Chemical Equations and Stoichiometry

Chemical Equations
A chemical equation is a shorthand way of indicating what is going on in a chemical
reaction. We could do it the long way…

Two molecules of Hydrogen gas react with one molecule of Oxygen gas to produce two
molecule of liquid water.

Or we can use the shorthand…

2 H2 (g) + O2 (g) → 2 H2O (l)

The second way is easier to read and keep track of everything going on. The equation
above uses phase symbols. Phase symbols are used to denote the phase of substances in
an equation.

(g) gas
(s) solid
(l) liquid
(aq) aqueous (water solution)

The chemical equation must represent reality. The symbol, ∆, is sometimes used to
denote a reaction that is heated and is written above the arrow. Catalyst symbols or
formulas are also placed above the arrow.

Balancing equations
An equation is balanced when the number of atoms of each type present is the same on
both sides of the equation. The chemical formulas CANNOT be changed in the process
of balancing an equation. The process of balancing an equation can sometimes seem to
be trial and error. In reality, there is a method to the madness. When we balance a
chemical equation we are looking at the relationships between the elements on both sides
of the equation. This relationship helps us to figure out what needs to be done. Some
basic rules for balancing chemical equations are…

1. Start with the most complicated chemical first and start with the element that
appears the most number of times in that compound.

2. Save “free” elements for last.

Example:

CH4 (g) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g) + H2O (l)

 Here CH4 is the most complicated and Hydrogen appears the most number of
times so we will start with that element. O2 is a “free” element (not combined
with other elements) so we will leave that for last.

There are 4 Hydrogens on the reactant side and 2 on the product side. Therefore,
we multiply the water on the product side by 2 and the hydrogens balance.

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

The carbons are already balanced. Now we can balance the oxygen atoms. There
are 2 on the reactant side and 4 on the product side. If we multiply the O2 by 2 we
balance the oxygen.

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

Now the equation is balanced.

Molar interpretation vs. Molecular interpretation of a chemical reaction

The balanced chemical reaction gives you a series of conversion factors to use in problem
solving.

CH4 + 2 O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O

The conversion factors are obtained from the coefficients in the balanced chemical
reaction. These conversion factors can be used to relate the amounts of reactant to other
reactants or to amounts of products. It is this reason that, in order to solve a chemical
problem, you first need to have a balanced chemical equation.

Example:

How many grams of solid Barium Sulfate can be produced from the
reaction of 154.6 g of Barium Nitrate with Sodium Sulfate? The other
product of the reaction is Sodium Nitrate.

First we need to write the balanced chemical equation:

Ba(NO3)2 + Na2SO4 → BaSO4 + 2 NaNO3

Now we can proceed with the calculation.

 1 mol Ba(NO3 ) 2 1 mol BaSO4 233.391 g BaSO4
154.6 g Ba(NO3 ) 2 × × × = 138.1 g BaSO 4
261.337 g Ba(NO3 ) 2 1 mol Ba(NO3 ) 2 1 mol BaSO 4

Limiting Reactants

The Limiting Reactant is the reactant that is completely consumed during the
course of a reaction. If the reactant is not completely consumed it is known as an excess
reactant.

The limiting reactant is what determines the amount of product(s). When all of the
limiting reactant is consumed, no more product(s) can be produced.

Determining the limiting reactant

1. Calculate the amount of product that would result from each of the reactants.

2. The reactant that corresponds to whichever amount of product is smallest is the

limiting reactant. All other reactants are excess reactants.

Theoretical Yield is the maximum amount of product that can be produced from a
reaction mixture. It is the amount of product determined from the limiting reactant.

Actual Yield is the amount of product that results when the reaction is carried out in the
lab.

Percent yield is the ratio of actual yield to theoretical yield multiplied by 100.

actual yield
% yield = × 100%
theoretical yield

Why determine the % yield? When a chemist reports his results from a reaction, he/she
does so by using the percent yield. This is done because the percent yield should be the
same for the same reaction regardless of how much reactant is initially used.

Example:

17.56 g of Ethanol (C2H6O) reacts with 102.5 g of Oxygen to produce Carbon

Dioxide and water. How many grams of Carbon Dioxide are produced in this
reaction? What is the limiting reactant? If only 30.00 g of Carbon Dioxide are
produced, what is the percent yield?
Balanced Chemical Equation:

C2H6O + 3 O2 → 2 CO2 + 3 H2O

Calculations:

1 mol C2 H 6O 2 mol CO 2 44.01 g CO 2

17.56 g C2 H 6O × × × = 33.54 g CO 2
46.07 g C 2H 6O 1 mol C 2 H 6O 1 mol CO 2
1 mol O 2 2 mol CO 2 44.01 g CO 2
102.5 g O 2 × × × = 93.98 g CO 2
32.00 g O 2 3 mol O 2 1 mol CO 2
30.00 g CO 2
× 100 = 89.45%
33.54 g CO 2

The limiting reactant is the reactant that gives the smallest amount of product. In
this case, that is Ethanol. The theoretical yield is that amount of product, 33.54 g
CO2. The percent yield is 89.45%.