Republic of the Philippines

CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Carig Campus, Tuguegarao City
College of Engineering

Course CHEM111E (Chemistry for Engineers)

Title of the
Unit I. Fundamentals of Chemistry
Module
At the end of this module, the student shall be able:
a. To interpret balanced chemical equations to calculate the amount of reactants
and products involved in each of the reactions.
Learning
b. To compare the amount of substance actually formed in a reaction (actual
Objectives
yield) with the predicted amount (theoretical yield), and determine the
percent yield.
c. To carry out calculations related to the used of solutions in chemical reactions.
Content X. Chemical Reactions and Solution Stoichiometry

X. Chemical Equations and Reaction Stoichiometry

A. Calculations Based on Chemical Equations
After balancing the chemical equations, the reactants and products can be studied and
interpreted quantitatively by stoichiometry. In order to solve problems in chemical reaction thru
stoichiometry, the following steps are performed:

1. Write a balanced equation for the reaction.

2. Convert the given amount of the reactant (in grams or other units) to number of moles.
3. Use the mole ratio from the balanced equation to calculate the number of moles of product
formed.
4. Convert the moles of product to grams (or other units) of product.

Figure 2. Stoichiometric calculations by mole method (Source: Chang, 2010)

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Learning Activity The food we eat is degraded, or broken down, in our bodies to provide energy for
growth and function. A general overall equation for this very complex process represents the
degradation of glucose (C6H12O6) to carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O):

Chemical Engineering Department Module 7: Page 1

 Republic of the Philippines
CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Carig Campus, Tuguegarao City
College of Engineering

If 856 g of C6H12O6 is consumed by a person over a certain period, what is the mass of CO2
produced?
Strategy: Steps for calculation: (a) Check if the given equation is balanced and adjust coefficients if
it’s unbalanced; (b) Convert mass of C6H12O6 to mol by multiplying its molecular weight (180.2
g/mol C6H12O6); (c) Relate molecules of C6H12O6 and CO2 based from the balanced chemical
equation; and (d) Calculate the mass of CO2 produced by multiplying the calculated mol to CO2
molecular weight (44.01 g/mol CO2).

Solution:
Since the equation is already balanced, we convert the given mass to mol:

Based from the balanced equation, 1 mol of C6H12O6 and 6 mol of O2 produced 6 mol of CO2 and 6
mol of H2O

Thus, the mass of CO2 formed

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Learning Activity How many moles of water could be produced by the reaction of 3.5 moles of
methane with excess oxygen (i.e., more than a sufficient amount of oxygen is present)?

Strategy: Steps on calculations: (a) Write and consider the balanced equation for the combustion of
methane; and (b) Relate the given mol of methane to amount of water produced

Solution:
The balanced equation for the combustion of methane

showing 1 mol of methane (CH4) reacts with 2 mol of oxygen (O2) to form 1 mol of carbon dioxide
(CO2) and 2 mol of water (H2O). Thus,

Check by comparing the amount of reactants used with the amount of products formed:

Amount 1 mol 2 mol 1 mol 2 mol

Mol x MW 16.0 g 2(32.0 g) 44.0 g 2(18.0 g)
16.0 g 64.0 g 44.0 g 36.0 g

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 Republic of the Philippines
CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Carig Campus, Tuguegarao City
College of Engineering

Total 80.0 g reactants 80.0 g products

The table show reaction ratios, mole ratios and mass ratios, of reactants and products indicating
the Law of Conservation of Matter is satisfied.

B. Limiting Reactant (Reagent) Concept:

The proportions of the reactants indicated in balanced equation are usually not present in
exact stoichiometric amounts. An excess amount of one reactant is supplied to ensure the more
expensive reactant is completely converted and the maximum amount of desired products was
formed. Consequently, some reactant will be left over at the end of the reaction.

The limiting reagent is the reactant used up first since the maximum amount of product
formed depends on how much of this reactant was originally present. There will be no more
product can be formed when this reactant is used up. While excess reagents are the reactants
present in quantities greater than necessary to react with the quantity of the limiting reagent.

Consider the industrial synthesis of methanol (CH3OH)

Suppose initially, 2 moles of CO and 6 moles of H2 reacts to produce CH3OH. Giving

In the equation, an excess two mols of H2 is present to react with the CO molecules present. By
inspection, there was not enough amount of CO to react with H2 thus, CO is the limiting reactant.

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Learning Activity What is the maximum mass of Ni(OH)2 that could be prepared by mixing two
solutions that contain 25.9 g of NiCl2 and 10.0 g of NaOH, respectively?

Strategy: Steps on calculations: (a) Check and adjust coefficients to balance the equation; (b) Relate
the given amount of substance with the product to determine limiting reactant; and (c) Calculate
the amount of product formed based from the amount of the limiting reactant present

Amount 1 mol 2 mol 1 mol 2 mol

Mol x MW 129.6 g 2(40.0 g) 92.7 g 2(58.4 g)
Solution:
Since the equation is balanced, we consider the given amount of reactants

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 Republic of the Philippines
CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Carig Campus, Tuguegarao City
College of Engineering

Considering the smaller amount of Ni(OH)2 produced, NaOH is the limiting reactant. So, we
calculate the maximum amount of product based from the amount NaOH present

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Learning Activity Urea [(NH2)2CO] is prepared by reacting ammonia with carbon dioxide:

In one process, 637.2 g of NH3 are treated with 1142 g of CO2. (a) Which of the two reactants is the
limiting reagent? (b) Calculate the mass of (NH2)2CO formed. (c) How much excess reagent (in
grams) is left at the end of the reaction?

Strategy: Steps on calculations: (a) Check and adjust coefficients to balance the equation; (b) Relate
the given amount of substance with the product to determine limiting reactant; (c) Calculate the
amount of product formed based from the amount of the limiting reactant present; (d) Relate
excess reagent with the amount of desired product.

Solution:
Since the equation is balanced, we consider the given amount of reactants and relate with the
desired product

Since, NH3 produce lower amount of [(NH2)2CO] it is considered as the limiting reactant. Calculating
the its mass gives

To calculate the amount of excess reagent left after the reaction, we consider the amount
[(NH2)2CO] and relate to the excess reagent

The reactant cost is also considered as one criteria in selection for limiting reagent. In practice, a
more expensive chemical is choses as the limiting reactant in order to consume most of it in the
reaction.

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 Republic of the Philippines
CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Carig Campus, Tuguegarao City
College of Engineering

C. Percent Yield from Chemical Reactions

The percent yield (% yield) indicates the amount of desired product converted from the
conversion of reactants in a chemical reaction. It is represented as

As predicted by the balanced equation, the theoretical yield is the maximum obtainable yield.
It is represented by the assumption that the reaction goes into completion and that all the amount
of limiting reagent present at the start of a reaction is converted. While actual or isolated yield is
represented by actual amount of product obtained from the given reaction. The actual yield is
usually lower than the theoretical yield. Factors affecting the gap between the theoretical and
actual yield includes: (a) Reversibility of the reaction affects completion of conversion; (b) Some set
of reactants undergoes simultaneous reactions, including undesired reactions called side reactions,
and forming undesired products alongside the desired products; (c) Difficulty in recovery of desired
products from the reaction medium; and (d) System condition, temperature and pressure, during
the reaction.

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Learning Activity Consider the preparation of nitrobenzene, C6H5NO2, by the reaction of a limited
amount of benzene, C6H6, with excess nitric acid, HNO3. The balanced equation for the reaction
may be written as

Amount 1 mol 1 mol 1 mol 1 mol

Mol x MW 78.1 g 63.0 g 123.1 g 18.0 g

A 15.6-g sample of C6H6 is mixed with excess HNO3. We isolate 18.0 g of C6H5NO2. What is the
percent yield of C6H5NO2 in this reaction?

Strategy: Steps for calculations: (a) Calculate theoretical yield considering the given amount of
reactant; (b) Relate the calculated theoretical yield and the given actual yield to calculate percent
yield

Solution:
Calculate theoretical yield using 15.6 g of C6H6

Calculate actual yield using 18.0 g of C6H5NO2

Chemical Engineering Department Module 7: Page 5

 Republic of the Philippines
CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Carig Campus, Tuguegarao City
College of Engineering

The amount of nitrobenzene obtained in this experiment is 73.2% of the amount that would be
expected if the reaction had gone to completion, if there were no side reactions, and if we could
have recovered all the product as a pure substance.

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Learning Activity Titanium is a strong, lightweight, corrosion-resistant metal that is used in rockets,
aircraft, jet engines, and bicycle frames. It is prepared by the reaction of titanium(IV) chloride with
molten magnesium between 950°C and 1150°C:

In a certain industrial operation 3.54 x 107 g of TiCl4 are reacted with 1.13 x 107 g of Mg. (a)
Calculate the theoretical yield of Ti in grams. (b) Calculate the percent yield if 7.91 x 106 g of Ti are
actually obtained.

Strategy: Steps on calculations: (a)

TiCl4 is the limiting reactant because it produces smaller amount of Ti. Thus, the amount of Ti
formed

And calculating Ti percent yield as

D. Sequential Reactions
Often more than one reaction is required to convert starting materials into the desired
products. This is true for many reactions that we carry out in the laboratory and for many industrial
processes. These are called sequential reactions. The amount of desired product from each reaction
is taken as the starting material for the next reaction.

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Learning Activity At high temperatures, carbon reacts with water to produce a mixture of carbon

Chemical Engineering Department Module 7: Page 6

 Republic of the Philippines
CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Carig Campus, Tuguegarao City
College of Engineering

monoxide, CO, and hydrogen, H2.

Carbon monoxide is separated from H2 and then used to separate nickel from cobalt by forming a
gaseous compound, nickel tetracarbonyl, Ni(CO)4.

What mass of Ni(CO)4 could be obtained from the CO produced by the reaction of 75.0 g of carbon?
Assume 100% yield.
Strategy: Steps on calculations: (a) Check if the equations are balanced; (b) Relate the given amount
of carbon and relate to the product CO; (c) Relate the amount of CO produced from the first
reaction with the reactant CO and Ni(CO)4 product in the second reaction; and (d) Calculate the
amount of Ni(CO)4 produced based from the correlation.

Solution:
Considering the first reaction and the given amount of carbon then relating to the product CO

Amount 1 mol 1 mol 1 mol 1 mol

Mol x MW 12.0 g

Considering the second reaction relate the amount of CO from the first reaction with the reactant
CO and Ni(CO)4 product from the second reaction

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Learning Activity Phosphoric acid, H3PO4, is a very important compound used to make fertilizers. It is
also present in cola drinks. H3PO4 can be prepared in a two-step process.
Reaction 1:
Reaction 2:

We allow 272 g of phosphorus to react with excess oxygen, which forms tetraphosphorus decoxide,
P4O10, in 89.5% yield. In the second step reaction, a 96.8% yield of H3PO4 is obtained. What mass of
H3PO4 is obtained?

Strategy: Steps on calculations: (a) Check if the equations are balanced; (b) Relate the given amount
of phosphorus to P4O10 product and percent yield from the first reaction to calculate the amount of
P4O10; (c) Relate the calculated amount of P4O10 to H3PO4 product and percent yield from the
second reaction to calculate the amount of H3PO4

Solution:
Considering the first reaction and the given amount of phosphorus

Chemical Engineering Department Module 7: Page 7

 Republic of the Philippines
CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Carig Campus, Tuguegarao City
College of Engineering

Amount 1 mol 5 mol 1 mol

Mol x MW 124 g 5(32.0 g) 284 g

( )

Considering the second reaction and the calculated amount of P4O10

Amount 1 mol 6 mol 4 mol

Mol x MW 284 g 6(18.0 g) 4(98.0 g)

( )

E. Using Solutions in Chemical Reactions

Learning Activity Calculate the volume in liters and in milliliters of a 0.324 M solution of sulfuric acid
required to react completely with 2.792 g of Na2CO3 according to the equation

Strategy: Steps on calculations: (a) Check if the equations are balanced; (b) Relate the amount given
of Na2CO3 with the amount and concentration of H2SO4 solution.

Solution:

Amount 1 mol 1 mol 1 mol 1 mol 1mol

Mol x MW 106.0 g

Considering the given amount of Na2CO3

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Learning Activity Find the volume in liters and in milliliters of a 0.505 M NaOH solution required to
react with 40.0 mL of 0.505 M H2SO4 solution according to the reaction

Strategy: Steps on calculations: (a) Check if the equations are balanced; (b) Relate the amount of
H2SO4 solution given to the amount and concentration of NaOH solution.

Solution:
Considering the equation

Amount 1 mol 2 mol 1 mol 2mol

Chemical Engineering Department Module 7: Page 8

 Republic of the Philippines
CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Carig Campus, Tuguegarao City
College of Engineering

Self-Assessment Activity IX:

1. Consider the two-step process for the formation of tellurous acid described by the following
equations:

What mass of H2TeO3 is formed from 74.2 g of TeO2, assuming 100% yield?

2. The reaction of finely divided aluminum and iron(III) oxide, Fe2O3, is called the thermite
reaction. It produces a tremendous amount of heat, making the welding of railroad track
possible. The reaction of 500.0 grams of aluminum and 500.0 grams of iron(III) oxide
produces 166.5 grams of iron. (a) Balance the equation. (b) Calculate the mass of iron that
should be released by this reaction. (c) What is the percent yield of iron?

3. An iron ore that contains Fe3O4 reacts according to the reaction below. We obtain 2.11 g of Fe
from the reaction of 75.0 g of the ore. What is the percent Fe3O4 in the ore?

4. Solid silver nitrate undergoes thermal decomposition to form silver metal, nitrogen dioxide,
and oxygen. Write the chemical equation for this reaction. A 0.665-g sample of silver metal is
isolated from the decomposition of a 1.099-g sample of AgNO3. What is the percent yield of
the reaction?

5. An impure sample of solid Na2CO3 is allowed to react with 0.1755 M HCl.

A 0.2337-g sample of sodium carbonate requires 15.55 mL of HCl solution. Balance the
equation and calculate the purity of the sodium carbonate?
References:
Atkins, P. and Jones, L. Chemical Principles, The Quest for Insight (5th Ed). W.H. Freeman and
Company, NY. ISBN 1-4292-1955-6
Chang, R. (2010). Chemistry (10th Ed). Mc-Graw-Hill Companies, Inc, NY. ISBN 978–0–07–351109–2
Whitten, K.W., Davis, R.E., Peck, M.L., and Stanley, G.G. (2014). Chemistry (10th Ed). Brooks/Cole,
Cengage Learning, CA. ISBN 978-1-133-61066-3

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