Mole Concept and Chemical Calculations by Waqar Ahmad (03349543124)

Relative Atomic Mass

Definition:
The relative atomic mass, Ar, of an element is defined as the average mass of the
isotopes an atom of the element compared with 1 th of the mass of an atom of carbon-
12. 12
Note: * Symbol for the relative atomic mass is Ar and Ar has no unit.

The values of the Ar of atoms of the elements are given in the Periodic Table and is written
on the top of element in the periodic table.

Atomic Number
• It is the number of protons present in the nucleus of an atom. It is also known as the
Proton Number.

Mass Number/ Nucleon Number

• It is the sum of protons and neutrons present in the nucleus of an atom.

Relationship between Nucleon number and Relative atomic mass, Ar

• The mass of an atom is due mainly to the total number of protons and neutrons in its
nucleus (Nucleon number). Thus, we would expect the Ar of the element to be the same
as its nucleon number. This is true for elements which have no isotopes.
• For most elements, the nucleon number and the Ar are not the same due to the
existence of isotopes.
• The nucleon number is always a whole number (since we can’t have fractions of protons
or neutrons in the nucleus), but the Ar values may not be whole numbers. If the Ar is not
a whole number and is different from nucleon number, we can conclude that the element
has naturally occurring isotopes.

Relative Molecular Mass

• Many elements and compounds exist as molecules.
• The mass of a molecule is measured in terms of its relative molecular mass, Mr
Definition: The relative molecular mass, Mr, of a substance is defined as the average
mass of a molecule of the substance compared with 1 th of the mass of
Carbon -12 atom 12

• Relative molecular mass is often abbreviated to molecular mass.

• Symbol is Mr and Mr has no units.
• It is calculated as the sum of the atomic masses of all the atoms in the formula.
Example 1: Ar of Oxygen (O) is 16, thus Mr of Oxygen (O2) = 16 x 2 = 32

Example 2: Ar of Hydrogen (H) is 1; Ar of Oxygen (O) is16,

Thus, Mr of H2O = (2x1) + 16

Relative Formula Mass

• Compounds can also exist as ions, such as ionic compounds, sodium chloride
containing Na+ and Cl− ions and silver chloride containing Ag+ and Cl− ions.
• Since ionic compounds do not contain molecules rather exist as crystalline lattices, the
sum of the Ar of the atoms in the formula is called the relative formula mass (also given
the symbol Mr). The calculation of relative formula mass is the same as above, since the
charge does not affect the overall mass.

Example 1: Ar of Na = 23 and Ar of Cl = 35.5

Thus, relative formula mass/Mr of NaCl = 23 + 35.5 = 58.5
Example 2: Ar of Ag = 108 and Ar of Cl = 35.5
Thus Mr of AgCl = 108 + 35.5 = 143.5

The Mole Concept

Avogadro number (Avogadro constant)
• The mole is the standard method in chemistry for communicating how much of a substance
is present in terms of countable.

• A ‘mole’ is the amount of substance which contains 6x1023 of particles of that substance.
This number, 6 x 1023, is known as the Avogadro number.
The particles may be atoms, molecules, ions or electrons.

e.g. 1 mole of copper atom contains 6x1023 copper atoms.

1 mole of carbon dioxide (molecules) contains 6 × 10 23 CO2 molecules.
1 mole of sodium ions contains 6x1023 sodium ions.

Relationship between mole (countable unit) and the weight

• Molar mass is the mass of one mole of any substance.
• It is the relative atomic mass (Ar) expressed in grams.
• It is the relative molecular mass (Mr) expressed in grams.

(i) Molar Mass of Atoms

e.g. One mole of carbon atoms has a mass of 12 g. (Ar of C = 12)
No. of atoms in 1 mole = 6 x 1023
 e.g. One mole of aluminum atoms has a mass of 27 g. (Ar of Al = 27)
No. of atoms in 1 mole = 6 x 1023

No. of moles of
a sample in = mass of the sample (g)
of an element Relative Atomic weight of element

simply, No. of moles = mass

Ar

e.g. 1) Calculate No. of moles in 46g of sodium

No. of moles in = mass (Ar of sodium = 23)

Ar
= 46
23
= 2 moles

2) Calculate the mass in grams of 5.5 moles of Copper

No. of moles in = mass (Ar of copper = 63.5)

Ar
5.5 = mass
63.5
= 349.3g

(ii) Molar mass of molecules

e.g. One mole of water has a mass of 18g.

[Since Mr of H2O = (2x1) + 16 = 18]
No. of water molecules in one mole is 6 x 1023.

e.g. One mole of carbon dioxide has a mass of 44g

[since Mr of CO2 = 12 + (16x2) = 44]
No. of carbon dioxide molecules in one mole is 6 x 1023

No. of moles in = mass of sample (g)

a sample of a molecule molar mass of substance

or simply , No. of moles = mass

Mr
 1) Calculate No. of moles in 80g oxygen

No. of moles = mass in g

Mr

= 80 = 2.5 since Mr of O2 = 16x2 = 32)

32

2) Calculate the mass of 2 moles of Hydrogen.

No. of moles = mass in g

Mr
( since Mr of H2 = 2 x1 = 2)

2 = mass in g
2
Therefore mass of Hydrogen = 2× 2 = 4g

Concentration of Solutions

• The concentration of a solution tells you the amount of solute in 1 dm3 of solution. It
can be measured in mol/dm3 or in g/dm3.
Note: 1 dm3 = 1 liter = 1000 cm3
1 cm3 = 1ml

To convert cm3 to dm3 volume in cm3 ÷ 1000

• mol/dm3 is commonly used because it is convenient to express concentrations of

substances in it.
• It is sometimes referred as “Molarity” of a solution represented by the symbol “M”.

Concentration in mol/dm3 = No of moles of solute

Volume of solution in dm3

Hence, in a volume of a solution:

No. of moles = volume of solution (dm3) x concentration in mol/dm3

 Concentration in g/dm3 = mass of solute in gram
Volume of solution in dm3

Molar Volume of a Gas

• Avogadro’s Law: Equal volumes of all gases under the same conditions of
temperature and pressure contain the same number of molecules.
Hence, 1 mole of any gas always has the same volume.

• One mole of all gases at room temperature and pressure (r.t.p)

occupies a volume of 24 dm3, known as the molar volume.
• One mole of all gases at standard temperature and pressure (s.t.p)
occupies a volume of 22.4 dm3, known as the molar volume.
i.e. The molar volume for all gases at r.t.p = 24 dm3 or 24000 cm3
The molar volume for all gases at s.t.p = 22.4 dm3 or 22400 cm3

No. of moles of gas = Volume of gas in dm3 = Volume

Molar volume (dm3/mol) 24

Since 1 dm3 is 1000 cm3, we can also calculate no. of moles of gas as below, if volume
of gas is given in cm3:

No. of moles of gas = Volume (when volume of gas is in cm3)

24000

E.g.1 Calculate the number of moles of CO2 when 12 dm3 of it was evolved in a
reaction.

Solution : No. of moles of CO2 = 12 = 0.5

24

E.g. 2 Calculate the mass of oxygen if 4 dm3 of the gas was liberated at r.t.p.
Solution : No. of moles of O2 = 4 = 1 (not final answer, can be in fraction)
24 6
Mass of O2 = mole x Mr = 1 x 32 g = 5.33g (final ans in 3 s.f.)
6
 Finding the Number of Particles

No. of moles of substance = No. of particles of substance

6 × 1023

In case of molecule, No. of particles becomes equal to the number of molecules

In case of an elemental atom, it becomes equal to the number of atoms
And in case of ionic compounds it becomes equal to the number of formula units.

Chemical Calculations From Equations

Three Basic Methods to do chemical calculations:

Method 1 - Using mole ratio (when masses in g, volume of gas, concentration are given)
Method 2 - Using mass ratio (where masses are not given in grams, but, in kg or tonnes)
Method 3 - Using volume ratio (if only volumes of gases are involved)
Method 4 – Using mass to volume ratio

Method 1 – Using Mole Ratio

Steps involved in working out the required calculation:

1. Write the balanced equation if not given in question.
2. Get mole ratio from equation
3. Convert information given (whether in mass, volume or concentration of
substance) in the question into moles
4. Use the mole ratio and work out by proportion the no. of moles of unknown
5. Convert no of moles to mass or volume or calculate concentration of
solution as required by question

Eg 1. What mass of magnesium oxide can be obtained from the combustion of 2.4 g of
magnesium?

Chemical Equation: 2Mg + O2 → 2MgO (write it if not given)

No. of moles in 2.4g Mg = mass = 2.4 = 0.1 ( Ar used, Mg made up of atoms)

Ar 24

From equation, 2 mol Mg produces 2 mol MgO (Question requires calculation of these)
mole ratio is 2 mol Mg : 2 mol MgO

Hence, 0.1 mol Mg produces 0.1 x 2 (Using proportion from mole ratio)*
2
= 0.1mol MgO
Mr of MgO = 24 + 16 = 40 ( Always show calculation of Mr value)
 Mass of 0.1 mol MgO produced = No. of moles x Mr
= 0.1 x 40 g
= 4g

Eg 2. Copper (II) oxide reacts with carbon to form copper and carbon dioxide.
Calculate the mass of copper (II) oxide used if 12.8g of copper was obtained in the
reaction.
Chemical Equation: 2CuO + C → 2Cu + CO2 (write it if not given)

No. of moles of 12.8g Cu = mass = 12.8 = 0.2 (mass is given in question)

Ar 64
From equation, 2 mol Cu is obtained from 2 mol CuO
Mole ratio is 2 mol Cu: 2 mol CuO
* Hence, 0.2 mol Cu is obtained from 0.2 x 2
2
= 0.2 mol CuO
Mr CuO = 64 + 16 = 80 (working)

mass of 0.2mol CuO used = No. of moles x Mr

= 0.2 x 80g
= 16g

Method 2 (Using Mass Ratio)

Although the gram is the usual unit of mass used in calculations, other units such as the kilogram
or the tonne can be used, especially in industry. In cases where masse are used, it is simpler to
use the Mass-Mass ratio method.

Steps:
1. Write the balanced equation if not given in question
2. Get mole ratio from equation
3. Convert mole ratio to mass ratio (use Ar or Mr, applying mass =mole x Ar or
mass = mole x Mr)
4. Use proportion to find unknown mass
 E.g. 1. 4.8kg of magnesium reduced copper (II) oxide to copper. What mass of copper is
obtained?

Chemical Equation: Mg + CuO → Cu + MgO

Explanation:
From equation, 1 mol Mg produces 1 mol Cu Mole ratio: 1 mol Mg: 1 mol Cu
Mass ratio : 24 g Mg : 64 g Cu
Convert kg to grams
4.8kg = 4.8 × 1000 = 4800g

Hence, 4800g of Mg produces 4800 x 64 g Cu

24
= 12800 g Cu

E.g. 2. Ammonia is produced from the reaction between hydrogen and nitrogen gas. Calculate
the mass of nitrogen needed to produce 17 tonnes of ammonia.

[1 tonne = 1000 kg = 1000000 g]

Chemical Equation : N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3

Explanation:
Mr of NH3 = 14 + (3 x 1) =
Mole ratio is 2 mol of NH3 : 1 mol N2 17
Mass ratio : (2 x17)g NH3 : (1x 28) g N2 Mr of N2 = 2 x 14 =28
mass = no. of mole x Mr
34 g NH3 : 28 g N2 g
Convert tonnes to grams
17 tonnes = 17 × 106 = 1.7 × 107 g

Hence, 17 tonnes NH3 requires (1.7 × 107x 28) = 1.4 × 107

34
Convert tonnes to grams 1.4 × 107 = 14
106
14 tonnes of nitrogen is needed.
Method 3 – Using volume ratio (For calculations involving volumes of reacting gases, it
is simpler to use the volume-volume ratio method)

Steps:
1. Write the balanced equation if not given in question.
2. Get mole ratio from equation
3. Write down the volume ratio which is the same as
the mole ratio.
4. Use proportion to find volume of gas required

E.g. 1 Under suitable conditions, nitrogen and hydrogen combine to form ammonia.
Calculate the volume of ammonia formed if 100cm3 of nitrogen is reacted with
excess hydrogen. All gas volumes are measured at room temperature and
pressure.

Chemical Equation : N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3

From equation, mole ratio is 1 mol of N2 : 2 mol NH3 Explanation:

volume ratio is 1 cm of N2 : 2 cm3 of NH3
3 3
( cm in ratio is used
as in the question)
Hence, 100 cm3 N2 produces (100 x 2 ) = 200 cm3 NH3

E.g. 2 What volume of CO is produced by completely reacting 15 cm3 CO2 with

charcoal?
Chemical Equation: C + CO2 → 2CO

From equation, Mole ratio is 1 mol of CO2 : 2 mol CO

Volume ratio is 1 cm3 of CO2 : 2 cm3 of CO
15 cm3 CO2 produces (15 x 2) = 30 cm3 CO
E.g. 3 A volume of 1000 dm3 methane is burnt completely in oxygen.
Calculate the volumes of gaseous products when measured
(i) above 1000C,
(ii) below 100 0C

Chemical Equation : CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O

Mole ratio is 1 mol CH4 : 1 mol CO2 : 2 mol H2O
Volume ratio is 1 dm3 CH4: 1 dm3 CO2: 2 dm3 H2O
Hence, 1000 dm3 CH4: 1000 dm3 CO2: 2000 dm3 H2O
 (i) Above 100 0C , gaseous products are CO2 and H2O ,thus total volume of
gaseous product measured is 1000dm3 + 2000 dm3 = 3000 dm3

(ii) Below 1000 C, carbon dioxide is the only gaseous product, thus volume of
gaseous product measured is 1000dm3.

Method 4 – Using mass to volume ratio

Steps:
1. Write the balanced equation if not given in question.
2. Get mole ratio from equation
3. Convert mole ratio to mass to volume ratio
4. Use proportion to find out un known volume or mass as required
By the question

e.g. Calculate the volume of ammonia formed at STP in 'ml' by treating 2.675 g of
ammonium chloride with excess of calcium hydroxide (Relative Atomic Mass of
N=14, O=16, H=1, Cl=35.5, Ca=40).
2NH4Cl + Ca (OH) 2 → CaCl2 + H2O + 2NH3

From the equation 2 moles of ammonium chloride produces two moles of ammonia

Mole Ratio 2 mole NH4Cl : 2 mole NH3

Mass to Volume Ratio 2 (14 + (1× 3) + 35.5) g: 2 × 22.4 dm3

2.675g of ammonium chloride produces = 2.675 × 2 ×22.4

2 (14 + (1× 3) + 35.5)

= 1.12dm3
To convert the volume from cm3/ml to dm3 multiply by 1000
So, 1.12 × 1000 = 1120ml or cm3

Chemical Calculation involving Limiting and Excess Reactants

When there is not enough of one reactant in a chemical reaction, the reaction stops
abruptly. To find out the amount of product formed it is necessary to determine which
reactant is limiting reactant and which reactant is in excess. The reactant that is
completely used up in the reaction is known as the limiting reactant. The other reactant
which still remains is known to be present as in excess. The amount of formation of
the products is dependent on the limiting reactant.
From the reaction stoichiometry, the exact amount of reactant needed to react with
another element can be calculated. If the reactants are not mixed in the correct
stoichiometric proportions (as indicated by the balanced chemical equation), then one of
the reactants will be entirely consumed while another will be left over. The limiting
reagent is the one that is totally consumed; it limits the reaction from continuing because
there is none left to react with the in-excess reactant.

Steps:
1. Determine the balanced chemical equation for the chemical reaction.
2. Convert all given information into moles (most likely, through the use
of molar mass as a conversion factor).
3. Calculate the mole ratio from the given information. Compare the
calculated ratio to the actual ratio.
4. Use the amount of limiting reactant to calculate the amount of product
produced.
5. If necessary, calculate how much is left in excess of the non-limiting
reagent.

What mass of carbon dioxide forms in the reaction of 25 grams of glucose with 40
grams of oxygen?
C6H12O6 + 6O2→ 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy
1 mole of glucose (C6H12O6) requires 6 moles of oxygen to give 6 moles of carbon
dioxide and 6 moles of water.

Convert all given information into moles

Number of moles = mass in g ÷ Mr

Moles of glucose (C6H12O6) = 25 ÷ {(12× 6) + (1 ×12) + (6 × 16)} = 0.1388 moles

Moles of Oxygen (O2) = 40 ÷ (16 × 2) = 1.25 moles

Compare the calculated ratio to the actual ratio.

1
If all of the 1.25 moles of oxygen were to be used up, there would need to be 1.25× 6or
0.208 moles of glucose. There is only 0.1388 moles of glucose available which makes
it the limiting reactant.
Use the amount of limiting reactant to calculate the amount of CO2 produced.
Mole ratio: 1 mole of glucose (C6H12O6) : 6 mol of CO2
Therefore 0.1388 moles of glucose produces = 0.1388 × 6 = 0.8328 moles
Convert moles to grams
No. of moles = mass in g
Mr

0.8328 = mass in g. Therefore mass = 0.8328 × 44 = 36.6 g

44

Nitrogen, N2 and hydrogen, H2 will react according to the chemical equation:

N2 + 3 H2→ 2NH3

If 1 mole of nitrogen is reacted with 4 moles of hydrogen in the reaction vessel,

(a) Which reactant will be in excess?

(b) What is the maximum number of moles of ammonia produced?

Solution:
(a) From equation,

Mole Ratio is 1 mol N2 : 3 mol H2

Thus, 1 mol of N2 will react only with 3 mol of H2

Since there is 4 mol of H2 in the reaction vessel, H2 is the reactant

in excess and N2 will be totally used up, it is the limiting
reactant.

(b) The amount of product formed depends on the amount of limiting

reactant used (N2)
From equation, Mole Ratio is 1 mol N2 : 2 mol NH3
Thus, maximum no. of moles of NH3 produced is 2 moles.

A mixture of 125cm3 oxygen and 50cm 3 hydrogen at room temperature is exploded

in a suitable apparatus. After reaction, the apparatus is allowed to cool to room
temperature again. Give the names of the remaining gases and also their volumes.

Chemical Equation : 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O

From equation, Mole Ratio is 2 mol H2 : 1 mol O2
Volume Ratio: 2 cm3 H2 : 1 cm3 O2
50cm3 H2 will react with (50 x 1) = 25 cm3 O2
2

or 125 cm3 O2 will need (125 x 2)cm3 = 250 cm3 H2

Thus, hydrogen is the limiting reactant as it will be totally used up in the reaction
and oxygen is the excess reactant. So, the amount of water produced depends on
the amount of limiting reactant, H2.

From equation, Mole ratio is 2 mol H2: 2 mol H2O

Volume ratio is 2 cm3 H2 : 2 cm3 H2O
50cm3 H2 produces 50cm3 of H2O
Thus, 50 cm3 of water vapor is produced and (125 – 25) cm3 = 100 cm3 of
oxygen remains in excess.

PERCENTAGE YIELD CALCULATIONS

Even though no atoms are gained or lost in a chemical reaction (law of
conservation of mass), unfortunately it is not always possible to obtain the
calculated amount of a product (i.e. 100% yield) because the reaction may not go
to completion because it may be reversible or some of the product may be lost
when it is separated from the reaction mixture (eg via crystallization or
distillation) or some of the reactants may react in ways different to the expected
reaction (side reactions). The amount of a product you actually obtain is known
as the yield. When compared with the maximum theoretical amount calculated as
a percentage, it is called the percentage yield. You should be able to calculate the
percentage yield of a product from the actual yield of a reaction or calculate the
theoretical mass of a product from a given mass of reactant given the balanced
equation for the reaction.

YIELD The actual yield is the mass of useful product you get from a chemical
reaction and this actual yield can be compared with the maximum theoretical yield if
everything could be done perfectly, which you can't!

The % yield of a reaction is the percentage of the product obtained compared to the
theoretical maximum (predicted) yield calculated from the balanced equation.
 Percentage Yield = Actual Yield × 100
Theoretical Yield

E.g. 5g of methanol reacts with excess ethanoic acid to produce 9.6g of methyl
ethanoate. Calculate the percentage yield.

Step 1: determine the theoretical yield (the quantity expected from the balanced
equation)

CH3OH + CH3COOH → CH3OOCCH3

1 mol 1 mol

32g 74g

5g (74 x 5) ÷ 32 = 11.56g

Theoretical Yield = 11.56g

Step 2: The actual yield is always given in the question.

Actual yield = 9.6g

Step 3: Percentage yield = ( 9.6 x 100) = 83%

11.56

Percentage Purity
Percentage Purity indicates the amount of pure and impure substances present in a
sample and is calculated by the following formula:

Percentage Purity = Mass of pure substance in sample × 100

Mass of the sample
Example:

Chalk is impure calcium carbonate. Its purity can be determined by measuring how
much carbon dioxide is given off.

10 g of chalk was reacted with an excess of dilute hydrochloric acid. 2.128 liters of
carbon dioxide gas was collected at standard temperature and pressure (STP).

The equation for the reaction is

CaCO3 (s) + 2HCl (aq) → CaCl2 (aq) + H2O (l) + CO2 (g)

Solution:

Step 1: Calculate the Mr of calcium carbonate

Ar: Ca = 40, C = 12, O = 16)

Mr of CaCO3 = 100

Step 2: Calculate the grams from the volume

1 mole of CaCO3 gives 1 mole of CO2

1 mole of gas has a volume of 22.4 liters at STP.
22.4 liters of gas of gas is produced by 100 g of calcium carbonate
and 2.128 liters is produced by 2.128 ÷ 22.4 × 100 = 9.5 g

Step 3: Calculate the percent purity

There is 9.5 g of calcium carbonate in the 10 g of chalk.

Percent purity = 9.5 ÷ 10 × 100% = 95%
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Moles by Waqar Ahmad 0334-9543124 E-mail [email protected]

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Moles by Waqar Ahmad 0334-9543124 E-mail [email protected]