Grade 10

Grade 10


Stoichiometry and Chemical Calculations


Stoichiometry is one of the fundamental concepts of chemistry. It involves the quantitative relationship of reactants and products in chemical reactions. This subject helps us understand how much of a chemical substance is involved or produced in a given reaction. Stoichiometry is like a chemistry recipe, ensuring that the correct proportions of ingredients are used to obtain the desired product.

Understanding chemical equations

To fully understand stoichiometry, it is important to first understand chemical equations. A chemical equation represents a chemical reaction using symbols and formulas. The substances that react are called reactants, and the substances that are produced are called products.

2 H 2 + O 2 → 2 H 2 O (Water formation)

The equation above shows that two molecules of hydrogen gas react with one molecule of oxygen gas to form two molecules of water. It is important to understand that chemical equations need to be balanced, which means that there must be the same number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation.

Law of conservation of mass

Balancing chemical equations is guided by the law of conservation of mass, which states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. Therefore, the total mass of the reactants must equal the total mass of the products.

Balancing chemical equations

Balancing a chemical equation means adjusting the coefficients (the numbers in front) of chemical formulas so that there are equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides of the equation. For example, consider the combustion of methane:

CH 4 + O 2 → CO 2 + H 2 O

Balancing the equation:

  1. Balance the carbon atoms: CH4 has 1 carbon. CO2 must have 1 as well, so there is already a balance for the carbon.
  2. Balance the hydrogen atoms: CH4 has 4 hydrogens. H2O has 2 hydrogens, so we need 2 H2O (2 x 2 = 4 hydrogens).
  3. Balance the oxygen atoms: On the right side, there are 2 oxygens in CO 2 and 2 oxygens in H 2 O, so a total of 4 oxygens are needed on the left side. Thus, use 2 O 2 molecules.
CH 4 + 2 O 2 → CO 2 + 2 H 2 O

This equation is now balanced.

Mole concept in stoichiometry

The mole is a central unit in chemistry that serves as a bridge between the atomic and macroscopic worlds. A mole is equal to Avogadro's number, which is approximately 6.022 x 1023, indicating the number of atoms or molecules.

Example: moles of water

How many moles are there in 36 grams of water (H2O)?

  • The molar mass of H2O is 18 g/mol (2 g/mol for H and 16 g/mol for O).
  • Use the formula: moles of H 2 O = mass (g) ÷ molar mass (g/mol).
Moles of H 2 O = 36 g ÷ 18 g/mol = 2 moles

Stoichiometric calculations

Stoichiometric calculations use balanced chemical equations to find the amounts of reactants needed or products formed.

Example

Using the balanced equation for the combustion of methane:

CH 4 + 2 O 2 → CO 2 + 2 H 2 O

If you have 5 moles of CH4, how many moles of CO2 and water will be produced?

  • The equation shows a 1:1 ratio of CH4 to CO2.
  • Thus, 5 moles of CH4 will produce 5 moles of CO2.
  • The ratio of water (H 2 O) is 1:2, which gives 10 moles of water.

Practical example: The baking analogy

Understand stoichiometry in terms of baking cookies. If your recipe calls for 2 cups of flour for every dozen cookies, and you want to make 3 dozen cookies, you know you'll need 6 cups of flour. Chemical reactions work similarly, using balanced equations to ensure the correct proportions of reactants.

Limiting and excess reactants

In chemical reactions, the limiting reactant is the substance that is completely consumed when the chemical reaction is complete. Without it, the reaction cannot proceed. Other reactants that are not used up are called excess reactants.

Example: making a sandwich

If needed to make a sandwich:

2 slices of bread + 1 slice of cheese → 1 sandwich

And you have 10 slices of bread and 4 slices of cheese:

  • You can make 4 sandwiches, because cheese sets your limit (limiting reactant).
  • This will leave you with two slices of bread, which will become additional reactants.

Yield in chemical reactions

Yield measures the amount of product formed in a reaction. The theoretical yield is the maximum amount that is expected, while the actual yield is what you actually get. Percent yield shows how efficient a reaction is:

Percent Yield = (Actual Yield / Theoretical Yield) x 100%

Example

If the theoretical yield of a reaction is 20 g, but the actual yield is 15 g:

Percent Yield = (15 g / 20 g) x 100% = 75%

Conclusion

Stoichiometry is a vital tool for scientists and industry, ensuring that reactions are efficient and that resources are used effectively. By understanding moles, balancing equations, and identifying limiting reactants, we can accurately predict and measure the outcomes of chemical reactions.


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