STOICHIOMETRY

Stoichiometry is a section of chemistry involving relationships between reactants and/or products

in a chemical reaction to determine desired quantitative data. Chemical Stoichiometry refers to the
quantitative study of the reactants and products involved in a chemical reaction. The
word “stoichiometry” is derived from the Greek word “stoikhein” meaning element and “metron”
meaning measure, so stoichiometry translated means the measure of elements.
Stoichiometry is the calculation of the quantities of reactants and products involved in a chemical
change.
In simple words, we can define, Stoichiometry as the calculation of products and reactants in a
chemical reaction. It is concerned with numbers.
To use stoichiometry to run calculations about chemical reactions, it is important first to
understand the relationships between products and reactants and why they exist, which requires
understanding how to balance reactions.
Stoichiometry is an important concept in chemistry that helps us use balanced chemical
equations to calculate amounts of reactants and products. To balance an equation, there must be
the same number of atoms on the left side of the equation as the right. One can do this by raising
the coefficients.
The coefficients in a chemical equation specify the relative amounts in moles of each of the
substances involved in the reaction. The numerical relationships between chemical amounts in a
balanced chemical equation are called reaction stoichiometry. Stoichiometry allows us to predict
the amounts of reactants that react. Stoichiometry also allows us to determine the amount of
reactant necessary to form a given amount of product. These calculations are central to chemistry,
allowing chemists to plan and carry out chemical reactions to obtain products in the desired
quantities.
MOLE-TO-MOLE CONVERSION
The balanced equation for the combustion of octane is:
2 C8H18(l) + 25 O2(g) → 16 CO2(g) + 18 H2O(g)
From our balance equation for the combustion of octane, for example, we can write the following
stoichiometric ratio:
2 mol C8H18 : 16 mol CO2
We can use this ratio to determine how many moles of CO2 form when a given number of moles
of C8H18 burns. The ratio acts as a conversion factor between the amount in moles of the reactant
(C8H18) and the amount in moles of the products (CO2).
Suppose that we burn 22.0 moles of C8H18; how many moles of CO2 form?
Therefore,
16 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶𝑂2
22.0 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶8 𝐻18 × = 176 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶𝑂2
2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶8 𝐻18
The combustion of 22.0 moles of C8H18 adds 176 moles of CO2 to the atmosphere.
MASS-TO-MASS CONVERSIONS
In this case, the amount of substance is given in mass instead of moles. Consequently, we must
first convert the mass (in grams) to the amount (in moles). The general conceptual plan for
calculations in which we are given the mass of a reactant or product in a chemical reaction and
asked to find the mass of a different reactant or product takes the form:

Amount A Amount B
Mass A Mass B
(in moles) (in moles)

Where A and B are two different substances involved in the reaction.

We use the molar mass of A to convert from the mass of A to the amount of A (in moles). We use
the appropriate ratio from the balanced chemical equation to convert from the amount of A (in
moles) to the amount of B (in moles). And finally, we use the molar mass of B to convert from the
amount of B (in moles) to the mass of B.
Example 1
To calculate the mass of CO2 emitted upon the combustion of 3.7 × 1015 g of octane, we use the
following conceptual plan:

g C8H18 mol C8H18 mol CO2 g CO2

1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝐶8 𝐻18 16 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶𝑂2 44.01 𝑔 𝐶𝑂2

114.22 𝑔 𝐶8 𝐻18 2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶8 𝐻18 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶𝑂2

Relationship used
2 mol C8H18 : 16Bmol CO2 (from the chemical equation)
Molar mass C8H18 = 114.22 g/mol
Molar mass CO2 = 44.01 g/mol
Solution
We follow the conceptual plan to solve the problem, beginning with g C8H18 and cancelling units
to arrive at g CO2:
1𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶8 𝐻18 16 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶𝑂2 44.01 𝑔 𝐶𝑂2
3.7 × 1015 𝑔 𝐶8 𝐻18 × × × = 1.1 × 1016 𝑔 𝐶02
114.22 𝑔 𝐶8 𝐻18 2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶8 𝐻18 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶𝑂2
Example 2
Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is a component of acid rain that forms when SO2, a pollutant, reacts with
oxygen and water according to the simplified reaction:
2 SO2(g) + O2(g) + 2 H2O(l) → 2 H2SO4(aq)
The generation of the electricity used by a medium-sized home produces about 25 kg of SO2 per
year. Assuming that there is more than enough O2 and H2O, what mass of H2SO4, in kg, can form
from this much SO2?
Solution
Given: 25 kg SO2
Find: kg H2SO4
Conceptual plan:

kg SO2 g SO2 mol SO2 mol H2SO4 g H2SO4 kg H2SO4

Relationship used
1 kg = 1000 g
2 mol SO2 : 2 mol H2SO4
Molar mass SO2 = 64.07 g/mol
Molar mass H2SO4 = 98.09 g/mol
Solution
1000 𝑔 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑆𝑂2 2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4 98.09 𝑔𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4 1 𝑘𝑔
25 𝑘𝑔 𝑆𝑂2 × × × × ×
1 𝑘𝑔 64.07 𝑔 𝑆𝑂2 2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑆𝑂2 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4 1000 𝑔
= 38 𝑘𝑔 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4
Assignment
Another component of acid rain is nitric acid, which forms when NO2, also a pollutant, reacts with
oxygen and water according to the simplified equation:
4 NO2(g) + O2(g) + 2 H2O(l) → 4 HNO3(aq)
The generation of the electricity used by a medium-sized home produces about 16 kg of NO2 per
year. Assuming that there is adequate O2 and H2O, what mass of HNO3, in kg, can form from this
amount of NO2 pollutant?
LIMITING REACTANT, THEORETICAL YIELD, AND PERCENT YIELD
Limiting reactant (or limiting reagent) is the reactant that is completely consumed in a chemical
reaction and limits the amount of product.
The reactant in excess is any reactant that occurs in a quantity greater than is required to
completely react with the limiting reactant.
The theoretical yield is the amount of product that can be made in a chemical reaction based on
the amount of limiting reactant.
The actual yield is the amount of product actually produced by a chemical reaction.
𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑
The percent yield is calculated as 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 × 100%.

CALCULATING LIMITING REACTANT, THEORETICAL YIELD, AND PERCENT

YIELD
When working in the laboratory, we normally measure the initial quantities of reactants in grams,
not in number of molecules. To find the limiting reactant and theoretical yield from initial masses,
we must first convert the masses to amounts in moles.
Example
Consider the reaction:
2 Mg(s) + O2(g) → 2 MgO(s)
A reaction mixture contains 42.5 g Mg and 33.8 g O2; what is the limiting reactant and theoretical
yield?
To solve this problem, we must determine which of the reactants makes the least amount of
product. We do this by calculating how much product can be made from each reactant. However,
we are given the initial quantities in grams, and stoichiometric relationships are between moles, so
we must first convert to moles. We then convert from moles of the reactant to moles of product.
The reactant that makes the least amount of product is the limiting reactant. The conceptual plan
is:
 g Mg mol Mg mol MgO

1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑀𝑔 2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑀𝑔𝑂

24.31 𝑔 𝑀𝑔 2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑀𝑔

Smallest amount determines mol MgO g MgO

limiting reactant

40.31 𝑔 𝑀𝑔𝑂
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑀𝑔𝑂

g O2 mol O2 mol MgO

1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂2
2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑀𝑔𝑂
32.00 𝑔 𝑂2
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂2

In this conceptual plan, we compare the number of moles of MgO made by each reactant and
convert only the smaller amount to grams. (Alternatively, we can convert both quantities to gram
and determine the limiting reactant based on the mass of the product.)
Relationship used
Molar mass Mg = 24.31 g/mol
Molar mass O2 = 32.00 G/MOL
2 mol Mg : 2 mol MgO
1 mol O2 : 2 mol MgO
Molar mass MgO = 40.31 g/mol
Solution
Beginning with the masses of each reactant, we follow the conceptual plan to calculate how much
product can be made from each:
For Mg:
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑀𝑔 2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑀𝑔𝑂
𝟒𝟐. 𝟓 𝒈 𝑴𝒈 × × = 𝟏. 𝟕𝟒𝟖𝟑 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑴𝒈𝑶
24.31 𝑔 𝑀𝑔 2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑀𝑔
For O2:
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂2 2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑀𝑔𝑂
𝟑𝟑. 𝟖 𝒈 𝑶𝟐 × × = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟏𝟐𝟓 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑴𝒈𝑶
32.00 𝑔 𝑂2 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂2
Since Mg makes the least amount of product, it is the limiting reactant and O2 is in excess.
Therefore:
40.31 𝑔 𝑀𝑔𝑂
𝟏. 𝟕𝟒𝟖𝟑 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑴𝒈𝑶 × = 𝟕𝟎. 𝟓 𝒈 𝑴𝒈𝑶
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑀𝑔𝑂
The theoretical yield is 70.5 g MgO, the mass of product possible based on the limiting reactant.
Suppose that after the synthesis, the actual yield of MgO is 55.9 g. What is the percent yield? We
calculate the percent yield as follows:
𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 55.9 𝑔
% 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 = × 100% = × 100% = 79.3%
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 70.5 𝑔
Assignment
We can obtain titanium metal from its oxide according to the following balanced equation:
TiO2(s) + 2 C(s) → Ti(s) + 2 CO(g)
When 28.6 kg of C reacts with 88.2 kg of TiO2, 42.8 kg of Ti is produced. Find the limiting
reactant, theoretical yield (in kg) and percent yield.