Using the Chemical Equation in
Calculations
Measurements and Accuracy
• A balanced chemical equation is
needed in order to calculate the
amounts of products obtainable
from specified reactions, or the
amounts of reactants needed for
them.
Measurements and Accuracy
• When introducing a new product on the market,
apart from using affordable starting materials, it
is important to know:
1. How much of the product can be theoretically
obtained starting with specified amounts of
reactants. (pre-assessment/calculation)
2. How much product is to be obtained or
needed.
Points to remember
• Completed and balanced equations give information on
quantities involved. From such information one is able to
convert moles, grams, numbers of molecules or volumes at
s.t.p. of one reactant into equivalent numbers of moles,
grams, molecules or volumes at s.t.p. of products.
• Remember, when calculating gases there is a difference
between obtaining gases at room temperature and pressure,
r.t.p., and standard temperature and pressure, s.t.p., where:
1 mole of any gas occupies 22.4 dm3 s.t.p. (22 400 cm3)
1 mole of any gas occupies 24 dm3 r.t.p. (24 000 cm3)
Points to Note
• When determining the mass of a reactant needed or product formed from a given
number of moles of the reactant(s) the coefficients of the balanced equation must
be used to find the number of moles of the unknown.
• What exactly are coefficients? Can you identify the coefficients below? Circle
them if you can.
2H2(g) + O2(g) 2H2O(l)
• From the above balanced equation answer the following questions:
a. How many molecules of hydrogen gas react with the oxygen molecule?
________
b. How many molecules of water are produced when hydrogen and oxygen
molecules react together? ________
Questions
• Calcium carbonate decomposes on heating according to the equation:
CaCO3(s) CaO(s) + CO2(g)
When 0.025 mol of calcium carbonate is heated in this way, find
• a. The volume, at s.t.p., of carbon dioxide formed
• b. The mass of carbon dioxide formed
• c. The mass of calcium oxide formed
Questions
• On heating, potassium chlorate(V) decomposes into potassium
chloride and oxygen:
2KClO3 2KCl(s) + 3O2(g)
Calculate::
• a. The mass of KCl(s) formed,
• b. The mass and volume at s.t.p. of O2(g) formed when 9.8 g of
KClO3(s) are heated.
Questions
• Zinc metal reacts with copper(II) sulphate solution according to
the equation::
Zn(s) + CuSO4(aq) ZnSO4(aq) + Cu(s)
What mass of zinc metal is required to react with 50 cm3 of
0.5 mol/dm3 CuSO4(aq), and what mass of copper will be produced in
the reaction?
Questions
• Barium chloride reacts with magnesium sulphate to form barium
sulphate and magnesium chloride.
BaCl2(aq) + MgSO4(aq) BaSO4(s) + MgCl2(aq)
Calculate:
a. The mass of BaSO4(s) formed when 50 cm3 of 0.2 mol/dm3
BaCl2(aq) reacts according to the above equation.
b. The volume, in cm3, of 0.4 mol/dm3 MgSO4(aq) needed
Limiting Reagent
• The limiting reagent determines the
amount (in moles) of product
formed.
• Note well, the reagent that gives
the lower moles of product is the
limiting reagent.
Limiting Reagent
• If in the below reaction 8.0 g of hydrogen
were mixed with 32.0 g of oxygen which
one is the limiting reagent?
Hint, determine which reactant is in excess
here and limits the amount of water being
produced?
2H2(g) + O2(g) 2H2O(l)
Limiting Reagent
• If 20.0 g of calcium carbonate are added to
a solution containing 10.0 g/dm3 of
hydrochloric acid, what mass of CO2 is
produced? Determine the limiting reagent.
• Note well, the reagent that gives the lower
moles of product, HCl, is the limiting
reagent.
Percentage Yield
• Some reactions do not go to completion. What does this mean?
• Reactions that do not go to completion are described as reversible
reactions.
The amount of product formed in an incomplete reaction is known
as the actual yield of the reaction.
The amount of product that would be formed if at least one of the
reactants were completely consumed is known as the theoretical
yield.
• % yield = (actual yield / theoretical yield) x 100
Questions
• During the synthesis of ammonia, 4.8 g of
hydrogen reacted with excess nitrogen and
12.8 g of ammonia were formed.
What is the percentage yield of ammonia
based on the mass of hydrogen used?
N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g)
Questions
• How many grams of magnesium chloride
can be obtained from 36 g of magnesium
via the reaction? What is the percentage
yield of MgCl2(aq)?
Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)
Titration Calculations
• The concentration of a solution is determined by
volumetric analysis best referred to as titration. Using a
balanced equation, it is possible to determine the
concentration of the second solution. The following
equations may be used:
a. # of mols = Concentration mol/dm3 x Volume dm3
b. Concentration1 x Volume1 cm3 or dm3 = Concentration2 x Volume2 cm3 or dm3
Titration Calculation Questions
• 25.00 cm3 of a solution of sodium hydroxide required
22.00 cm3 of a solution of hydrochloric acid containing
4.38 g/dm3 HCl, for complete reaction. Find the
concentration and mass concentration of the sodium
hydroxide solution.
Titration Calculation Questions
• 25.00 cm3 of a solution of sodium carbonate, of mass concentration 4.24
g/dm3, are exactly neutralized by 27.80 cm3 of nitric acid. Find the
concentration of the nitric acid:
(i) in mol/dm3 (ii) in g/dm3.
Here is how you answer questions (i) and (ii)
a. What is the molecular formula for sodium carbonate?
b. What is the molecular formula for nitric acid?
c. Balance the following chemical equation for sodium carbonate and nitric acid.
Na2CO3(s) + HNO3(aq) NaNO3(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
d. What is the mole ratio between Na2CO3 and HNO3?
e. How many moles of Na2CO3 was in 25 cm3 of solution?
f. Based on the mole ratio how many moles of HNO 3 reacted with Na2CO3?
g. What is the molar concentration of HNO 3?
