Useful for balancing chemical equations Can solve basic math problems in chemistry Martin Cockett, Graham Doggett Discuss and teach these uses Question: It takes three different ingredients A, B, and C, to produce a certain chemical substance. A, B, and C have to be dissolved in water separately before they interact to form the chemical. Suppose that the solution containing A at 1.5 g/cm 3 combined with the solution containing B at 3.6 g/cm 3 combined with the solution containing C at 5.3 g/cm 3 makes 25.07 g of the chemical. If the proportion for A, B, C in these solutions are changed to 2.5 g/cm 3 , 4.3 g/cm 3 , and 2.4 g/cm 3 , respectively (while the volumes remain the same), then 22.36 g of the chemical is produced. Finally, if the proportions are 2.7 g/cm 3 , 5.5 g/cm 3 , and 3.2 g/cm 3 , respectively, then 28.14 g of the chemical is produced. What are the volumes (in cubic centimeters) of the solutions containing A, B, and C? Simplified Version: Three Ingredients A,B,C Defined by fixed volume 1.5 g/cm 3 of A + 3.6 g/cm 3 of B+ 5.3 g/cm 3 of C= 25.07 g 2.5 g/cm 3 of A + 4.3 g/cm 3 of B+ 2.4 g/cm 3 of C= 22.36 g 2.7 g/cm 3 of A + 5.5 g/cm 3 of B+ 3.2 g/cm 3 of C= 28.14 g Represent volumes with a, b, and c respectively: 1.5 a+ 3.6 b+ 5.3 c= 25.07 2.5 a+ 4.3 b+ 2.4 c= 22.36 2.7 a+ 5.5 b+ 3.2 c= 28.14
Rewrite In Matrix Form: Solve: Converting back to equation form: a=1.5cm 3 , b=3.1cm 3 , c=2.2cm 3 Demonstrates use of linear algebra for simple chemistry problem
Linear Algebra can be used to balance chemical equations Law of Conservation of Matter: Mass is neither created nor destroyed in any chemical reaction. Therefore balancing of equations requires the same number of atoms on both sides of a chemical reaction. The mass of all the reactants (the substances going into a reaction) must equal the mass of the products (the substances produced by the reaction). Question: Balance the chemical equation xC 2 H 6 + yO 2
zCO 2 + tH 2 O by finding out how much of each molecule is needed to satisfy the Law of Conservation of Matter. The amount of each molecule needed is represented by x, y, z, and t. The amount of each type of atom is written in parentheses: (2x)C+(6x)H+(2y)O=(z)C+(2z)O+(2t)H+(t)O We can break this down into three equations by matching them up by the atom: 2x=z 6x=2t 2y=2z+t First rewrite equations: 2x-z=0 6x-2t=0 2y-2z-t=0 Write in Matrix Form: Can simplify matrix to:
Writing back in equation form: x=2/6t y=7/6t z=2/3t t=1t
t can be any real number and equation would be balanced However, small integer numbers are preferred Set t=6: 2C 2 H 6 + 7O 2 4CO 2 + 6H 2 O