fSTOICHIOMETRY

This is the determination of quantities of component in a chemical reaction when

given the quantity of another component.
Considering the reaction: N2 + 3H2 2NH3
We have the following relationships. There are
2 atoms of N and 6 atoms of H on both side

1 molecule of N2, 3 molecules of H2, 2 molecules of NH3

6.02 x 1023 molecules of N2, 6.02 x 1023 molecules of H2 and 6.02 x

1023 molecules of NH3

1 mole of N2, 3 moles of H2,
2 moles of NH3

A. Relationships from Equations

We can get the value of the substances by using the relationships of te reactants
and the products. There are several conversions:
mole mole conversion
mole mass conversion
mass mass conversion
We solve stoichiometry problem using dimensional analysis. The relationships of
the substances in the balanced equation will be used as conversion factors.
This diagram summarizes the process of solving stoic problems:
1

Mass of
given

mole of
Use molar
mass of given

given

3
Use molar
ratio from
balanced
equation

Mole of
desired

4
Use molar
mass of
desired

Mass of
desired

If the given is in moles and you are asked for the mole of another substance,
youll start with 2 and end in 3.

If the given is mole and you are asked for the mass of another substance,
youll start with 2 and end in 4.

If the given is in mass and you are asked for the mole of another substance,
youll start with 1 and end in 3.

If the given is in mass and you are asked for the mass of another substance,
youll start with 1 and end in 4.

Sample problems:
One way to remove nitrogen monoxide from the smoke-stack emission is to react
1.
with ammonia: 4 NH3 (g) + 6 NO (g) --> 5 N2 (g) + 6 H2O (l)
** CHECK if the equation is balanced!
a. How many moles of nitrogen monoxide are needed to produce 0.2384-mol
nitrogen?
** START with the given or known quantities.

? mol NO = 0.2384 mol N2

6 mol NO = 5 mol N2
? mol NO = 0.2384 mol N2 x 6 mol NO =
5 mol N2

0.2861 mol NO

** Remember to express your answer in the correct significant digits!

(based on the given quantity only)
Dont forget the units and boxed your final answer!
b. Determine the number of moles of water that will be produced from 13.9mol ammonia.
? mol H2O = 13.9 mol NH3
6 mol H2O = 4 mol NH3
? mol H2O = 13.9 mol NH3 x 6 mol H2O =
4 mol NH3

20.9 mol H2O

c. What is the mass of nitrogen that can be produced from 2.93 mol of NO?
? mass N2 = 2.93 mol NO
5 mol N2 = 6 mol NO

This is the molar mass of N2. From the

Periodic Table. N = 14.01 x2 = 28.02

? mass N2 = 2.93 mol NO x 5 mol N2 x 28.02 g N2 =

6 mol NO
1 mol N2

68.4 g N2

d. What is the mass of ammonia that is required to react with 20.0 g of NO?
This is the molar mass of NO. From the
Periodic Table. N = 14.01 O = 16.

? mass NH3 = 20.0 g NO

4 mol NH3 = 6 mol NO

? mass NH3 = 20.0 g NO x 1 mol NO x 4 mol NH3 x 17.04 g NH3= 7.57 g NH3
30.01 g NO 6 mol NO 1 mol NH3
2.

Calculate the number of mole of zinc chloride that can be produced from 34.0 g
zinc: Zn + 2 HCl --> ZnCl2 + H2
? mol ZnCl2 = 34.0 g Zn
1 mol ZnCl2 = 1 mol Zn
? mol ZnCl2 = 34.0 g Zn x 1 mol Zn x 1 mol ZnCl2 = 0.520 mol ZnCl2
65.39 g Zn 1 mol Zn

Exercise 1: Solve the following completely.

1. Given the reaction : N2 + H2 NH3. How many mole sof NH3 could be produced if 4.0
moles of N2 were reacted with enough H2?
2. How many moles of HClO3 can be produced from 7.2 g of ClO2 according to the
following reaction?
6 ClO2 + 3 H2O
5 HClO3 + HCl

3. How many grams of I2 can be produced from 0.360 moles of CuCl 2?

2 CuCl2 + 4 KI
2 CuI + 4 KCl + I2
What is the total mass of products formed when 19.0 g of carbon disulfide is burned in
air?
CS2 + 3 O2
CO2 + 2 SO2
4.

B. Limiting Reagent
Limiting Reagent - the reactant in the reaction that is completely consumed. The
extent of the reaction and the amount of products formed will be based on the
limiting regent.
Excess Reagent - reactant that is present in the reaction that is more than the
required amount.
Example 1: Two moles of Mg and five moles of O 2 are placed in a reaction vessel,
and then the Mg is ignited according to the reaction:
Mg + O2 MgO.
a. To determine the limiting reagent we have to balance the equation.
2Mg + O2 2 MgO
b. Determine the mole ratio of the substances then analyze the given.
The ratio is 2 moles Mg:1 mole of O2
If you have 2 moles of Mg, you need 1 mole of O2.
If you have 5 moles of O2, you need 10 moles of Mg
c. Mg is the limiting reagent and there are 4 moles O2 in excess.
Example 2: How much magnesium oxide can be formed when 10.0 grams of
magnesium reacts with 10.0 grams of O2?
O2 g = 10.0 g Mg x 1 mol Mg x 1 mol O2 x 32.00 g O2 = 6.58 g O2
24.31g Mg
2 mol Mg 1 mol O2
From this calculation we can conclude that Mg is the limiting reagent and the
oxygen is in excess. For every 10.0 g of Mg you need 6.58 grams of O 2. There are
3.42 g of oxygen in excess. So for the one below, we use the limiting
reagent.
MgO g = 10.0 g Mg x 1 mol Mg x 2 mol MgO x 40.02 g MgO =
24.31g Mg
2 mol Mg
1 mol MgO
Exercise 2: Determine the limiting reagent for each reaction and the amount of excess
substance.
1. What is the maximum amount of Ca3(PO4)2 that can be prepared from 7.4 g
of Ca(OH)2 and 10.4 g of H3PO4? Identify the limiting reagent.
3 Ca(OH)2 + 2 H3PO4
Ca3(PO4)2 + 6 H2O

2. Magnesium metal reacts with oxygen to give MgO. If 5.00 g of Mg and 5.00 g
of O2 are allowed to react, what weight of MgO will be formed? Identify the
limiting reagent.
2 Mg + O2
2 MgO

C. Percentage Yield

Actual Yield (experimental yield) - the actual amount of product obtained from
an experiment and it s usually less than the theoretical yield.
Theoretical Yield - the amount of products that will be produced from a reaction
from calculations using the balanced reaction.
Percentage Yield - the relationship between the actual yield obtained from the
experiment and the theoretical yield.
Percentage Yield = ___Actual Yield___
Theoretical Yield

x 100

Example 1: 50 g of silver nitrate is mixed with 50 g of hydrochloric acid in a water

based solution. A white precipitate forms (silver chloride). The solution is filtered
and the white precipitate collected and dried. The dried precipitate is measured to
have a mass of 53.6 g. What is the theoretical and percent yield?

Having identified silver nitrate as the limiting reagent we can do the rest of the
calculation:

Exercise 3: Solve the following completely.

1. Powdered zinc metal reacts violently with sulfur (S 8) when heated. Predict
the mass of sulfur required to react with 25g of zinc. What will the actual
yield be in this experiment if the percentage yield was 80%?

2. When HgO is heated it decomposes into mercury and O2. If 62.7 g of

mercury is obtained from the decomposition of 75.8 g of the oxide, what is
the percent yield?

3. Reaction of 1.00 mole CH4 with excess Cl2 yields 96.8 g CCl4. What is the
percent yield of the reaction?
CH4 + 4 Cl2
Exercise 4: Solve the following completely.

CCl4 + 4 HCl

1.

A can of butane (C4H10) lighter fluid contains 1.20 moles of

butane. Calculate the number of moles of carbon dioxide given off when
butane is burned.

2.

How many moles of C are required to produce 8.94 g of Fe

according to the following reaction?
Fe2O3 + C
Fe + CO

3.

Bauxite ore contains aluminium oxide, which is decomposed

using electricity to produce aluminium metal. What mass of aluminium
metal can be produce from 100g of aluminium oxide?

4.

Calculate the mass of lead(II) chloride precipitate produced

when 2.57g of sodium chloride in solution reacts in a double replacement
reaction with excess aqueous lead(II) nitrate. What is the percentage yield
for the experiment if 5.00g of lead(II) chloride was obtained?