Stoichiometry of Formulas and

Equations
Chapter 2
 Test C176
• 02 03 2020 (02 March 2020)
• No class on Monday 02 March 2020
• First year chemistry building
• Please ask questions in my office
• De Beers building room 1037
• Matter
• Naming of Compounds
• Mathematics
 The mole

• The mole (abbreviated mol): SI unit for amount of

substance
• Defined as: the amount of a substance that
contains the same number of entities as the
number of atoms in 12 g of carbon-12
• Its called Avogadro’s number
• 1 mole contains 6.022 x 1023 entities (to four
significant figures)
 The mole

• Moles can be thought of as a counting unit and a

mass unit
• Like dozen: tells you the number of objects, but not
their mass
• like kilogram: tells you the mass of the objects but
not their number
• The mole tells you both: the number of the objects
in a given mass of substance
 The mole
• 1 mol of carbon-12 contains 6.022 x 1023 carbon-12
atoms and has a mass of 12 g
• 6 g of carbon-12 is 0.5 mol of carbon-12 and
contains 3.011 x 1023 atoms
• The mass in atomic mass units (amu) of one atom
of an element is the same numerically as the mass
in grams (g) of 1 mole of atoms of the element
• 1 atom of S has a mass of 32.07 amu and 1 mol
(6.022 x 1023 atoms) of S has a mass of 32.07 g
• 1 molecule of H2O has a mass of 18.02 amu and 1
mol (6.022 x 1023 molecules) of H2O has a mass of
18.02 g
 Chemical Reactions
• Chemical reactions occur all around us, in the sun, on Earth
and in our own bodies.
• They are necessary for life as we know it and therefore we
must develop an understanding of what chemical reactions
are.
• What is a chemical reaction? A process in which one or
more new substances are created when bonds are broken
or formed between atoms or molecules.
 Chemical Equations
• Chemical equations are used to describe chemical
reactions and show:
• The substances that react, called the reactants
• The substances that are formed during the chemical reaction,
called the products
• The relative quantities of the substances involved, given by
coefficients in front of a formula.
• Reaction Stoichiometry: is the quantitative relationship
among substances that participate in chemical
reactions.
 Chemical Equation

CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O

 Chemical Equation

Reactants are written on the

left side of the equation

CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O

Products are written on

the right side of the
equation
 Chemical Equation

CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O

 Chemical Equation

CH4 (g) + 2O2 (g) CO2 (g) + 2H2O (g)

Phases are included

 Reaction Types
• Combination Reaction: Two or more substances
react to form one product
• Examples:
• N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g) 2 NH3 (g)
• C3H6 (g) + Br2 (l) C3H6Br2 (l)
• 2 Mg (s) + O2 (g) 2 MgO (s)

A + B A B
 Reaction Types
• Decomposition Reaction: One substance breaks
down into two or more substances
• Examples:
• CaCO3 (s) CaO (s) + CO2 (g)
• 2 KClO3 (s) 2 KCl (s) + 3 O2 (g)
• 2 NaN3 (s) 2 Na (s) + 3 N2 (g)

A B A + B
 Reaction Types
• Combustion Reaction: Rapid reactions that
produce a flame
• Most often involve hydrocarbons reacting with
oxygen in the air
• Examples:
• CH4 (g) + 2 O2 (g) CO2 (g) + 2 H2O (g)
• C3H8 (g) + 5 O2 (g) 3 CO2 (g) + 4 H2O (g)
Law of Conservation of Mass

“We may lay it down as an incontestable

axiom that, in all the operations of art
and nature, nothing is created; an equal
amount of matter exists both before
and after the experiment. Upon this
principle, the whole art of performing
chemical experiments depends.”
-Lavoisier

During a chemical reaction atoms are

neither created or destroyed. The
number of atoms remain constant
throughout the reaction, Since the
number of atoms doesn’t change, the
mass must remain constant as well.
 Formula Mass
• Sum of the atomic weights of the atoms in a
chemical formula (ionic compounds)
• The formula mass of calcium chloride, CaCl2, would
be:

Ca: 1 x 40.1 u = 40.1 g/mol

+ Cl: 2 x 35.5 u = 71.0 g/mol
111.1 g/mol
 Molecular Mass
• Sum of the atomic weights of the atoms in a molecule
(molecular compounds)
• For the molecule ethane, C2H6, the molecular weight
would be

C: 2 x 12.0 u = 24.1 g/mol

+ H: 6 x 1.0 u = 6.0 g/mol
30.1 g/mol
 Moles
• The atomic mass unit (amu) is a very small unit
• There are no balances that can accurately measure such
small units.
• Chemists have to weigh large numbers of atoms so that the
total mass is measurable on laboratory scales.
• In the laboratory the gram is therefore a much more
convenient counting unit for mass.
 Moles
• Chemists developed a unit, called the mole, to count
chemical entities by weighing them.
• The mole concept can be thought of as the bridge between
the mass of a substance in grams and the number of formula
units.
• Moles are the SI unit for the amount of a substance.
• One mole contains exactly 6.022 x 1023 elementary entities.
An elementary entity may be an atom, a molecule, an ion, an
electron, any other particle or specified group of particles.
 Moles
• The mole allows us to count atoms in a given mass of a
substance.
 Moles
• The relationship between the mass of a single atom of an
element and the mole of that element is that the atomic
mass of the atom in amu is numerically the same as the
mass of 1 mole of atoms (of the element) that is expressed
in grams.
• Thus: 1 atom of carbon has a mass of 12.01 u and the mass
of 1 mole of carbon is 12.01 grams.
• The same relationship holds for compounds:
• The molecular mass of a compound expressed in u is
numerically the same as the mass (called the molar mass,
M) of 1 mole of the compound in grams.
 Moles
• 1 mol of water contains 6.022 x 1023 water molecules and
has a mass of 18 g.
• How does counting entities relate to mass? Suppose you
only have 9 grams of water- how many water molecules
would that represent? 0.5 mol water and thus 3.011 x 1023
water molecules.
 Interconverting Masses
and Number of Particles
• The following formula follows from the definition of
molar mass:

mass in grams
Moles =
molar mass in g/mol

• In symbol form:
m
n=
M
 Interconverting Masses
and Numbers of Particles
Example: What is the mass of 0.306 mol of sodium
chloride?
n=

m=nxM= x , where: MNaCl= 58.44 , n = 0.306 mol

m = 0.306 x 58.44
= 17.9 g
 Problems
1) Determine the mass of 1.240 mol of dinitrogen
tetraoxide.
2) How many moles are there in 18.05 g of sodium
carbonate?
3) How many moles are there in 2.65 kg of ammonium
bromide?
 Problems
Determine the mass of 1.24 mol of dinitrogen tetraoxide.

n= ,m=nxM= x , where: MN2O4 = 92.02 , n = 1.240 mol

m (N2O4) = 1.240 x 92.02 = 114.1 g

How many moles are there in 18.05 g of sodium carbonate?

n= ,n= , where: MNa2CO3 = 105.99 , m = 18.05 g

n= = 18.05 x = 0.1703 mol

 Problems
How many moles are there in 2.65 kg of ammonium
bromide?
2.65 kg = 2650 g

n= ,n= , where: MNH4Br = 97.94 , m = 2650 g

n= = x = = 27.06 mol
 Interconverting Masses
and Numbers of Particles
• One mole of atoms, ions or molecules contains
Avogadro’s number of those particles
• One mole of molecules or formula units contains
Avogadro’s number times the number of atoms or ions
of each element in the compound
• A mole of H2O represents 6.022 x 1023 molecules of
water
• However, in one mole of H2O there are two moles of H
atoms and one mole of O atoms.
 Problems
How many atoms are there in:
i) 1 mol S
ii) 1.5 mol of S
iii) 0.541 mol of P
iv) 1.65 mol of Cl2
v) How many atoms are there in 52 g of iron?
vi) How many molecules are there in 9.56 g of carbon
dioxide?
 Problems
How many atoms are there in:
1 mol S
Number of S atoms = x = 6.022 x 1023 S atoms
i) 1.5 mol of S
Number of S atoms = x = 9.033 x 1023 S
atoms
i) 0.541 mol of P
. .
Number of P atoms = x = 3.258 x 1023 P atoms

i) 1.65 mol of Cl2

. .
Number of Cl2 molecule = x = 9.936 x 1023 Cl atoms
 Problems
How many atoms are there in 52.00 g of iron?
Step 1: Covert mass to moles
n= ,n= , where: MFe = 55.85 , m = 52.00 g

n= = x = 0.9311 mol

Step 2: Convert from moles to number of Fe atoms

Number of Fe atoms = x
= 5.607 x 1023 Fe atoms
 Problems
How many molecules are there in 9.560 g of carbon dioxide?
Step 1: Calculate molar mass
M = (12.01 x 1) + (16.00 x 2) = 44.01
Step 2: Covert mass to moles
n= ,n= , where: M = 44.01 , m = 9.560 g

n= = x = 0.2172 mol
Step 3: Convert from moles to number of CO2 molecules
Number of CO2 molecules = x
= 1.308 x 1023 CO2 molecules
 Problems
How many molecules are there in 9.560 g of carbon dioxide?
M = (12.01 x 1) + (16.00 x 2) = 44.01
n= = x = 0.2172 mol

Number of Cl2 atoms = x

= 1.308 x 1023 CO2 molecules
 Percent Composition
• It is often useful to know the composition of a compound
in terms of the masses of its elements.
• To find the percentage of the mass of a compound that
comes from each of the elements in the compound:
(number of atoms of element)(atomic mass of that element)
% element = x 100
(formula or molecular mass of the compound)

Example: the percentage of carbon in ethane, C2H6, is

2 x 12.0 g/mol
%C=
30.0 g/mol

24.0 g/mol x 100

=
30.0 g/mol

= 80.0 %
 Problems
1) Sodium hydrogen carbonate otherwise known as
bicarbonate of soda is used in commercial products to
treat heartburn. What are the mass percentages of all
the elements in sodium hydrogen carbonate.
2) How many grams of sodium are there in 15 g of sodium
hydrogen carbonate?
 Problems
What are the mass percentages of all the elements in
sodium hydrogen carbonate.
Step 1: Calculate molar mass
MNaHCO3 = (22.99 x 1) + (1.008 x 1) + (12.01 x 1) +
(16.00 x 3) = 84.007
Step 2: Calculate percentages
% Na = x 100 = 27.37 %

%H= x 100 = 1.200 %

%C= x 100 = 14.30 %

%O= x 100 = 57.14 %

 Problems
How many grams of sodium are there in 15.00 g of sodium
hydrogen carbonate?

Mass (g) Na = 15.00 g sodium hydrogen carbonate x

= 4.105 g of Na in sodium hydrogen carbonate
 Finding Empirical Formulae
• In the previous slides we used the formula of a compound to
determine the mass percentage of each element in the compound.
• We can also do the reverse: use the mass percentages values of
elements in a compound to determine the formula.
Example: Analysis of a sample revealed that it contains 50.1 %
Sulphur and 49.9 % oxygen by mass. What is the empirical formula of
the compound?
If percentages are given, assume the mass of the compound to be
100 g.
Mol S: 50.1 g/ 32.07 g.mol-1 = 1.56 mol S
Mol O: 49.9 g/ 16.00 g.mol-1 = 3.12 mol O
Determine the ratio of the elements in the compound by dividing
each number with the smaller of the two values
S: 1.56 / 1.56= 1
O: 3.12. 1.56= 2
The whole number ratio gives the ratio of the atoms in the empirical
(simplest) formula: SO2.
 Problems
1) Find the empirical formula of the compound that has 27.3
% carbon and 72.7 % oxygen by mass.
 Problems
Find the empirical formula of the compound that has 27.3 %
carbon and 72.7 % oxygen by mass.
If percentages are given, assume the mass of the compound
to be 100 g.
Mol C: 27.3 g/ 12.01 g.mol-1 = 2.27 mol C
Mol O: 72.7 g/ 16.00 g.mol-1 = 4.54 mol O
Determine the ratio of the elements in the compound by
dividing each number with the smaller of the two values
C: 2.27 / 2.27 = 1
O: 4.54 / 2.27 = 2
The whole number ratio gives the ratio of the atoms in the
empirical (simplest) formula: CO2.
 Problems
1) An analysis of a compound revealed that it contained
2.82 g Na, 4.35 g Cl and 7.83 g of oxygen. What is the
empirical formula of the compound?
2) What is the empirical formula of the compound that was
formed by 0.903 g phosphorous combined with 6.99 g
bromine.
 Problems
An analysis of a compound revealed that it contained 2.82 g
Na, 4.35 g Cl and 7.83 g of oxygen. What is the empirical
formula of the compound?
If masses is given calculate moles.
Mol Na: 2.82 g/ 22.99 g.mol-1 = 0.123 mol Na
Mol Cl: 4.53 g/ 35.45 g.mol-1 = 0.128 mol Cl
Mol O: 7.83 g/ 16.00 g.mol-1 = 0.489 mol O
Determine the ratio of the elements in the compound by dividing each
number with the smaller of the two values
Na: 0.123 / 0.123 = 1.00
Cl: 0.128 / 0.123 = 1.04
O: 0.489 / 0.123 = 3.97
The whole number ratio gives the ratio of the atoms in the empirical
(simplest) formula: NaClO4.
 Problems
What is the empirical formula of the compound that was
formed by 0.903 g phosphorous combined with 6.99 g
bromine.
If masses is given calculate moles.
Mol P: 0.903 g/ 30.97 g.mol-1 = 0.0292 mol P
Mol Br: 6.99 g/ 79.90 g.mol-1 = 0.0874 mol Br
Determine the ratio of the elements in the compound by
dividing each number with the smaller of the two values
P: 0.0292 / 0.0292 = 1.00
Br: 0.0874 / 0.0292 = 2.99
The whole number ratio gives the ratio of the atoms in the
empirical (simplest) formula: PBr3.
 Calculating a Molecular Formula
from an Empirical Formula
Example:
A compound has the empirical formula of C10H18O.
Experimentally the mass of this substance was determined
as 152 u. What is the molecular formula of the compound?
Calculate the formula mass of the empirical formula C10H18O.
10(12.0 u) + 18(1.0 u) + 1(16.0 u) = 154 u

The molecular formula is a whole-number multiple of the

empirical formula.
Therefore:
Molecular mass 152
= = 0.99= 1
Empirical formula mass 154
 Calculating a Molecular Formula
from an Empirical Formula
Example:
A compound has the empirical formula of C10H18O.
Experimentally the mass of this substance was determined
as 152 u. What is the molecular formula of the compound?
This value (1.0) is the number of simplest formula units in a
molecule of the compound. In our case this multiplier value
is 1 and therefore the empirical formula is also the
molecular formula.
 Problems
The mass percentages for a compound was determined as
followes: 40 % C, 6.7 % H and 53.3 % O.
i) Determine the empirical formula for this compound.
ii) Mass spectrometry revealed the molecular mass of this
compound to be 180 u. What is the compound’s
molecular formula?
 Problems
The mass percentages for a compound was determined as
follows: 40 % C, 6.7 % H and 53.3 % O.
Determine the empirical formula for this compound.
If percentages are given, assume the mass of the compound to
be 100 g.
Mol C: 40.00 g / 12.01 g.mol-1 = 3.33 mol C
Mol O: 53.30 g / 16.00 g.mol-1 = 3.33 mol O
Mol H: 6.70 g / 1.008 g.mol-1 = 6.65 mol H
Determine the ratio of the elements in the compound by dividing
each number with the smaller of the two values
C: 3.33 / 3.33 = 1
O: 3.33 / 3.33 = 1
H: 6.65 / 3.33 = 1.997
The whole number ratio gives the ratio of the atoms in the
empirical (simplest) formula: CH2O.
 Problems
The mass percentages for a compound was determined as
followes: 40 % C, 6.7 % H and 53.3 % O.
Mass spectrometry revealed the molecular mass of this
compound to be 180 u. What is the compound’s molecular
formula?

The molecular formula is a whole-number multiple of the

empirical formula.
Therefore:
Molecular mass/empirical formula mass = 180 / 30 = 6

C6x1H2x6O6x1 = C6H12O6 = Glucose

 Combustion Analysis
• There are different methods to experimentally determine the
mass percentage of elements in a compound.
• One method is combustion analysis which is particularly
applicable to organic compounds.
• A weighed sample of the compound is burnt in the presence
of excess oxygen to convert the carbon into carbon dioxide
and the hydrogen into water.
• When the percentages of H and C are known, the sum of the
percentages are subtracted from 100 % to give the
percentage O.

CxHyOz + O2 CO2 + H2O

 Combustion Analysis
Example: A 1.000 g sample of Vit C was burned in an excess
of oxygen and the following data was obtained:
• Mass CO2 after combustion: 1.5 g
• Mass H2O after combustion: 0.41 g
What is the molecular formula of Vit C?
We need to calculate the mass of C from the given mass of
CO2 and the mass of H from the given mass of H2O. To do this
we need to know the mass percentages of C in CO2 and H in
H2O
% C: 12.01 g/44.01 g x 100= 27.29 %
% H: 2.02 g/ 18.02 g x 100= 11.2 %
 Combustion Analysis
Since all the carbon in the sample was converted to CO2 the mass of C in
1.5 g of CO2 is also the mass of C in the Vit C sample.
Mass of C in CO2: (27.29/ 100)x 1.5 g= 0.40935 g
Mass of H in H2O: (11.2/ 100)x 0.41 g= 0.04592 g
To find the ratios of each element:
C: 0.40935/12.01= 0.034 / 0.034 = 1
H: 0.04592/1.01= 0.045 / 0.034 = 1.3
O: 0.54473/16= 0.034 / 0.034 = 1
(multiply by a factor to get the lowest whole number ratio, in this case x
3)
The empirical formula of Vit C= C3H4O3
 Problems
A dry cleaning solvent (Mr= 146.99 g/mol) that contains C, H
and Cl is suspected to be carcinogenic. When a 0.250 g
sample was studied by combustion analysis, 0.451 g of CO2
and 0.0617 g of H2O formed. Find the molecular formula.
 Problems
A dry cleaning solvent (Mr= 146.99 g/mol) that contains C, H
and Cl is suspected to be carcinogenic. When a 0.250 g
sample was studied by combustion analysis, 0.451 g of CO2
and 0.0617 g of H2O formed. Find the molecular formula.
Mass of C in CO2: (12.01 g/mol / 44.01 g/mol) x 0.451 g=
0.123 g
Similarly, there is 0.00690 g H
Mass (g) of Cl = 0.250 – (0.123 + 0.00690) = 0.120 g Cl
Amount mol of elements: 0.0102 mol C, 0.00685 mol H and
0.00339 mol Cl.
Empirical formula: C3H2Cl, whole number multiple is 2
The molecular formula: C6H4Cl2
 Self study- Isomers
• p. 120-122.
 Balancing chemical equations and
molar interpretation
• The Law of conservation of matter provides the basis for
“balancing” chemical equations.
• The same number of atoms of each element should be
present on each side of the equation.

CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O

Balancing equations by Inspection
Mg + O2 MgO
1 Mg 1 Mg
2O 1O

Mg + O2 2MgO
1 Mg 2 Mg
2O 2O

2Mg + O2 2MgO
2 Mg 2 Mg
2O 2O
 Problems
Balance the following equations:
i) KClO3 → KCl + O2
ii) CuSO4 + Al → Al2(SO4)3 + Cu
iii) HF + SiO2 →SiF4 + H2O
iv) C8H18 + O2 →?
 Problems
Balance the following equations:
1) KClO3 → KCl + O2
2KClO3 → 2KCl + 3O2

2) CuSO4 + Al → Al2(SO4)3 + Cu
3CuSO4 + 2Al → Al2(SO4)3 + 3Cu

3) HF + SiO2 →SiF4 + H2O

4HF + SiO2 →SiF4 + 2H2O

4) C8H18 + O2 →????
2C8H18 + 25O2 → 16CO2 + 18H2O
 Molar interpretation of Equations
• In a balanced chemical equation the amounts (mol) of
substances are stoichiometrically equivalent to each
other.
• The quantitative relationships are expressed as
stoichiometrically equivalent molar ratios that can be
used as conversion factors to calculate amounts for
reactions.

CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O

• Viewing the above equation quantitatively we can say
that one mol of CH4 reacts with two moles of O2 to
produce 1 mol CO2 and 2 moles of H2O.
Molar interpretation of Equations

CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O

1 mol 2 mol 1 mol 2 mol
16 g 2(32 g)= 64 g 44 g 2(18 g)= 36 g

80 g 80 g
 Molar interpretation of Equations
• When doing calculations with chemical equations always convert
masses into moles.
Example: How many grams of oxygen is required to react with 18 g
of methane in the following equation?
CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O
Convert the mass of methane given to mol:
n=m/M= 18 g/ 16 g.mol-1= 1.125 mol CH4
To calculate how many moles will react with 1.125 mol of methane
make use of the stoichiometry of the reaction:
nO2 2
=
nCH4 1
x 2
= x= 2 x 1.125 = 2.25 mol O2
1.125 1
 Molar interpretation of Equations
Example: How many grams of oxygen is required to react with 16 g
of methane in the following equation?

CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O

nO2= 2.25 mol
To calculate the mass of oxygen needed use m= n x Mr
m= 2.25 mol x 32 g.mol-1 = 72 g
 Problems
1) How many grams of SO2 will form when 10.0 mol of
copper(I) sulfide reacts with oxygen in the following
reaction:
Cu2S + O2 → Cu2O + SO2
2) In the same reaction, how many kilograms of oxygen is
required to form 2.86 kg of copper(I) oxide.
 Problems
1) How many grams of SO2 will form when 10.0 mol of
copper(I) sulfide reacts with oxygen in the following
reaction:
2Cu2S + 3O2 → 2Cu2O + 2SO2

Mass (g) SO2 = =

 Problems
2Cu2S + 3O2 → 2Cu2O + 2SO2
2) In the same reaction, how many kilograms of oxygen is
required to form 2.86 kg of copper(I) oxide.
Step 1: convert kg to g and combine mass unit conversion with mass-to-amount
conversion.

Amount (mol) Cu2O= =

Step 2: converting from moles Cu2O to moles O2

.
Amount (mol) O2= =
Step 3: converting moles of O2 to kg of O2, combining the amount-to-mass
conversion with the mass unit conversion:

. .
Mass (kg) O2= =
 Self study- Overall equations for a
Reaction Sequence
• p. 130-131.
 Limiting reactants
• In all the work covered in this chapter we have been given
amounts of a reactant and assumed that we have enough of
the other reactants to react with completely.
• Assume that this was not the case, suppose we have only 3
mol CH4 but unlimited amounts of oxygen available in the
following reaction:

CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O

• Because all the CH4 will react but still leave some oxygen
behind we say that the CH4 limits the reaction.
• It is called the limiting reagent.
 Limiting reactants
• When non-stoichiometric quantities of reactants are mixed,
the substance used up first is called the limiting reagent.
• Therefore, the limiting reactant is the reactant present in
the smallest stoichiometric amount.
 Limiting reactants
Example: Zinc and oxygen combine to produce ZnO according to the
following equation:
2 Zn + O2 → 2 ZnO
If 12.5 g of Zn and 4.5 g of O2 are mixed what is the limiting reactant?
How many moles of product will be formed?
Convert the masses given into moles:
Zn: 12.5 g/ 65.39 g.mol-1 = 0.191 mol
O2: 4.5 g/ 32.00 g.mol-1 = 0.14 mol
From the reaction stoichiometry we can determine which reactant will
be limiting.
If we used up all of the Zn we will need 0.0956 mol O2 (2:1 ratio for Zn
to O2). Since we clearly have more than the needed amount of O2- O2
is in excess and the Zn is the limiting reactant.
nO2 1
=
nZn 2

x 1
= x= 0.191/2= 0.0956 mol O2
0.191 2
 Limiting reactants
Example: Zinc and oxygen combine to produce ZnO
according to the following equation:
2 Zn + O2 → 2 ZnO
If 12.5 g of Zn and 4.5 g of O2 are mixed what is the limiting
reactant? How many moles of product will be formed?
The amount of product (ZnO) that forms is dependent on
the limiting reactant. Since the stoichiometry of Zn to ZnO is
2:2 the amount of mol of product that will form is 0.191
mol.
nZnO 2
=
nZn 2

x 2
= x= 0.191 mol ZnO
0.191 2
 Theoretical yield and Actual Yield
• The theoretical yield for a reaction is the maximum
amount of product that can be formed.
• the amount of product possible as calculated by the
stoichiometry of the equation.
• Actual yield is the amount one actually produces and
measures in the laboratory.
• Percentage yield is used to indicate how much of a desired
product is obtained from a reaction and can be calculated
by:
Percentage Yield =
 Problems
1) In the preparation of ClF3, 0.750 mol of Cl2 and 3.00 mol
of F2 are reacted. Find the limiting reactant.
2) A fuel mixture that was used in rockets in the early days,
consisted of two liquids, hydrazine (N2H4) and dinitrogen
tetraoxide (N2O4), which ignite on contact to form
nitrogen gas and water vapour. How many grams of
nitrogen gas form when 1.00 x 102 g of N2H4 and 2.00 x
102 g of N2O4 are mixed?
3) Silicon carbide (SiC) is made by reacting sand (silicon
dioxide, SiO2) with powdered carbon at high
temperature. Carbon monoxide is also formed. When
100.0 kg of sand is processed, 51.4 kg of SiC is
recovered. What is the percent yield of SiC from this
process.
 Problems
1) In the preparation of ClF3, 0.750 mol of Cl2 and 3.00 mol
of F2 are reacted. Find the limiting reactant.
Step 1: Write the balanced equation:
Cl2(g) + 3F2 (g) → 2ClF3 (g)

Step 2: find amount (mol) ClF3 from amount (mol) of Cl2

Amount (mol) ClF3= =

Step 3: find amount (mol) ClF3 from amount (mol) of F2

Amount (mol) ClF3= =
Therefore: Cl2 is the limiting reactant, because it forms fewer moles of
ClF3
 Problems
1) In the preparation of ClF3, 0.750 mol of Cl2 and 3.00 mol of F2
are reacted. Find the limiting reactant.

Cl2(g) + 3F2 (g) → 2ClF3 (g) 1

.
= 0
.
= 0
 Problems
A fuel mixture that was used in rockets in the early days, consisted of two liquids,
hydrazine (N2H4) and dinitrogen tetraoxide (N2O4), which ignite on contact to form
nitrogen gas and water vapour. How many grams of nitrogen gas form when 1.00 x
102 g of N2H4 and 2.00 x 102 g of N2O4 are mixed?
Step 1: Write the balanced equation:
2N2H4(l) + N2O4 (l) → 3N2(g) + 4H2O (g)
Step 2: find amount (mol) N2 from amount (mol) of each reactant
.
For N2H4: Amount (mol) N2H4 = .
=
.
Amount (mol) N2 = = 𝟐

.
For N2O4: Amount (mol) N2O4 = .
= 2.173
.
Amount (mol) N2 = = 𝟐

Therefore N2H4 is the limiting reactant, because it yields less N2

Step 3: Converting from amount (mol) N2 to mass (g)
. .
Mass (g) of N2 = =
 Problems
A fuel mixture that was used in rockets in the early days, consisted of two liquids,
hydrazine (N2H4) and dinitrogen tetraoxide (N2O4), which ignite on contact to form
nitrogen gas and water vapour. How many grams of nitrogen gas form when 1.00 x 102 g
of N2H4 and 2.00 x 102 g of N2O4 are mixed?

2N2H4(l) + N2O4 (l) → 3N2(g) + 4H2O (g) 1

.
𝑥 .
= 3.120 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁 𝐻 0
.
𝑥 = 𝟒. 𝟔𝟖𝟎 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑵𝟐 0
.
𝑥 .
= 2.173 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁 𝑂 0
.
𝑥 = 𝟔. 𝟓𝟏𝟗 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑵𝟐 0
. .
= 131.1 𝑔 𝑁
𝑥
0
 Problems
Silicon carbide (SiC) is made by reacting sand (silicon dioxide,
SiO2) with powdered carbon at high temperature. Carbon
monoxide is also formed. When 100.0 kg of sand is processed,
51.40 kg of SiC is recovered. What is the percent yield of SiC from
this process.
Step 1: Write the balanced equation:
SiO2(s) + 3C (s) → SiC (s) + 2CO(g)
Step 2: converting from mass (kg) of SiO2 to amount (mol)
.
Amount (mol) SiO2= =
.
Step 3: converting from amount (mol) of SiO2 to amount (mol) of SiC
Amount (mol) of SiO2 = moles of SiC = 1664 mol SiC (1:1 ratio)
Step 4: converting from amount (mol) of SiC to mass (kg)
.
Mass (kg) SiC = = (theoretical
yield)
Step 5: calculate percent yield
.
% yield of SiC = = =
.