Cheese sandwich will be
produced. All in all, we have 10 loaves of bread and 10 slices of cheese. To make one cheese sandwich, we need
two (2) loaves of bread and one (1) slice of cheese. From 10 loaves of bread and five (5) slices of cheese you can
make a total of 5 cheese sandwiches. In this manner, all the 10 loaves of bread were used up but only 5 slices of
the cheese were consumed during the production. With the remaining 5 slices of cheese, supposedly we can
still make more of the sandwiches, however, the complete consumption of the loaves LIMITS the production of
more sandwiches. Thus, the loaves of bread are considered as the Limiting Reactant while the cheese is the
Excess Reactant.
For any chemical reaction, it is possible to calculate the exact quantities of reactants that are required
and products that are formed from a balanced chemical equation. Reactions should be carried out using exact
quantities of reactants to reduce wastage. When there is not enough of one reactant in a chemical reaction, the
reaction stops abruptly

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 In some cases, there are reactions that are carried out using an excess amount of one reactant. This
ensures that the more expensive reactant is completely used up. To do so, we make use of the idea of limiting
reactants.
The reactant that is completely used up in a reaction is known as LIMITING REACTANT/REAGENT. It is
called limiting reactant because it determines or limits the amount of products formed. The reactants that are
not used up are called the EXCESS REACTANT/REAGENT.

Sample Problem:
Acetylene, C2H2, is completely burned in a welder’s torch given by the balanced equation
2 C 2H 2 + 5 O2 → 4 CO2 + 2 H 2O
If 78 g C2H2 and 288g O2 are mixed, which is the limiting reagent? How many grams
Of CO2 will be theoretically produced? How much of the excess reagents left after
the reaction?

Two ways/approaches to determine Limiting and Excess Reactant:

Approach 1: Identifying Limiting Reactant by looking at the number of moles of each
reactant
Steps:
1. Check if the chemical equation is balanced.
2 C 2H 2 + 5 O2 → 4 CO2 + 2 H2O (equation is balanced)
78 g 288 g
2. Convert all given information for reactants into moles (using molar mass). If the given is in mole
then conversion is not needed.
1 mole C H
Mole C2 H2 = 78 g C2 H2 × (26.04 g C2 H2 ) = 2.995 mole C2 H2 ≅ 𝟑. 𝟎 𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝟐 𝐇𝟐
2 2

1 mole O2
Mole O2 = 288 g × ( ) = 9 mole O2 ≅ 𝟗. 𝟎𝟎 𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐎𝟐
32 g O2

3. Divide the given/calculated amount (mole) of each reactant by its corresponding

coefficient from the balanced chemical equation.

2 C2H2 + 5 O2 → 4 CO2
3.0 mole 9.00 mole
2.0 mole 5.00 mole
1.5 1.8

Calculated/given mole reactant Coefficients from Balanced Equation

4. The reactant with the smallest calculated value is considered as the limiting reactant while
the one with the highest value is the excess reagent.
C2H2 = 1.5 is lesser than O2 = 1.8 thus,
Limiting Excess
Reactant Reactant

5. Use the amount of limiting reactant to calculate the amount of product produced.

1 mole C2 H2 4 mole CO2 44.01 g CO2

Mass of CO2 produced = 78 g C2 H2 × ( )× ( )× ( )
26.04 g C2 H2 2 mole C2 H2 1 mole CO2
= 2,63.654378 g CO2
= 260 g CO2 Amount of CO2 produced from the reaction.

6. If necessary, calculate how much is left in excess of the non-limiting reagent. To find the amount
of remaining excess reactant, subtract the mass of excess reagent consumed from the total mass of

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 excess reagent given.

Approach 2: Identifying the Limiting Reactant by calculating and comparing the amount of
product each reactant will produce.
Steps:
1. Balance the chemical equation for the chemical reaction.
2 C 2H 2 + 5 O2 → 4 CO2 + 2 H 2O (equation is balanced)
78 g 288 g

2. Convert the given mass of each reactant into moles.

1 mole C H
Mole C2 H2 = 78 g C2 H2 × (26.04 g C2 H2 ) = 2.995 mole C2 H2 ≅ 𝟑. 𝟎 𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝟐 𝐇𝟐
2 2

1 mole O2
Mole O2 = 288 g × ( ) = 9 mole O2 ≅ 𝟗. 𝟎𝟎 𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐎𝟐
32 g O2

3. Use stoichiometry for each individual reactant to find the mass of product produced.
Calculating Mass of Product produced from C2H2:
1 mole C2 H2 4 mole CO2 44.01 g CO2
Mass of CO2 produced = 78 g C2 H2 × ( )× ( )× ( )
26.04 g C2 H2 2 mole C2 H2 1 mole CO2
= 2,63.654378 g CO2
= 260 g CO2

Calculating Mass of Product produced from O2:

1 mole O2 4 mole CO2 44.01 g CO2
Mass of CO2 produced = 288 g O2 × ( )× ( )× ( )
32.00 g O2 5 mole O2 1 mole CO2
= 316.872 g CO2
= 317 g CO2

4. The reactant that produces a lesser amount of product is the limiting reagent.
The limiting reactant is C2H2 , thus all C2H2 is consumed throughout the reaction

5. The reactant that produces a larger amount of product is the excess reagent.
The excess reactant is O2 , this means that there are some of O2 remain unreacted
throughout the production of CO2

6. If necessary, calculate how much is left in excess of the non-limiting reagent. To find the amount
of remaining excess reactant, subtract the mass of excess reagent consumed from the total mass
of excess reagent given.
1 mole C2 H2 5 mole O2 32.00 g O2
Mass of O2 needed = 78 g C2 H2 × ( )× ( )× ( )
26.04 g C2 H2 2 mole C2 H2 1 mole O2
= 239.63134 g O2
= 240 g O2
only 240 g of O2 completely reacted with 78 g of C2H2 , thus,
Amount of Excess O2 = Total mass O2 – Mass consumed/reacted O2
= 288 g O2 – 240 g O2
= 48 g O2 (amount of unreacted/excess O2)

Note: There were two approaches presented in this learning material in determining Limiting and Excess
Reactant/Reagent and it’s up to you which of the two you are going to apply. Of the two, I highly
recommend to use the first approach for it is much easier and requires shorter time than the second
one.

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 Lesson 6: THEORETICAL YIELD and PERCENT YEILD

Calculations based on chemical equations give the theoretical yield of product to be expected from a reaction.
Theoretical yield (TY) - the calculated amount of products expected from given quantities of reactants in a
chemical reaction.
Actual yield (AY) - the amount of product actually produced from the reaction.
Percent yield of a reaction relates actual and theoretical yields:
Often, the actual yield is almost always less than the calculated yield of the product. Differences in the actual
and theoretical yield is caused by some reasons:

• Some products may be lost during purification steps → decreases AY

• Formation of by-products during side reactions → decreases AY
• Products formed may be wet → increases AY
• Products may be contaminated with excess reagents or by-products → increases AY

Percentage Yield is shown in a relationship below:

Actual Yield
% Yield = x100
Theoretical Yield
Sample Problem:
Imagine you are working on ways to improve the process by which iron ore containing Fe2O3
is converted into iron:
Fe2O3(s) + 3 CO(g) → 2 Fe(s) + 3 CO2(g)

(a) If you start with 150 g of Fe2O3 as the limiting reactant, what is the theoretical yield of Fe?
(b) If your actual yield is 87.9 g Fe, what is the percent yield?

Solution:
a. Determining Mass of Fe Produced from 150 g Fe2O3

1 mole Fe2 O3 2 mol Fe 55. 85 g Fe

Mass Fe = 150 g Fe2 O3 × ( ) × ( ) × ( )
159.70 g Fe2 O3 1 mol Fe2 O3 1 mol Fe
= 110. 551 g Fe (Theoretical Yield)
= 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝐠 𝐅𝐞

b. Determining Percent Yield

87.9 g Fe
% Yeild = (110 g Fe ) × 100

Actual Yeild
= (Theoretical Yield ) × 100

= 79.91 % or 𝟖. 𝟎 𝐱 𝟏𝟎𝟏 %

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References:
Baguio, S.M. & Butaran, R.T. (2006). Breaking Through Chemistry. Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc..
Bayquen, A.V., & Pena, G.T. (2016). Exploring Life Through Science: General Chemistry 1. Quezon City: Phoenix
Publishing House.
Brown, T.L., LeMay, H.E., Bursten, B.E., Murphy, C.J., &Woodward, P.M. (2012). Chemistry: The Central
Science 12th edition. U.S.A..: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Chang, R. (2010). Chemistry. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Petrucci, R.H., Herring, F.G., Madura, J.D., & Bissonnet, C. (2011). General Chemistry: Principles and
Modern Applications 10th edition. Canada: Pearson Prentice Hall.

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