SC9b.

2 Calculations with masses

Use a copy of the periodic table to find the relative atomic masses for each question.
1 10.0 g of calcium carbonate was heated. The mass of calcium oxide left was 5.6 g. Calculate the mass
of carbon dioxide produced in the reaction.
CaCO3(s) → CaO(s) + CO2(g)
Copper oxide is reduced by excess hydrogen. Calculate the maximum mass of copper that could be
obtained from 79.5 g of copper oxide.
CuO + H2 → Cu + H2O
Calculate the maximum mass of carbon dioxide that could be obtained by adding excess hydrochloric
acid to 15 g of calcium carbonate.
CaCO3 + 2HCl → CaCl2 + H2O + CO2
Calculate the maximum mass of ammonia, NH3, that could be made from 42 tonnes of nitrogen and
excess hydrogen.
N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3
Calculate the minimum mass of ammonia needed to produce 396 kg of ammonium sulfate, (NH4)2SO4,
and excess sulfuric acid.
2NH3 + H2SO4 → (NH4)2SO4
250 cm3 of a solution of copper sulfate contained 5.00 g of dissolved solid. Calculate the
concentration of the solution in g dm–3.

Extra challenge
Calculate the maximum mass of aluminium chloride that could be produced from 6.39 g of chlorine and
excess aluminium.
2Al + 3Cl2 → 2AlCl3

Worked example: Reacting masses

Using the data in question 4 as an example, work out the relative formula masses of:
the substance you have a mass for (N2)
the substance whose mass you are finding (NH3).
Mr N2 = 2 × 14 = 28
Mr NH3 = 14 + (3 × 1) = 17
Using the balancing numbers from the equation, N2 makes 2NH3, so 28 tonnes of N2 makes 2 × 17 = 34 tonnes
of NH3. It doesn’t matter what the mass unit is, as long as they are both the same.
Find the mass of NH3 made from 1 tonne of N2, this is 34/28 tonnes.
Now find the mass of NH3 made from 42 tonnes of N2, this is 42 × (34/28) = 51 tonnes.
Worked example: Concentrations of solutions
The concentration of a solution is the mass of solute dissolved in 1 dm3 of solution.
mass of solute (g)
Concentration of solution = unit: g dm–3
3
volume of solution (dm )

1 dm3 is equivalent to 1000 cm3, so if you are given a volume measured in cm3, divide it by 1000 before
substituting it into the formula.
For example, 100 cm3 of sodium chloride solution contains 2.5 g of sodium chloride.
100 2.5
Volume of solution = = 0.1 dm3 Concentration of solution = = 25 g dm–3
1000 0.1

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 Reacting masses
SC9b.3 Strengthen
Name Class Date

Use the following relative atomic masses: C = 12, O = 16, Na =23, Cl = 35.5, K = 39
Potassium carbonate reacts with hydrochloric acid as shown in the equation.
K2CO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) → 2KCl(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
1 Give the names of the products in this reaction.

______________________________________________________________________________________

2 Explain why there appears to be a loss in mass during this reaction.

______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

Calculate the relative formula mass of:

K2CO3 ____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
KCl. _____________________________________________________________________________________
3 The equation shows that K2CO3 produces 2KCl.
Complete the following sentence using your answers to question 3.
_______________g of K2CO3 produces _______________g of KCl.
Write the fraction for the mass of KCl produced from 1 g of K2CO3.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Calculate the maximum mass of KCl produced from 1.38 g of K2CO3.

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

4 Carry out the following calculation. Explain each step in your working so that a friend who missed the
lesson can follow it.
Calculate the maximum mass of sodium chloride formed when 5.3 g of sodium carbonate reacts with
excess dilute hydrochloric acid, as shown in the equation.
Na2CO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

mass of sodium chloride formed = _____________ g

S1 Make notes to explain to a friend who missed the lesson:

a how to calculate the mass of sodium chloride formed when 5.3 g of sodium carbonate reacts with
excess dilute hydrochloric acid: Na2CO3 + 2HCl → 2NaCl + H2O + CO2

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 Reacting masses
SC9b.3 Strengthen
b why there is a loss in mass during the reaction.

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 Equations and masses
SC9b.4 Homework 1
Name Class Date

Element H C O Na Cl Ca Zn
Relative atomic
1 12 16 23 35.5 40 65
mass (Ar)

1 Calculate the mass of oxygen that combines with 20.4 g of magnesium to form 34.0 g of magnesium oxide.
2Mg + O2 → 2MgO

______________________________________________________________________________________

2 Calculate the minimum mass of sodium hydroxide, NaOH, that is needed to neutralise a
solution containing 7.3 g of hydrochloric acid, HCl.
NaOH + HCl → NaCl + H2O

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

3 Calculate the maximum mass of calcium oxide, CaO, that could be made from 75 tonnes of
calcium carbonate, CaCO3.
CaCO3 → CaO + CO2

______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

4 97.5 g of zinc was added to excess dilute hydrochloric acid.

Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2
Calculate:
a the maximum mass of zinc chloride, ZnCl2, produced

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

the maximum mass of hydrogen produced.

______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

5 50 cm3 of a solution of potassium chloride contained 0.6 g of dissolved solid. Calculate the
concentration of the solution in g dm–3.

______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

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 Equations and masses
SC9b.4 Homework 1
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

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 SC9b Progression check

Element H C N O Na Al P S Cl K
Relative atomic
1 12 14 16 23 27 31 32 35.5 39
mass (Ar)

1 Calculate the mass of oxygen that combines with 5.4 g of aluminium to form 10.2 g of aluminium oxide.
4Al + 3O2 → 2Al2O3
2 Calculate the maximum mass of potassium sulfate, K2SO4, that could be formed when 4.9 g of sulfuric
acid reacts with excess potassium hydroxide.
H2SO4 + 2KOH → K2SO4 + 2H2O
3 Calculate the maximum mass of hydrogen chloride, HCl, that could be produced when 1.5 kg of
hydrogen reacts with excess chlorine.
H2 + Cl2 → 2HCl
4 Calculate the maximum mass of sodium phosphate, Na3PO4, that could be formed when
6.0 g sodium hydroxide, NaOH, reacts with excess phosphoric acid.
H3PO4 + 3NaOH → Na3PO4 + 3H2O
5 400 cm3 of a solution contains 3.6 g of dissolved solid. Calculate the concentration of the solution in
g dm–3.
6 A solution has a concentration of 10.5 g dm–3. Calculate the mass of dissolved solid in 50 cm3 of this
solution.

Extra challenge
7 Calculate the maximum mass of sulfur trioxide, SO3, that could be produced when
128 tonnes of sulfur dioxide, SO2, reacts with excess oxygen.
2SO2 + O2 → 2SO3
8 Calculate the maximum mass of ammonia, NH3, that could be produced when 18 tonnes of hydrogen
reacts with excess nitrogen.
N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3
9 Calculate the maximum mass of aluminium oxide that could be formed when 8.1 g of aluminium reacts
with excess oxygen.
4Al + 3O2 → 2Al2O3
10 Calculate the minimum mass of oxygen needed to completely burn 9 kg of ethane, C2H6.
2C2H6 + 7O2 → 4CO2 + 6H2O

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