ADDITIONAL NOTES

Balancing Chemical Equations

A balanced chemical equation shows the correct mole relationship among reactants and products in a
particular reaction.
Balancing chemical equations is usually done by inspection, one element at a time. These are no definite
steps to follow in the process. Just keep in mind the following general rules:
1. Start with the most complicated formula (the one with the greatest number of element, if there is one)
either among the reactants or products. Balance first the element that appears only once on either of the
reactants and products.
2. The next element to balance is the one whose number was affected by the coefficient written on a
formula when the previous element was balanced.
3. The one with the simplest formula (if there is one) should be balanced last; affixing any coefficients to it
will not affect the number of elements in the other formulas.
4. The coefficients must be in whole numbers. If a fraction comes up, multiply the whole equation by the
denominator of this fraction.
5. Express the coefficients in their lowest terms, if applicable.

Sample Problem 1
1. Balance the chemical equation for the production of ammonia from hydrogen and nitrogen gases.
Solution:
The first substance to balance is NH3, which is the most complex formula in the equation.
N2(g) + H2(g) → 2 NH3(g)
2 N atoms :: 2 N atoms
2 H atoms :: 6 H atoms
Adding the coefficient 2 on NH 3 makes the number of H atoms 6 in the product side. To balance the
H atoms, the coefficient 3 is written before H2 so there are now 6 H atoms in both sides.
N2(g) + 3 H2(g) → 2 NH3(g)
2 N atoms :: 2 N atoms
6 H atoms :: 6 H atoms
Now, there are as many as nitrogen and hydrogen atoms in both sides of the equation. Thus, the
equation is already balanced. It shows that 1 mole of N 2 reacts with 3 moles of H2 to produce 2 moles of
NH3.
Calculating the sum of the molar masses in each side of the equation will give equal results. This
means that the equation now satisfies the law of conservation of mass.
N2(g) + 3 H2(g) → 2 NH3(g)
[(14.01 amu x 2 atoms) + (1.008 amu x 6 atoms)] :: 2[(14.01 amu x 1 atom) + (1.008 amu x 3 atoms)]
34.07 amu :: 34.07 amu

Types of Chemical Reactions

Types of Chemical
Explanation General Reaction
Reactions

Two or more compounds combine

Combination reaction A + B → AB
to form one compound.

The opposite of a combination

Decomposition reaction reaction – a complex molecule AB → A + B
breaks down to make simpler ones.

One element replaces another

Single Replacement reaction AB + X → AX + B
element in a compound.

Double Also called metathesis or double AX + BY → AY + BX

 decomposition reaction
Ions of the two compounds formed
Replacement reaction
usually either a precipitate or a
molecular compound

Sample Problem 2
Classify each reaction as combination, decomposition, single replacement, or double replacement reaction.
1. 8Al2S3(s) → 16 Al(s) + 3S8(s) decomposition
2. NH3(g) + HCl(g) → NH4Cl(s) combination
3. PbCl2(aq) + 2AgNO3(aq) → Pb(NO3)2(aq) + 2AgCl(s) double replacement
4. 2NaBr(s) + Cl2(g) → 2NaCl(s) + Br2(g) single replacement

Stoichiometry: Mass Relationships in Chemical Reactions

The amount of reactants can be used to predict the amount of product in a chemical reaction. These
quantitative relationships in a reaction are studied in stoichiometry.
Mass Relationships

Mass of Molar Mole of Mole ratio Mole of Molar Mass of

Substance Mass of A Substance between A substance Mass of B substance
A A and B B B

1. Convert the mass of the given substance A to the number of moles using its molar mass.
2. Calculate the mole of the sought substance B from the mole of the given substance A using the mole
ratio derived from the coefficients of the involved substances in a balanced equation.
3. Convert the mole sought substance B to mass using its molar mass.

Sample Problem 3
The combustion of the mineral pyrite (FeS2) produces another mineral hematite (Fe2O3) and sulfur dioxide
(SO2)
FeS2(s) + O2 → Fe2O3(s) + SO2(g)
a. How many grams of O2 (MM = 32.0 g/mol) will completely react with 75.0 grams of FeS2 (MM =
119.85 g/mol)?
b. How many grams each of Fe2O3 (MM = 159.7 g/mol) and SO2 (MM = 64.0 g/mol) will be produced
from the reaction of 75.0 grams of FeS2 with 55.1 grams of O2?
Solution:
Try to balance the equation to arrive at the same equation below.
4FeS2(s) + 11O2 → 2Fe2O3(s) + 8SO2(g)
1 mol FeS2 11 mol O2 32.0 g O2
a. Mass O2 to react with FeS2 = 75.0 g FeS2 × × × =55.1 g
119.85 g FeS2 4 mol Fe S2 1 mol O2
1 mol FeS2 2 mol Fe2 O3 159.7 g Fe 2 O3
b. Mass FeS2 produced = 75.0 g FeS2 × × × =50.0g
119.85 g FeS2 4 mol Fe S 2 1 mol Fe2 O3
1 mol FeS2 8 mol S O2 64.0 g S O 2
c. Mass SO2 produced = 75.0 g FeS2 × × × =80.1 g
119.85 g FeS2 4 mol Fe S2 1 mol S O2
Since the law of conservation of mass applies to any reaction, the sum of the amounts of the reactants and
that of the products should be equal.
4FeS2(s) + 11O2 → 2Fe2O3(s) + 8SO2(g)
75.0 g + 55.1 g → 50.0 g + 80.1 g
130.1 g = 130.1 g
Theoretical Yield
In Sample Problem 3, the amount of Fe2O3 (50.0 g) or SO2 (80.1 g) calculated from the given amount of
FeS2 is considered as the theoretical yield (or 100% yield or reaction yield) of the reaction. Oftentimes, the
actual yield is less than the theoretical yield. The ration (in percent) between the actual yield and the theoretical
yield is referred to as the percent yield given by

actual yield (¿ grams)

percent yield= ×100
theoretical yield (¿ grams)

Sample Problem 4
From Sample Problem 3, suppose 41.3 grams of Fe2O3 was produced during an experiment. What is the
percent yield of the reaction?
Solution:
actual yield (¿ grams)
percent yield of Fe 2 O3= ×100
theoretical yield (¿ grams)

41.3 g
¿ ×100
50.0 g
¿ 82.6 %

Limiting and Excess Reagents

If the reaction is to start with the given amounts of two reactants, the substance that limits the formation of
the product should be identified first. This substance, referred to as the limiting reagent, is consumed
completely in the reaction. Once this reagent is used up, the reaction no longer proceeds and so does the
formation of products. The other reactant, which will have some unreacted amount after the reaction, is the
excess reagent. The theoretical yield is obtained based on the amount of the limiting reagent.
Sample Problem 5
Consider the production of phosphorus trichloride (PCl3) from phosphorus (P4) and chlorine (Cl2).
P4(s) + 6Cl2(g) → 4PCl3(l)
If 25.0 grams of P 4 (MM = 123.88 g/mol) and 25.0 grams of Cl 2 (MM = 70.9 g/mol) are used in the reaction,
which is the limiting and the excess reagent? What is the theoretical yield of the reaction? The molar mass of
PCl3 is 137.32 g/mol.
Solution:
For the given reaction, the amount of Cl 2 meeded to completely react with 25.0 g of P 4 is calculated,
assuming that P4 is the limiting reagent.
1 mol P4 6 mol Cl 2 70.9 g Cl 2
mass of Cl 2 needed =25.0 g P4 × × × =85.8 g
123.88 g P 4 1 mol P4 1 mol Cl 2

Based on the result, P 4 is not the limiting reagent because its complete consumption will re quire more (85.8
grams) than the given amount (25.0 g) of Cl2.
If Cl2 is initially assumed as the limiting reagent, the amount of P 4 needed to completely consume the 25.0 g
of Cl2 is calculated below:
1 mol Cl2 1 mol P4 123.88 g P4
amount of P4 needed =25.0 g Cl2 × × × =7.3 g
70.9 g Cl 2 6 mol Cl 2 1 mol P4
 Consistent with result of the first assumption, Cl 2 is the limiting reagent. If all 25.0 g Cl 2 used up only 7.3 g
of the original 25.0 g P4 is consumed; an excess of 17.7 g is left after the reaction.
The reaction yield for PCl3, can now be calculated based on the amount of Cl2, the limiting reagent.
1 mol Cl 2 4 mol PCl2 137.32 g PCl3
amount of PCl3 needed =25.0 g Cl 2 × × × =32.3 g
70.9 g Cl2 6 mol Cl 2 1mol PCl 3

To check if the reaction is consistent with the law of conservation of mass,

P4(s) + 6Cl2(g) → 4PCl3(l)
25.0 g + 7.3 g → 32.3 g

Another way of solving the problem requires calculating the reaction yield from each of the given amount of
the reactants.
1 mol Cl 2 4 mol PCl3 137.2 g PCl3
amount of PCl3 produced ¿ Cl2 =25.0 g Cl 2 × × × =32.3 g PCl 3
70.9 g Cl2 6 mol Cl 2 1 mol PCl3

1mol P 4 4 mol P Cl 3 137.2 g PCl3

amount of PCl3 produced ¿ P4 =25.0 g P 4 × × × =110.8 g PCl3
123.88 g P4 1 mol P 4 1 mol Cl 2

The reactant that gives a lower reaction yield is the limiting reagent.