SACE STAGE 1 HHS

Miss N Hancock

Stoichiometry Summary

Table of Contents
Glossary ................................................................................................................................................ 3
Molecular mass and Avogardro's number ............................................................................................ 4
What is Stoichiometry? ......................................................................................................................... 6
Molar Ratios.......................................................................................................................................... 7
Mole-Mole Problems ............................................................................................................................ 7
Mole-Mass Problems ............................................................................................................................ 8
Mass-Mass Problems .......................................................................................................................... 10
"Empirical formula" ............................................................................................................................ 11
Limiting Reagents................................................................................................................................ 13
Now you try ........................................................................................................................................ 14

Glossary
Fill in the answers during the lessons!!

Metric units and significant figures

Molecular mass and Avogardro's number

You might be asked to calculate the relative molecular mass of a compound by adding
together the relative atomic masses.

VIDEO The Mole http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pft2CASl0M0

VIDEO Conversions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPdqEX_WMjo

The value for Avogadro's Number is 6.022 x 1023 mol1. It is the number of atoms in 1 mole
(using a reference of 12g of Carbon-12).
Types of problems you might be asked look something like these:
1. 0.450 mole (or gram) of Fe contains how many atoms?
2. 0.200 mole (or gram) of H2O contains how many molecules?
When the word gram replaces mole, you have a related set of problems which requires one
more step.
1. Calculate the number of molecules in 1.058 mole (or gram) of H 2O
2. Calculate the number of atoms in 0.750 mole (or gram) of Fe
These problems use the reverse technique of the above. Once again, replacing mole with
gram adds one step to the procedure.
Here is a graphic of the procedure steps:

Pick the box of the data you are given in the problem and follow the steps toward the box
containing what you are asked for in the problem.
Problem #1: 0.450 mole of Fe contains how many atoms?
Solution:
Start from the box labelled "mole" and move (to the right) to the box labelled "atoms."
What do you have to do to get there? That's right - multiply by Avogadro's Number.
0.450 mol x 6.022 x 1023 mol1
Problem #2: 0.200 mole of H2O contains how many molecules?
Solution: 0.200 mol x 6.022 x 1023 mol1

Let us now continue with more solutions to the example problems above. Here are the
same two problems as before, but with gram replacing mole:
1. 0.450 gram of Fe contains how many atoms?
2. 0.200 gram of H2O contains how many molecules?
Look at the solution steps and you'll see we have to go from grams (on the left) across to the
right through moles and then to how many. So, for the first one it would be like this:
Step One: 0.450 g divided by 55.85 g/mol = 0.00806 mol
Step Two: 0.00806 mol x 6.022 x 1023 atoms/mol
and for the second, we have:
Step One: 0.200 g divided by 18.0 g/mol = 0.0111 mol
Step Two: 0.0111 mol x 6.022 x 1023 molecules/mol

What is Stoichiometry?
The word stoichiometry derives from two Greek words: stoicheion (meaning "element")
and metron (meaning "measure"). Stoichiometry deals with calculations about the masses
(sometimes volumes) of reactants and products involved in a chemical reaction (consumed
and produced). It is a very mathematical part of chemistry, so be prepared for lots of
calculator use!

What You Should Expect

The most common stoichiometric problem will present you with a certain amount of a
reactant and then ask how much of a product can be formed.
Here is a generic chemical equation:
2 A + 2B ---> 3C
Here is a typically-worded problem (often called a "mass-mass" problem):
Given 20.0 grams of A and sufficient B, how many grams of C can be produced?
You will need to use molar ratios, molar masses, balancing and interpreting equations, and
conversions between grams and moles.
The Steps Involved in Solving Mass-Mass Stoichiometry Problems
1. Make sure the chemical equation is correctly balanced.
2. Using the molar mass of the given substance, convert the mass given in the problem
to moles.
3. Construct a molar proportion (two molar ratios set equal to each other). Use it to
convert to moles of the unknown.
4. Using the molar mass of the unkown substance, convert the moles just calculated to
mass.

Molar Ratios
The molar ratio will assume a place of central importance in solving stoichiometry
problems. The sources for these ratios are the coefficients of a balanced equation.
Example: 2 H2 + O2 ---> 2 H2O
What is the molar ratio between H2 and O2?
There are 2 Hydrogen to 1 Oxygen hence 2:1 or 2/1.
Therefore you need 2 hydrogens for every 1 oxygen to form 2 water.

Problem #1: if we have 2.00 mol of N2 reacting with sufficient H2, how many
moles of NH3 will be produced? N2 + 3 H2 ---> 2 NH3

Mole-Mole Problems
The solution procedure used for this problem involves making two ratios and
setting them equal to each other. This is called a proportion. One ratio will come
from the coefficients of the balanced equation and the other will be constructed
from the problem. The ratio set up from data in the problem will almost always be
the one with an unknown in it.

You will then cross-multiply and divide to get the answer.

What happens if the equation isn't balanced? Answer - balance it!!! You cannot do
these problems correctly without a balanced equation.
Solution:
1. Look at the question. What is it asking you to find? What information have they
provided in the question? What will you need to get the solution?
2.The question is referring to one of the reactants N2 and one of the products NH3.
Hydrogen is not involved as they tell us we have 'sufficient' hence it is not a
limiting factor. They tell us we have 2 mol N2 to work with.
3. We can see from the balanced equation that the mole ratio N2:NH3 is 1:2. So if
we have 2mol N2 how many moles of NH3 will we now have?
4.

Hence x=4.00 mol of NH3 produced if you have 2.00mol N2.

Mole-Mass Problems
2KClO3 ---> 2KCl + 3O2
Problem #1: 1.50 mol of KClO3 decomposes. How many grams of O2 will be
produced?
These types of questions are similar to the mole-mole problems however there is
one extra step. moles will have to be converted to grams or the reverse
Solution:
1. Look at the question. What is it asking you to find? What information have they
provided in the question? What will you need to get the solution?
2. We know the mole ratio of KClO3 and O2 it is 2:3.
3. We are told we have 1.50 mol KClO3 so if we cross multiple this:

we now know that with 1.50 mol KClO3 produces 2.25mol O2

4. However, the question asks how many GRAMS of O2 is produced. We need
to convert mol --> grams

use the equation:

n=m/mm
n=mols
m=mass (g)
mm=molar mass in g/mol or gmol-1

You can use the formula triangle above to help you re-arrange the equation
depending on what your known's and unknowns are.
So, to convert 2.25 mol of O2 into grams we calculate the molar mass from the
atomic number on the periodic table.
so O2 has 32.0 gmol-1
n=m/mm
m=n.mm
m=32.0 gmol-1 . 2.25 mol
m=72.0 g
Hence there are 72.0g of oxygen produced in this reaction.
Problem #2: If 80.0 grams of O2 was produced, how many moles of
KClO3 decomposed?
Solution:
We have m of O2 = 80.0 g and we have mm from the periodic table
mm=32.0gmol-1
n=m/mm = 80.0g / 32.0gmol-1 = 2.50mole of O2
Ratio O2: KClO3 is 3:2
Cross-multiply the ratios

hence 1.67 mols of KClO3 decomposed when 80.0 grams of O2 was produced.

Mass-Mass Problems
This is the most common type of stoichiometric problem in high school.
There are four steps involved in solving these problems:
1. Make sure you are working with a properly balanced equation.
2. Convert grams of the substance given in the problem to moles.
3. Construct two ratios - one from the problem and one from the equation and
set them equal. Solve for "x," which is usually found in the ratio from the
problem. (cross multiple)
4. Convert moles of the substance just solved for into grams.
MAKE SURE THE EQUATION IS BALANCED!!!!

Don't round off until the very last answer!!!!! Sig figs are important.
Show full working out and units!!

Problem #1: How many grams of chlorine can be liberated from the
decomposition of 64.0 g. of AuCl3 by this reaction: 2 AuCl3 ---> 2 Au + 3 Cl2
Solution:
Is the equation balanced? Yes.
AuCl3 m =64.0g
AuCl3 MM =303.32 gmol-1
Cl2 MM =70.906 gmol-1
Ratio AuCl3:Cl2 = 2:3
n=m/mm
n=64.0g / 303.32 gmol-1
hence AuCl3 n=0.211 mol
Cross-multiply
x=0.316 mol of CL2
Convert to mass in gram
m=n . mm
m=0.316mol . 70.906 gmol-1
m=22.4g

Problem #2:
Given this equation: 2 KI + Pb(NO3)2 --> PbI2 + 2 KNO3 calculate mass of
PbI2 produced by reacting of 30.0 g KI with excess Pb(NO3)2

"Empirical formula"
is a REAL IMPORTANT concept. Here's the definition:
the formula of a compound expressed as the simplest whole number ratio.
For example, CH3COOH has two carbons, four hydrogens and two oxygens. So we
could write the formula like this: C2H4O2 and so it reduces to CH2O.
Try to reduce the following:

Solution:

Notice two things:

1. The molecular formula and the empirical formula can be identical.
2. You scale up from the empirical formula to the molecular formula by a whole
number factor.
Questions often ask you to convert percentage composition to an empirical
formula.
Use this rhyme:

"Percent to mass
Mass to mole
Divide by small
Multiply 'til whole"

Problem
A compound consists of 72.2% magnesium and 27.8% nitrogen by mass. What is
the empirical formula?
Solution:
(1) Percent to mass: Assume 100 g of the substance, and therefore 72.2 g
magnesium and 27.8 g nitrogen.
(2) Mass to moles: m=nxmm
for Mg: 72.2 g Mg x (1 mol Mg/24.3 g Mg) = 2.97 mol Mg
for N: 27.8 g N x (1 mol N/14.0 g N) = 1.99 mol N
(3) Divide by small:
for Mg: 2.97 mol / l.99 mol = 1.49
for N: 1.99 mol / l.99 mol = 1.00
(4) Multiply 'til whole:
for Mg: 2 x 1.49 = 2.98 (i.e., 3)
for N: 2 x 1.00 = 2.00
multiply ALL values from #3 by the same factor. This factor is selected so as to
produce ALL whole numbers as answers. Often this factor is chosen by trial-anderror.
Hence, the formula of the compound is Mg3N2.
See this empirical formula calculator if you need to check answers after doing
them yourself.
https://scilearn.sydney.edu.au/fychemistry/calculators/empirical_formula.shtml

Limiting Reagents
The limiting reagent is simply the substance in a chemical reaction that runs out
first.
Problem #1: 2 Al + 3 I2 ------> 2 AlI3
Determine the limiting reagent and the theoretical yield of the product if one starts
with:
a) 1.20 mol Al and 2.40 mol iodine.
b) 1.20 g Al and 2.40 g iodine
c) How many grams of Al are left over in part b?
Solution for part a:
For the we need to find out which reactant will produce the lest product. Take the
moles of each substance and divide it by the coefficient of the balanced equation.
The substance that has the smallest answer is the limiting reagent.
For aluminum: 1.20 / 2 = 0.60
For iodine: 2.40 / 3 = 0.80
Aluminum will run out first in part a.
The second part of the question "theoretical yield" depends on finding out the
limiting reagent. Once we do that, it becomes a Stoichiometric calculation.
The amount of I2 does not play a role, since it is in excess. So we only look at how
many moles of the product the limiting reagent can produce.
Al and AlI3 is a one-to-one molar relationship 1:1, therefore 1.20 mol of Al
produces 1.20 mol of AlI3.
Solution for part b: since we have grams, we must first convert to moles. The we
solve just as we did in part a.
For the mole calculation: n=m/mm
aluminum is 1.20 g / 26.98 g mol1 = 0.04477 mol
iodine is 2.4 g / 253.8 g mol1 = 0.009456 mol
To determine the limiting reagent:
aluminum is 0.04477 / 2 = 0.02238
iodine is 0.009456 / 3 = 0.003152

Iodine is the limiting reagent.

I2 : AlI3 has a ratio 3:2, so 0.009456 mol of I2 produces 0.006304 mol of AlI3.
Again, notice that the amount of Al does not play a role, since it is in excess.
From here figure out the grams of AlI3 and you have your answer.

Solution for part c: since we have mole, we calculate directly and then convert to
grams.
Al and I2 has a 2:3 ratio, so 0.009456 mol of I2 uses 0.006304 mol of Al.
Convert this aluminium amount to grams and subtract it from 1.20 g and that's the
answer!

Now you try

Ok, now it is time to give it a try yourself. The worksheet is based on typical exam
questions so make sure you understand how to solve each question. It is NOT the
be all and end all of exam questions however! go through chapter 11 of the
essentials book. Feel free to come and see me if you need help. The best time is
Monday lesson 3.

References
Essentials SACE Stage 1
http://www.chemteam.info/ChemTeamIndex.html