ENVCHB3 – Equivalents and Equivalent Weights

Prof K Moothi
04 August 2023
Definitions
The mass of any substance participating in a reaction per unit of reference species is the
equivalent weight of the substance, and the mass of the substance divided by its
equivalent weight is the number of equivalents of the substance.

Molecular weight is the total atomic mass of a molecule for a compound. Equivalent
weight, on the other hand, is the portion of the compound's molecular weight
associated with each valence electron. For a compound, equivalent weight takes the
molecular weight and divides it by the net positive valence.

Two possibilities exist for reference species: (one) the electrons involved in an
oxidation-reduction reaction or the positive (or negative) charges in all other
reactants.

The electrons involved or the charges are based on the periodic table.
https://study.com/learn/lesson/equivalent-weight-overview-formula.html
• Equivalent weight, in chemistry, the quantity of a substance that exactly reacts with, or is
equal to the combining value of, an arbitrarily fixed quantity of another substance in a
particular reaction.

• Substances react with each other in stoichiometric, or chemically equivalent, proportions,

and a common standard has been adopted.

• The equivalent weight of an element is its gram atomic weight divided by its valence.

• For compounds that function as oxidizing or reducing agents (compounds that act as
acceptors or donors of electrons), the equivalent weight is the gram molecular weight
divided by the number of electrons lost or gained by each molecule.

• The equivalent weight of a substance may vary with the type of reaction it undergoes.

• The number of equivalent weights of any substance dissolved in one litre of solution is
called the normality of that solution.
https://www.britannica.com/science/equivalent-weight
 𝑴𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔
Equivalent =
𝒏−𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐.𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒓 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓

n - factor

Element – valence/charge
In the case of an element, the n number of equivalents is the absolute value of the element's valence
charge. So the equation for EW becomes Atomic Mass/ Valence. For an element, the valence and atomic
mass can be found from the periodic table. If an element is a main-group element in groups (or
columns) 1-2 or 13-18, the ones' place of the group number corresponds to the valence. For example, to
determine EW for Lithium (Li):

• The atomic weight is 6.94 amu.

• The valence charge is found in group 1, so its valence charge is 1.
• Thus, EW = 6.94/1 = 6.94 g/ equivalent.
https://study.com/learn/lesson/equivalent-weight-overview-formula.html
 𝑴𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔
Equivalent =
𝒏−𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐.𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒓 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓

n - factor

Acid – no. of replaceable hydrogen ions H+

In the case of an acid, the n number of equivalents is the number of H+ ions in the acid. So the equation for
EW becomes Molar Mass/ n equivalents H+. For example, to determine the EW for phosphoric acid, H3PO4:

• Molar mass would be 3(1.01 g) + 30.97 g + 4(16 g) = 98 g.

• The number of equivalents of hydrogen ions is 3.
• Thus, EW = 98 g/ 3 = 32.7 g/ equivalent.

https://study.com/learn/lesson/equivalent-weight-overview-formula.html
 𝑴𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔
Equivalent =
𝒏−𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐.𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒓 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓

n - factor

Base – no. of replaceable hydroxide ions OH-

In the case of a base, the n number of equivalents is the absolute value of the number of hydroxide (OH-
ions) in the base. So the equation for EW becomes Molar Mass/ n equivalents OH-. For example, to
determine the EW for calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2:

• Molar mass would be 40.08 g + 2(16 g) + 2(1.008 g) = 74.1 g.

• The n number of equivalents of hydroxide ions is 2.
• Thus, EW = 74.1 g/ 2 = 37.05 g/ equivalent.

https://study.com/learn/lesson/equivalent-weight-overview-formula.html
• Equivalent weight refers to the mass of one equivalent of a material that is considered. It
can be used with an element, a group of elements or a compound. Also, this term can be
defined as the mass of a known substance that can combine or displace a fixed quantity of
another substance.

• For example, the equivalent weight of an element is the mass which combines with or
displaces 1.008 grams of hydrogen, 8.0 grams of oxygen or 35.5 grams of chlorine. These
values are obtained by dividing the atomic mass from the most common valence value; e.g.
equivalent weight with regard to oxygen is obtained by 16gmol-1/2=8.0g.

• However, for acid-base reactions, the equivalent weight refers to the mass that reacts with a
mole of hydrogen ions.

• The unit of equivalent weight is the unit of mass.

• Therefore, this is not a dimensionless value. Most commonly, gram is the unit used to
measure the equivalent weight.
https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-gram-equivalent-and-equivalent-weight/
• Originally, the value of the equivalent weight is determined experimentally. But, we can
calculate it using the molar masses as well.

• For example, the equivalent weight can be calculated by dividing the molar mass from
positive or negative electrical charges formed from the dissolution of the compound.

• In general chemical calculations, we can determine the equivalent weight by dividing the
molar mass of the desired substance from the number of moles of hydrogen ions produced
by this compound upon dissolution in water.

• For example, the molar mass of sulfuric acid is 98 g/mol. It produces two moles of hydrogen
ions upon dissolution. Therefore, the equivalent weight is 98/2=49g.

What is equivalent weight? Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x59cXFRrlOs

https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-gram-equivalent-and-equivalent-weight/
 Examples

Element – valence
N-factor of Ca, valence 2+
The equivalent mass = Mr/n-factor = 40/2 = 20 (units?)

Acid – no of replaceable hydrogen ions H+

n- factor of HCl, it is an acid and replaceable hydrogen is 1 (H = 1)

The equivalent mass = Mr/n-factor = 36.5/1 = 36.5 (units?)

1. Base – no of replaceable hydroxide ions OH-
n- factor of NaOH, it is a base and its acidity is 1 (OH = 1)
The equivalent mass = Mr/n-factor = 40/1 = 40 (units?)

2. n- factor of Mg(OH) , it is a base and there are 2 replaceable OH negative ions (2OH-), in this case n-
factor is 2. 2
The equivalent mass is = 58.32/2 = 29.16 (units?)

Salt – no. of electrons transferred e-

n- factor of NaCl, it is a salt and transfers 1 (e-) from sodium to
chloride (H = 1)

The equivalent mass = Mr/n-factor = 58.5/1 = 58.1 (units?)

https://thesaurus.plus/synonyms/equivalent_weight
 • A redox reaction can be defined as a chemical reaction in which electrons are transferred between
two reactants participating in it. This transfer of electrons can be identified by observing the changes
in the oxidation states of the reacting species.

• Below, it can be observed that the reactant, an electron, was removed from reactant A and this
reactant is oxidized. Similarly, reactant B was handed an electron and was therefore reduced.

https://byjus.com/jee/redox-reactions/#:~:text=A%20redox%20reaction%20can%20be,states%20of%20the%20reacting%20species.
• The loss of electrons and the corresponding increase in the oxidation state of a given
reactant is called oxidation.

• The gain of electrons and the corresponding decrease in the oxidation state of a reactant is
called reduction.

• Electron-accepting species which tend to undergo a reduction in redox reactions are

called oxidizing agents. An electron-donating species which tends to hand over electrons
can be referred to as a reducing agent. These species tend to undergo oxidation.

• It can be noted that any redox reaction can be broken down into two half-reactions,
namely the oxidation half-reaction and the reduction half-reaction.

• When writing these half-reactions separately, each of them must be balanced in a way
that all the electrons are accounted for.
https://byjus.com/jee/redox-reactions/#:~:text=A%20redox%20reaction%20can%20be,states%20of%20the%20reacting%20species.
 N-Factor cont…(Redox Reactions)

RA – reducing agent or reductant (Reducing agent is an element or compound that

loses an electron to an electron recipient in a redox chemical reaction. A reducing
agent is thus oxidized when it loses electrons in the redox reaction. Reducing agent)

OA – Oxidizing agent – oxidant (oxidising agent is a substance that has the ability to
oxidize other substances — in other words to accept their electrons. Common oxidizing
agents are oxygen, hydrogen peroxide and the halogens)

Iron is oxidised from 2+ to 3+ so the n-factor is 4 (4 x 1 electron transferred) and not the
iron valence.
Oxidizing and Reducing Agents
• The substance (atom, ion, and molecule) that gains electrons and is thereby reduced to a low valency state is called
oxidizing agent.
• The substance that loses electrons and is thereby oxidised to a higher valency state called a reducing agent.

Some Oxidizing Agents

• Molecules are made up of electronegative elements. Eg: O2, O3, and X2 (halogens)
• Compounds containing an element that is in the higher oxidized state. Eg: KMnO4, K2Cv2O7, HNO3, KClo3
• Oxides of metals and non-metals. Eg: MgO, CuO, CrO3, P4O10
• Fluorine is the strongest oxidizing agent.

Some Reducing Agents

• All metals, for example Na, Zn, Fe, Al
• A few non-metals such as C, Hydrogen, S, P
• Hydracids, for example HCl, HBr, HI, H2S
• Few compounds contain an element in the lower oxidation state. Examples include: FeCl2, FeSo4, SnCl2, Hg2Cl2
• Metallic hydrides including NaH, LiH, CaH2, etc.
• Organic compounds like HCOOH

Lithium is the strongest reducing agent in the solution, and Cesium is the strongest reducing agent in the absence of water.

The substances which act as oxidizing as well as reducing agents are H2O2, SO2, H2SO3, HNO2, NaNO2
https://byjus.com/jee/redox-reactions/#:~:text=A%20redox%20reaction%20can%20be,states%20of%20the%20reacting%20species.
 Identification of Oxidizing and Reducing Agents
• If an element is in its higher possible oxidation state in a compound. It can function
as an oxidising agent. Eg: KMnO4, K2Cr2O7, HNO3, H2SO4, HClO4
• If an element is in its possible lower oxidation state in a compound, it can function as
a reducing agent. Eg: H2S, H2C2O4, FeSO4, SnCl2
• The compound will act as an oxidising agent if a highly electronegative element is in
its highest oxidation state.
• The compound acts as a reducing agent if a highly electronegative element is in its
lowest oxidation state.

https://byjus.com/jee/redox-reactions/#:~:text=A%20redox%20reaction%20can%20be,states%20of%20the%20reacting%20species.
https://byjus.com/jee/redox-reactions/#:~:text=A%20redox%20reaction%20can%20be,states%20of%20the%20reacting%20species.
Real-Life Uses of Redox Reaction
• Production of some important chemicals is also based on electrolysis which in turn is
based on redox reactions. Many chemicals like caustic soda, chlorine, etc., are produced
using redox reactions.
• Oxidation-Reduction reactions also find their application in sanitizing water and bleaching
materials.
• The surfaces of many metals can be protected from corrosion by connecting them to
sacrificial anodes, which undergo corrosion instead. A common example of this technique
is the galvanization of steel.
• The industrial production of cleaning products involves the oxidation process.
• Nitric acid, a component of many fertilizers, is produced from the oxidation reaction of
ammonia.
• Electroplating is a process that uses redox reactions to apply a thin coating of a material
on an object. Electroplating is used in the production of gold-plated jewellery.
• Many metals are separated from their ores with the help of redox reactions. One such
example is the smelting of metal sulfides in the presence of reducing agents.
https://byjus.com/jee/redox-reactions/#:~:text=A%20redox%20reaction%20can%20be,states%20of%20the%20reacting%20species.
 N-Factor cont…(More than 1 reference species)

Choice 1: Iron – n-factor = 2 since the valence is 2+

Choice 2: Calcium – n-factor = 4 (2 x 2+)

Always choose the one with the lowest n-factor.

 Examples

− 2− 32
𝑂2 + 4𝑒 → 2𝑂 −𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝐸𝑊 =
4
=8𝑔

71
𝑍𝑛 + 2𝐻𝐶𝑙 → 𝑍𝑛𝐶𝑙2 + 𝐻2 −𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝐸𝑊 = = 35.5 𝑔
2

• From balanced chemical equation 1 mole of zinc, displaces 1 mole of hydrogen molecule
• 1 mole of zinc makes 65 g and 1 mole of hydrogen is 2 g
• From the balanced equation, 2 grams of hydrogen is displaced by 65 grams of zinc
• Therefore 1 gram of hydrogen is displaced from 65 grams/2 grams of zinc and this is called
the equivalent weight.
 Examples cont…

𝐻3 𝑃𝑂4 + 2𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 → 2𝑁𝑎+ + 𝐻𝑃𝑂42− + 2𝐻2 𝑂 [1]

• Reference species?? – either the 2 hydrogen species or sodium valence (2 x 1+) i.e.
which reactants?
• The equivalent weights are obtained by dividing the equation by 2:
• E.g. for NaOH: Equivalent weight = 2mol × (23+ 16+1)gmol-1 / 2 = 40g

[2] n = m/Mr
𝐻3 𝑃𝑂4 + 3𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 → 3𝑁𝑎+ + 𝑃𝑂43− + 3𝐻2 𝑂

• Reference species = 3.
• For NaOH: Equivalent weight = 3mol × (23+ 16+1)gmol-1 / 3 = 40g
 Exercise
Water containing 405g of calcium bicarbonate is softened using lime. How
many grams of calcium carbonate solids are produced using the method of
equivalent weights?
𝐶𝑎 𝐻𝐶𝑂3 2 + 𝐶𝑎𝑂 → 2𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 + 𝐻2 𝑂
 Solution
• Reference is 2+ for Ca2+: divide the equation by 2
• Equivalent weight of Ca(HCO3)2, = 1mol × 162gmol-1 / 2 = 81g
• Equivalent weight of CaCO3 = 2mol × 100gmol-1 / 2 = 100g
• 81g of Ca(HCO3)2 → 100g CaCO3
• 405g of Ca(HCO3)2 → (405g/81g) × 100g CaCO3 = 500g