SHS

General Chemistry 1
Quarter 1 – Module 3:
Stoichiometry
General Chemistry 1 – Grade 12 (SHS STEM)
Quarter 1 – Module 3: Stoichiometry
First Edition, 2021

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 SHS

General Chemistry 1
Quarter 1 – Module 3:
Stoichiometry
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this
module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to
manage their own learning at home. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage
and assist the learners as they do the tasks included in the module.

For the learner:

As a learner, you must learn to become responsible of your own learning. Take
time to read, understand, and perform the different activities in the module.

As you go through the different activities of this module be reminded of the

following:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the
module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer Let Us Try before moving on to the other activities.
3. Read the instructions carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are done.

If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are not
alone. We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning
and gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

2
 Let Us Learn

This module was designed for you, the learners. It is to facilitate you to learn
the appropriate knowledge and skills as you go through a series of worthwhile
activities. The lessons are arranged sequentially in this course to ease understanding
and mastery.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

● Calculate molecular formula given molar mass (STEM_GC11PCIf-33);

● Write and Balance Chemical Equations (STEM_GC11CRIf-g-37);
● Construct mole or mass ratios for a reaction in order to calculate the
amount of reactant needed or amount of product formed in terms of moles
or mass (STEM_GC11MR-Ig-h-38) and,
● Calculate the percent yield and theoretical yield of the reaction
(STEM_GC11MRIg-h-39).

Let Us Try!

Read the questions carefully. Choose the best answer and write it on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. A compound’s empirical formula is CH, and it weighs 104 g/mol. What is

the molecular formula?
A. C2H2 C. C6H6
B. C4H4 D. C8H8

2. An equation is balanced by___.

A. adding coefficients.
B. changing the subscripts.
C. erasing elements as necessary.
D. adding elements as necessary

3. Which of the following is a balanced formula equation?

A. Al + O2 → Al2O3
B. 2Al + O2 → 2Al2O3
C. 4Al + 3O2 → 2Al2O3
D. 4Al + O2 → 3Al2O3
 4. Calculate the amount of sulfur dioxide produced when 145 grams of iron
pyrite (FeS2) completely reacts with oxygen according to the
equation: 4FeS2 + 11O2 = 2Fe2O3 + 8SO2
A. 77.5 C. 129
B. 155 D. 255

When5.
an When an equation is used to calculate the amount of product that will form
during a reaction, then the value obtained is called the ____.
A. Actual yield C. Theoretical yield
B. Percent yield D. Minimum yield

Lesson

1 Molecular Formulas

Let Us Study

In the previous lesson, you were able to define empirical formula, and
determine the empirical formula from masses of its elements or from the percentage
composition.

In this chapter, we will use what we have learned about empirical formulas.
This topic will help us calculate the molecular formula given the molar mass of a
compound.

DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN EMPIRICAL FORMULAS AND MOLECULAR

FORMULAS
Many compounds in nature, particularly compounds made of carbon,
hydrogen and oxygen are composed of atoms that occur in numbers that are
multiples of their empirical formula. In other words, their empirical formulas don’t
reflect the actual number of atoms within them, but only the ratios of those atoms.

Chemists are careful to differentiate between an empirical formula and a

molecular formula. A molecular formula uses subscripts that report the actual
number of atoms of each type in a molecule of the compound. (A formula unit
accomplish the same thing for ionic compounds.)

In the previous discussions, the empirical formula can be determined if the

percent compositions of the various elements are known. The empirical formula tells
us what elements are present in the compound and the simplest whole-number ratio
of elements. The data may be in terms of percentage, mass, or even in moles. But the
procedure is still the same: convert each to moles, divide each by the smallest
number, then use an appropriate multiplier if needed. The empirical formula mass
can then be calculated. If the actual molecular mass is known, dividing the molecular
mass by the empirical formula mass gives an integer (rounded if needed) that is used
to multiply each of the subscripts in the empirical formula. This gives the molecular
(actual) formula, which tells which elements are in the compound and the actual
number of each.

To determine the molecular formula, you must know the molar mass of the
compound as well as the empirical formula (or enough information to calculate it
yourself from the percent compositions). With these tools in hand calculating the
molecular formula involves a three-step process:
1. Calculate the empirical formula masses.

2. Divide the molar mass by the empirical formula mass. (If any of the mole ratios
are not whole numbers, multiply all numbers by the smallest possible factor that
produces whole-number mole ratios for all of the elements.)

3. Multiply each of the subscripts within the empirical formula by the number
calculated in step 2.
Example

Given: A sample of a compound containing boron (B) and hydrogen (H) contains
6.444 g of B and 1.803 g of H. The molar mass of the compound is about 30 g. What
is its molecular formula?

Solution:

1. Calculate the empirical formula masses.

a. Convert each of these masses to an amount in moles.
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐵
? 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐵 = 6.444 𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝐵 𝑥 = 0.6389 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝐵
10.086 𝑔 𝐵

1𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐻
? 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐻 = 1.803 𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝐻 𝑥 = 1.789 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝐻
1.008𝑔 𝐻

b. To solve for mole ratios - divide each of the moles by the smallest number of
mole and round off.
0.6389 1.789
B= =1 H= =3
0.6389 0.6389

Empirical Formula = BH3

2. Divide the molar mass by the empirical formula mass.

a. solve for empirical formula mass

empirical formula mass = (10.086 x 1) + (1.008 x 3) = 13.11g

b. Next, we determine the ratio between the molar mass and the empirical molar
mass
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 30 𝑔
n= = =2
𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 13.11 𝑔

3.Multiply each of the subscripts within the empirical formula by the number
calculated in step 2.
Molecular formula = (BH3)2 or B2H6
 Let Us Practice

Activity 1A:
Answer the following questions. Show calculations where applicable. Observe the
use of significant figures for calculations and indicate the appropriate units. You
can use the periodic table to answer the questions.

1. We found the percentage composition of acetic acid to be 39.9% C, 6.7% H, and

53.4% O. Determine the empirical formula. The molecular mass of acetic acid was
determined by experiment to be 60.0 g. What is its molecular formula?

2. The percentage composition of acetaldehyde is 54.5% C, 9.2% H, and 36.3% O,

and its molecular mass is 44 g. Obtain the molecular formula of acetaldehyde.
3. A compound is 36.5% sodium, 25.4% sulfur, and 38.1% oxygen. (a) What is its
empirical formula? (b) If the compound in has a molar mass of 366.3g, what is its
molecular formula?

Activity 1B:
A friend has some questions about empirical formulas and molecular formulas. You
can assume that he is good at performing the calculations. Briefly answer the
following questions:

1. For a problem that asked him to determine the empirical formula, he came up
with the answer C2H8O2. Is this a possible answer to the problem? If not, what
guidance would you offer your friend?

2. For another problem he came up with the answer C 1.5H4 as the empirical
formula. Is this answer correct? Once again, if it isn’t correct, what could you do to
help your friend?

3. Since you have been a big help, your friend asks one more question. His answers
indicate that the compound had an empirical formula of C 3H8O and the molecular
formula C3H8O. Is this result possible?

Rubric for Essay

Criteria Poor Fair Good Excellent
2 pts. 3 pts. 4 pts. 5 pts.
Focus/ Main The essay poorly The essay is The essay is The essay is
Point addresses topic focused on topic focused on the focused,
and includes and includes few topic and purposeful, and
irrelevant ideas loosely related includes relevant reflects clear
ideas ideas. insight and ideas
 Let Us Remember

Now that you’ve grounded yourself in a solid knowledge of determining the

molecular formula, here are some tips to remember.

• The empirical formula indicates which elements are present and the
lowest whole-number ratio.
• In empirical formula problems, be sure to get the lowest ratio of whole
numbers.
• Be able to calculate the empirical formula from percent composition data
or quantities from chemical analysis.
• A molecular formula uses subscripts that report the actual number of
atoms of each type in a molecule of the compound.

Lesson

2 Keeping the see saw straight

Write and Balance Chemical Equations

Let Us Study

In the previous lesson, you were able to write the chemical formula given the
name of the compound and vice versa.
Chemists have a nice, ordered set of rules for describing chemical reactions.
Reactants are always on the left-hand side of the equation, and products on the right.
There are also a nice, ordered set of chemical symbols that chemists use to describe
reactions, and each symbol has one precise meaning. These fundamentals of
stoichiometry are described in this section and, since they form the basis of all of
stoichiometry, it would be nice for you to familiarize yourself on these symbols.
In general, all chemical equations are written in the basic form:

Reactant → Product

where the arrow in the middle means “yields” or “turns into.” The basic idea is that
the reactants react, and the reaction produces products. By reacting, we simply
mean that bonds within the reactants are broken, to be replaced by new and different
bonds within the products. Chemists fill chemical equations with symbols because
the symbols help pack a lot of meaning into a small space. The table below
summarizes the most important symbols you’ll find in chemical equations.
 Symbols Commonly Used in Chemical Equations
Symbol Explanation
+ Separates two reactants or products
→ The “yields” or “produces” or “to forms” symbol separates the reactants
from the products. The single arrowhead suggests the reaction occurs
in only one direction.
↔ A two-way yield symbol means the reaction can occur in both the
forward and reverse directions. You may also see this symbol written as
two stacked arrows with opposing arrowheads.
(s) A compound followed by this symbol exists as a solid.
(l) A compound followed by this symbol exists as a liquid.
(g) A compound followed by this symbol exists as a gas.
(aq) A compound followed by this symbol exists in aqueous solution,
dissolved in water.
∆ This symbol, usually written above the yields symbol, signifies that
heat is added to the reactants.
Ni, Sometimes a chemical symbol (such as those for nickel or lithium
LiCl chloride here) is written above the yields symbol. This means that the
indicated substance was added as a catalyst. Catalysts speed up
reactions but do not otherwise participate in them
After you understand how to interpret chemical symbols, compound names, and the
symbols in Table, you are now equipped, for example, to decode a chemical equation
into an English sentence describing a reaction. Conversely, you can translate an
English sentence into the chemical equation it describes.
Writing Chemical Equations

Consider what happens when colorless nitrogen monoxide gas reacts with oxygen
gas to form red brown nitrogen dioxide gas.
Nitrogen monoxide + oxygen gas → nitrogen dioxide

This reaction can be represented by the chemical equation

NO (g) + O2 (g) → NO2 (g)

where the plus sign means “reacts with” and the arrow means “to form”. The
reaction is assumed to proceed from left to right as the narrow indicates.
Balancing Chemical Equations
The equation: NO (g) + O2 (g) → NO2 (g) is not complete, because there are 3
atoms of oxygen on the reactant side and 2 atoms of oxygen on the product side. To
conform with the law of conservation of mass, there must be the same number of
each type of atom on both sides of the arrow; that is, we must have as many atoms
after the reaction ends as we did before it started. Because atoms are neither created
nor destroyed in a chemical reaction, this expression needs to be balanced.
We need to balance the numbers of atoms of each kind on both sides of the
expression to obtain a balanced chemical equation. In this step, the coefficient two
is placed in front of the formulas NO and NO2. This means that two molecules of NO
are consumed and two molecules of NO2 are produced for every molecule of O2
consumed. In the balanced equation there are two N atoms and four O atoms on
each side. In a balanced equation, the total number of atoms of each element present
is the same on both sides of the equation. We see this below, in the symbolic equation
of the reaction.
2 NO (g) + O2 (g) → 2 NO2 (g)

Interpretation of a Chemical Equation

2 NO (g) + O2 (g) → 2 NO2 (g)

2molecules + 1 molecule → 2 molecules

2 moles + 1 mole → 2 moles

2 (14+16) = 60 + 32 → 2 (14 + 32) = 92

92 grams reactant = 92 grams product

The coefficients required to balance a chemical equation are called stoichiometric

coefficients. These coefficients are essential in relating the amounts of reactants used
and products formed in a chemical reaction, through a variety of calculations.

Let’s consider another example. In the laboratory, small amounts of oxygen gas can
be prepared by heating potassium chlorate (KClO3). The products are oxygen gas (O2)
and potassium chloride (KCl).

Solution:

From this information, we write:

KClO3 → KCl + O2 (For simplicity, we omit the physical states of reactants and
products.)

All three elements (K, Cl, and O) appear only once on each side of the equation, but
only for K and Cl do we have equal numbers of atoms on both sides. Thus, KClO 3
and KCl must have the same coefficient. The next step is to make the number of O
atoms the same on both sides of the equation. Because there are three O atoms on
the left and two O atoms on the right of the equation, we can balance the O atoms
by placing a 2 in front of KClO3 and a 3 in front of O2.

2KClO3 → KCl + 3O2

Finally, we balance the K and Cl atoms by placing a 2 in front of KCl:

2KClO3 → 2KCl + 3O2

As a final check, we can draw up a balance sheet for the reactants and products
where the number in parentheses indicates the number of atoms of each element:

REACTANT PRODUCT
K (2) K (2)
Cl (2) Cl (2)
O (6) O (6)
Let us have our last example:

Liquid triethylene glycol is used as a solvent and plasticizer for vinyl and
polyurethane plastics. Write a balanced chemical equation for the combustion of this
compound in an excess amount of oxygen.

The unbalanced equation is C6H14O4 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

Solution:

Starting Equation C6H14O4 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

Balance C C6H14O4 + O2 → 6CO2 + H2O
Balance H C6H14O4 + O2 → 6CO2 + 7H2O
Balance O C6H14O4 +
𝟏𝟓
O2 → 6CO2 + 7H2O
At this point, the right side of the expression 𝟐
(balanced)
has 19 O atoms (12 in six CO2molecules and 7
in seven H2Omolecules), and the left side, only
4 O atoms (in C6H14O4 ). To obtain 15 more O
atoms requires a fractional coefficient of for O2
To remove the fractional coefficient, multiply all 2C6H14O4 + 15O2 → 12CO2 + 14H2O
coefficients by two (balanced)

Assess: To check that the equation is balanced, determine the numbers of C, H, and
O atoms that appear on each side of the equation.

REACTANT PRODUCT
C (6) C (6)
H (28) H (28)
O (38) O (38)

Check the links below for additional references:

https://youtu.be/xqpYeiefZl8
https://youtu.be/TUuABq95BBM
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/balancing-chemical-equations/latest/balancing-chemical-
equations_en.html

Let Us Practice

Activity 2:

A. Write balanced equations based on the information given.

1. Write a balanced equation to represent the reaction of mercury(II) sulfide and
calcium oxide to produce calcium sulfide, calcium sulfate, and mercury metal.

2. Solid magnesium + oxygen gas → solid magnesium oxide

3. Gaseous ethane + oxygen gas → carbon dioxide gas ang liquid water

4. Aqueous silver sulfate + Aqueous barium iodide → solid barium sulfate + solid
silver iodide
B. Balance the following equations:

1. SO3 → SO2 + O2
2. Cl2O7 + H2O → HClO4

3. NO2 + H2O → HNO3 + NO

4. PCl3 + H2O → H3PO3 + HCl

Let Us Remember

Here are some useful strategies for balancing equations.

• An equation can be balanced only by adjusting the coefficients of formulas.

• An equation whether mathematical or chemical must have the left and right
sides equal. We should not call an expression an equation until it is
balanced. The term chemical equation automatically signifies that this
balance exists.
• If an element occurs in only one compound on each side of the equation, try
balancing this element first.
• When one of the reactants or products exists as the free element, balance this
element last.
• In some reactions, certain groups of atoms (for example, polyatomic ions)
remain unchanged. In such cases, balance these groups as a unit.
• It is permissible to use fractional as well as integral numbers as coefficients.
At times, an equation can be balanced most easily by using one or more
fractional coefficients and then, if desired, clearing the fractions by
multiplying all coefficients by a common multiplier.

Lesson

3 Reaction Stoichiometry

Let Us Study

The relationship between the products and reactants in a balanced chemical

equation is very important in understanding the nature of the reaction. This
relationship tells us what materials and how much of them are needed for a reaction
to proceed. Reaction stoichiometry describes the quantitative relationship among
substances as they participate in various chemical reactions.
 In a balanced chemical equation, the coefficients can be used to determine the
relative number of molecules, formula units, or moles of compounds that participate
in the reaction. The coefficients in a balanced equation can be used as molar ratios,
which can act as conversion factors to relate the reactants to the products. These
conversion factors state the ratio of reactants that react but do not tell exactly how
much of each substance is actually involved in the reaction. Stoichiometry problems
can be characterized by two things: (1) the information given in the problem, and (2)
the information that is to be solved for, referred to as the unknown. The given and
the unknown may both be reactants, both be products, or one may be a reactant
while the other is a product. The amounts of the substances can be expressed in
moles. However, in a laboratory situation, it is common to determine the amount of
a substance by finding its mass in grams. The amount of a gaseous substance may
be expressed by its volume. In this concept, we will focus on the type of problem
where both the given and the unknown quantities are either in moles or in grams.
Key Point:
Inspect the coefficients of each element of the equation. The coefficients can be
thought of as the number of moles used in the reaction. The key is reaction
stoichiometry describes the quantitative relationship among the substances as they
participate in the chemical reaction. The relationship between two of the reaction’s
participants (reactant or product) can be viewed as conversion factors and can be
used to facilitate mole-to-mole conversions within the reaction.

Use coefficients from balanced

chemical equation

1 mole = 1 mole =
molar mass (g) molar mass (g)

The diagram above maybe helpful as a guide in solving stoichiometric problems.

MOLE RATIO
EXAMPLE:

Consider: 4NH3 + 5O2 → 6H2O + 4NO

1. How many moles of H2O are produced if 0.176 mol of O2 are used? (mole to
mole)
𝟔 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑯𝟐𝑶
• 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑯𝟐𝑶 = 0.176 mol O2 x = 0.2112 mol
𝟓 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝐎𝟐

2. How many moles of NO are produced in the reaction if 17 mol of H 2O are also
produced?
𝟒 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑵𝑶
• 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑵𝑶 = 𝟏𝟕 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑯𝟐𝟎 𝒙 = 11.33 mol NO:
𝟔 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑯𝟐𝑶
MASS-MOLE STOICHIOMETRY
Key Notes:

The compound’s molar mass is necessary when converting from grams to moles.

• For a single element, the molar mass is equivalent to its atomic weight
multiplied by the molar mass constant (1 g/mol).
• For a compound, the molar mass is the sum of the atomic weights of each
element in the compound multiplied by the molar mass constant.

After the molar mass is determined, dimensional analysis can be used to convert
from grams to moles.

EXAMPLE:

Consider : 4NH3 + 5O2 → 6H2O + 4NO

1. How many grams of H2O are produced if 1.9 mol of NH3 are combined
with excess oxygen? (mole to mass)
𝟔 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑯𝟐𝑶 𝟏𝟖.𝟎𝟐 𝒈 𝑯𝟐𝑶
g H2O = 1.9 mol NH3 x x = 51.4 g H2O
𝟒 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑵𝑯𝟑 𝟏 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑯𝟐𝑶

2. How many grams of O2 are required to produce 0.3 mol of H2O? (mass to
mole)
𝟓 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑶𝟐 𝟑𝟐 𝒈 𝑶𝟐
g O2 = 0.3 mol H2O x x = 8 g O2
𝟔 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑯𝟐𝑶 𝟏 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑶𝟐

MASS-MASS STOICHIOMETRY
Key Point:
To convert from one mass (substance A) to another mass (substance B), you
must convert the mass of A first to moles, then use the mole-to-mole conversion
factor (B/A), then convert the mole amount of B back to grams of B.

EXAMPLE:

Consider : 4NH3 + 5O2 → 6H2O + 4NO

1. How many grams of NO is produced if 12 g of O 2 is combined with excess

ammonia? (mass to mass)

𝟏 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑶𝟐 𝟒 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑵𝑶 𝟑𝟎.𝟎𝟏 𝒈 𝑵𝑶

g NO =12 g O2 x x x = 9.0 g NO
𝟑𝟐 𝒈 𝑶𝟐 𝟓 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑶𝟐 𝟏 𝒎𝒐𝒍 𝑵𝑶
Check the links below for additional references:

Reactants, products and leftovers [Simulation]. Retrieved from PhEt Interactive

Simulations web site: http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/reactants-products-and-
leftovers/latest/ reactants-products-and-leftovers_en.html.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjQG3rKSZUQ

Let Us Practice

Activity 3:
Answer the following question. Show calculations where applicable. Observe the use
of significant figures for calculations and indicate the appropriate units.

1. Tin metal reacts with hydrogen fluoride to produce tin (II) fluoride and hydrogen
gas according to the following balanced equation.
Sn (s) + 2HF → SnF2 (s) + H2 (g)

How many moles of hydrogen fluoride are required to react completely with 75.0g of
tin?

2. Given: 4NH3 + 5O2 → 6H2O + 4NO

a) How many moles of H2O can be made using 0.5 mol NH3?

b) what mass of NH3 is needed to make 1.5 mol NO?

c) how many grams of NO can be made from 120 g of NH 3?

3. Ammonium nitrate decomposes to dinitrogen monoxide and water according to

the following equation.

NH4NO3 (s) → N2O (g) + 2H2O (l)

In a certain experiment, 45.7g of ammonium nitrate is decomposed. Find the mass

of each of the products formed.
 Let Us Remember

In Lesson 3, you have learned the following important concepts about naming and
writing the chemical formula of compounds.

● The law of conservation of mass dictates that the quantity of an element does
not change over the course of a reaction. Therefore, a chemical equation is
balanced when all elements have equal values on both the left and right sides.

● The balanced equation for the reaction of interest contains the stoichiometric
ratios of the reactants and products; these ratios can be used as conversion
factors for mole-to-mole conversions.

● Stoichiometric ratios are unique for each chemical reaction.

Lesson

4 Percent Yield & Theoretical Yield

Let Us Study

The world of pharmaceutical production is an expensive one. Many drugs have

several steps in their synthesis and use costly chemicals. A great deal
of research takes place to develop better ways to make drugs faster and more
efficiently. Studying how much of a compound is produced in any given reaction is
an important part of cost control.
Every day, tons of chemicals are made to be used directly or as reactants in
the production of other materials. Because these chemicals are sold for use in
everything from food to pharmaceuticals, it is important that they made in high yield
and be of high purity.

Chemical reactions in the real world don’t always go exactly as planned on

paper. Chemists need a measurement that indicates how successful a reaction has
been. This measurement is called the percent yield. To compare the amount of
product obtained from a reaction with the amount that should have been obtained,
chemists use percent yield.
To compute the percent yield, it is first necessary to determine how much of
the product should be formed based on stoichiometry. This is called the theoretical
yield, the maximum amount of product that could be formed from the given amounts
of reactants. The actual yield is the amount of product that is actually formed when
the reaction is carried out in the laboratory. The percent yield is the ratio of the
actual yield to the theoretical yield, expressed as a percentage.
 In many reactions the actual yield almost exactly equals the theoretical yield,
and the reactions are said to be quantitative. Such reactions can be used in
quantitative chemical analyses. In other reactions the actual yield is less than the
theoretical yield, and the percent yield is less than 100%. The reduced yield may
occur for a variety of reasons. (1) The product of a reaction rarely appears in a pure
form, and some product may be lost during the necessary purification steps, which
reduces the yield. (2) In many cases the reactants may participate in reactions other
than the one of central interest. These are called side reactions, and the unintended
products are called by-products. To the extent that side reactions occur, the yield of
the main product is reduced. (3) If a reverse reaction occurs, some of the expected
product may react to re-form the reactants, and again the yield is less than expected.
To determine how efficient a given reaction is, chemists often figure the percent yield,
which describes the proportion of the actual yield to the theoretical yield. It is
calculated as follows:

𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑌𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑌𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 = 𝑥 100 %
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑌𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑

Example: Potassium chlorate decomposes upon slight heating in the presence of a

catalyst according to the reaction below:
2KClO3(s)→2KCl(s)+3O2(g)
In a certain experiment, 40.0 g KClO3 is heated until it completely decomposes.
What is the theoretical yield of oxygen gas? The experiment is performed and the
oxygen gas is collected and its mass is found to be 14.9 g. What is the percent yield
for the reaction?
Solution:
First, we will calculate the theoretical yield based on the stoichiometry.
Step 1: List the known quantities and plan the problem.
Known
• given mass of KClO3 = 40.0 g
• molar mass KClO3 = 122.55 g/mol
• molar mass O2 = 32.00 g/mol
Unknown
• theoretical yield O2 = ? g
Apply stoichiometry to convert from the mass of a reactant to the mass of a
product:
g KClO3→mol KClO3→mol O2→g O2

Step 2: Solve.
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐶𝑙𝑂3 3 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂2 32.00 𝑔 𝑂2
g O2 = 40.0 g KClO3 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 = 15.7 𝑔 O2
122.55 𝑔 KClO3 2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐾𝐶𝑙𝑂3 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂2

The theoretical yield of O2 is 15.7 g.

Now, we use the actual yield and the theoretical yield to calculate the percent yield.
Step 1: List the known quantities and plan the problem.
Known
• Actual yield = 14.9 g
• Theoretical yield = 15.7 g
Unknown
• Percent yield = ? %
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑌𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑌𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 = 𝑥 100 %
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑌𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑
Use the percent yield equation above.

Step 2: Solve.
14.9 𝑔
Percent Yield = x 100 = 94.9 %
15.7 𝑔

Check the links below for additional references:

https://youtu.be/ombVTvlMHtw
https://youtu.be/hnawBsyZTc8

Let Us Practice More

Activity 4: SOLVE ME

Answer the following questions. Show calculations where applicable. Observe the
use of significant figures for calculations and indicate the appropriate units. You
can use the periodic table to answer the questions.

1. The electrolysis of water forms H2 and O2.

2H2O → 2H2 + O2

What is the theoretical yield and the % yield of O2 if 12.3 g of O2 is produced from
the decomposition of 14.0 g H2O?

2. What is the theoretical yield and the % yield of ferrous sulfide if 3.00 moles of Fe
reacts with excess sulfur to produce 220 grams of ferrous sulfide?

Fe + S → FeS
 Let Us Remember

• Theoretical yield is calculated based on the stoichiometry of the chemical

equation.
• The actual yield is experimentally determined.
• The percent yield is determined by calculating the ratio of actual
yield/theoretical yield.

Let Us Assess

Read the questions carefully. Choose the best answer and write it on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. Butene has a simple formula of CH2 and a molecular weight of 56.0 g/mol.
Calculate he molecular formula of butene?
A. C4H8 C. C3H4
B. C2H4 D. C4H2

2. A compound’s empirical formula is CH, and it weighs 104 g/mol. Give the
molecular formula.
A. C2H2 C. C6H6
B. C4H4 D. C8H8

3. A substance is decomposed and found to consist of 53.2% C, 11.2% H, and

35.6% O by mass. Calculate the molecular formula of the unknown if its
molar mass is 90 g/mol.
A. CH5O C. C4H10O2
B. C2H5O D. C4H10O4

4. An equation is balanced by___.

A. adding coefficients.
B. changing the subscripts.
C. erasing elements as necessary.
D. adding elements as necessary

5. Which of the following is a balanced formula equation?

A. Al + O2 → Al2O3
B. 2Al + O2 → 2Al2O3
C. 4Al + 3O2 → 2Al2O3
D. 4Al + O2 → 3Al2O3
 6. The coefficient of MgSO4 in the balanced equation is:
FeSO4 + Mg3(PO4)2 → Fe3(PO4)2 + MgSO4
A. 3 C. 1
B. 2 D. 1/2

7. What is the balanced equation for:

__ KOH + __ H₃PO₄ → __ K₃PO₄ + __ H₂O?
A. 3 KOH + 2 H₃PO₄ → 3 K₃PO₄ + 3 H₂O
B. KOH + H₃PO₄ → K₃PO₄ + 6 H₂O
C. 3 KOH + H₃PO₄ → K₃PO₄ + 3 H₂O
D. 3 KOH + H₃PO₄ → K₃PO₄ + 6 H₂O

8. Calculate the amount of sulfur dioxide produced when 145 grams of iron
pyrite (FeS2) completely reacts with oxygen according to the equation:
4FeS2 + 11O2 = 2Fe2O3 + 8SO2
A. 77.5 C. 129
B. 155 D. 255

9. What mass of magnesium oxide results when 56.3 g O2 combines with

excess magnesium?
A. 35.2 g C. 145 g
B. 141 g D. 90.1g

For Questions 10 and 11:

Consider the reaction: __TiO2 + __Cl2 + __C __TiCl4 + __CO2 + __CO

10. How many mol chlorine will react with 4.55 mol carbon?
A. 2.07 mol Cl2 C. 6.07 mol Cl2
B. 4.07 mol Cl2 D. 8.07 mol Cl2

11. What mass titanium (IV) oxide will react with 4.55 mol carbon?
A. 242 g TiO2 C. 342 g TiO2
B. 252 g TiO2 D. 352 g TiO2

12. If the theoretical yield for a reaction was 156 grams and I actually made 122
grams of the product, what is my percent yield?
A. 78.2% C. 98%
B. 88% D. 128%

For Questions 13 and 14:

The electrolysis of water forms H2 and O2.
2H2O → 2H2 + O2

13. What is the % yield of O2 if 12.3 g of O2 is produced from the decomposition

of 14.0 g H2O?
A. 96% C. 98%
B. 97% D. 99%
 14. What is the % yield of H2O if 138 g H2O is produced from 16 g H2 and excess
O2 ?
A. 96.7% C. 98.7%
B. 97.7% D. 99.7%

When15.
an When an equation is used to calculate the amount of product that will form
during a reaction, then the value obtained is called the ____.
A. Actual yield C. Theoretical yield
B. Percent yield D. Minimum yield

Let Us Enhance

Activity 5: SUM IT UP

After learning the lesson of this module, it is time to apply what you have
learned from this lesson. What are some real life uses of stoichiometry?

Your response in the reflective essay will be rated based on the rubric below. Ple

Your response will be rated based on the rubric below. Please be guided
accordingly.
Rubric for essay
Criteria Poor Fair Good Excellent
1 pt. 2 pts. 3 pts. 4 pts.
Relevance of The essay did Answer is Answer is brief with Answer is complete;
answer to the not answer the incomplete. insufficient detail. sufficient detail
question question Excessive Unrelated issues provided to support
discussion of were introduced assertions; answer
unrelated issues and/or focuses only on
and/or minor errors in issues
significant content. related to the
errors in question;
content. factually correct

Thoroughness None of the Serious gaps in Most of the basic Deals fully with the
of answer relevant the basic details details are included entire question
details were needed but some are
included missing
 Let Us Reflect

In large part, reaction stoichiometry provides the relationships we need

to relate macroscopic amounts of substances to our microscopic view of
chemical reactions. To some, stoichiometry is no more exciting than the
law of conservation of mass but make no mistake stoichiometry is
important. Chemists use stoichiometric principles routinely to plan
experiments, analyze their results, and make predictions, all of which
contribute to making new discoveries and expanding our knowledge of
the microscopic world of atoms, molecules, and ions.
Activity 1A.
1. EF =CH2O ; MF = C2H4O2
2. C2H4O
3. Na6S3O9
Activity 2
A.
1. 4HgS + 4CaO → 3CaS + CaSO4 + 3Hg
2. 2Mg (s) + O2 (g) → 2MgO (g)
3. 2C2H6 (g) + 7O2 (g) → 4CO2 (g) + 6H2O (l)
4. Ag2SO4 (aq) + BaI2 (aq) → BaSO4 (s) + 2AgI (s)
B.
1. 2SO3 → 2SO2 + O2
2. Cl2O7 + H2O → 2HClO4
3. 3NO2 + H2O → 2HNO3 + NO
4. PCl3 + 3H2O → H3PO3 + 3HCl
Activity 3
1. 1.26 mol HF
2. a. 0.75 mol H2O
b. 25.6 g NH3
c. 211 g NO
3. 221 grams O2
Activity 4
1. 12.43 g 98.9%
2. 263.7 g 83.4%
LET US ASSESS LET US TRY
1. A 11. A 1. D
2. D 12. A 2. A
3. C 13. D 3. C
4. A 14. A 4. B
5. C 15. C 5. C
6. A
7. C
8. B
9. B
10. C
Answer Key
 References

Chang, Raymond, and Jason Overby. General Chemistry, The Essential Concepts
6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., 2011.

Theodore L. Brown et al. Chemistry, The Central Science 12th ed. Pearson Prentice
Hall, 2012.
Commission on Higher Education. 2016. google.com. Accessed September 1,2021.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B869YFOKEHr7SHFGVG5mVFFhcXc/view
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