🪫Chemical Process Balances Unit 4 – Stoichiometry in Chemical Reactions

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Stoichiometry studies quantitative relationships between reactants and products in a chemical reaction
• Mole represents the amount of a substance containing 6.022 × 10^23 particles (atoms, molecules, or ions)
• Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance expressed in grams per mole (g/mol)
  • Calculated by adding the atomic masses of all atoms in a compound
• Limiting reactant determines the maximum amount of product formed in a reaction
• Excess reactant remains unconsumed after the reaction is complete
• Theoretical yield is the maximum amount of product that can be obtained based on the balanced chemical equation
• Actual yield refers to the experimentally obtained amount of product
• Percent yield compares the actual yield to the theoretical yield, expressed as a percentage

Balancing Chemical Equations

• Chemical equations represent the reactants, products, and their stoichiometric coefficients in a reaction
• Balanced equations have equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides of the arrow
• Steps to balance an equation:
  1. Identify the reactants and products
  2. Write the unbalanced equation
  3. Adjust coefficients to balance each element (cannot change subscripts)
  4. Verify that the equation is balanced
• Coefficients represent the relative number of moles of each species in the reaction
• Mass and charge must be conserved during the balancing process
• Balanced equations are essential for performing stoichiometric calculations

Mole Concept and Conversions

• The mole is the SI unit for amount of substance
• Avogadro's number (6.022 × 10^23) represents the number of particles in one mole
• Molar mass connects the mass of a substance to the number of moles
• Mole-to-mole conversions use the molar ratios from the balanced chemical equation
• Mass-to-mole conversions involve dividing the mass of a substance by its molar mass
• Mole-to-mass conversions involve multiplying the number of moles by the molar mass
• Mole-to-particle conversions use Avogadro's number
  • One mole contains 6.022 × 10^23 particles (atoms, molecules, or ions)
• Dimensional analysis is a problem-solving method that uses unit cancellation to perform conversions

Limiting Reactants and Percent Yield

• Limiting reactant determines the maximum amount of product formed
• Excess reactants are present in greater quantities than required by the balanced equation
• Steps to identify the limiting reactant:
  1. Calculate the moles of each reactant
  2. Determine the mole ratio of the reactants from the balanced equation
  3. Calculate the moles of product formed by each reactant
  4. The reactant that produces the least amount of product is the limiting reactant
• Theoretical yield is calculated using the limiting reactant and the mole ratio from the balanced equation
• Actual yield is determined experimentally and is often less than the theoretical yield
• Percent yield = (Actual yield ÷ Theoretical yield) × 100%
  • Percent yield is always less than or equal to 100%
• Factors affecting percent yield include incomplete reactions, side reactions, and product loss during purification

Stoichiometric Calculations

• Stoichiometric calculations use mole ratios from balanced equations to determine quantities of reactants or products
• Steps for stoichiometric calculations:
  1. Write and balance the chemical equation
  2. Convert given quantities to moles using molar mass or Avogadro's number
  3. Use mole ratios from the balanced equation to calculate the moles of the desired substance
  4. Convert moles of the desired substance to the required unit (mass, volume, or particles)
• Mole ratios are derived from the coefficients in the balanced equation
• Stoichiometric factor is the mole ratio used to convert between substances in a calculation
• Dimensional analysis ensures that units cancel out properly, leading to the desired unit in the result
• Stoichiometric calculations can be used to determine the mass, volume, or number of particles of a reactant or product

Applications in Chemical Processes

• Stoichiometry is essential for designing and optimizing chemical processes
• Reaction stoichiometry determines the required quantities of reactants and expected yields of products
• Stoichiometric calculations are used to size process equipment (reactors, separation units, and storage tanks)
• Material balances apply stoichiometry to analyze the flow of materials in a process
  • Mass balance: Mass in = Mass out + Mass accumulated
• Energy balances consider the energy changes associated with chemical reactions and process operations
• Stoichiometry helps determine the efficiency and economics of a chemical process
• Process simulation software uses stoichiometric data to model and optimize chemical processes

Common Challenges and Problem-Solving Strategies

• Unbalanced equations lead to incorrect stoichiometric calculations
  • Always balance the equation before performing calculations
• Incorrect mole ratios result in erroneous results
  • Double-check the coefficients and mole ratios derived from the balanced equation
• Inconsistent units can cause errors in calculations
  • Use dimensional analysis to ensure units cancel out properly
• Overlooking the limiting reactant can lead to overestimating the amount of product formed
  • Identify the limiting reactant before calculating the theoretical yield
• Neglecting to consider the percent yield can result in unrealistic expectations
  • Use the actual yield and percent yield to account for real-world limitations
• When faced with a complex problem, break it down into smaller, manageable steps
• Utilize a systematic approach, such as the problem-solving steps outlined earlier
• Practice a variety of problems to develop proficiency in stoichiometric calculations

Real-World Examples and Case Studies

• Ammonia production (Haber-Bosch process): N2(g) + 3H2(g) → 2NH3(g)
  • Stoichiometry determines the required ratio of nitrogen and hydrogen gases
• Combustion of hydrocarbons (e.g., methane): CH4(g) + 2O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)
  • Stoichiometry is used to calculate the amount of oxygen needed and the products formed
• Fermentation of glucose to produce ethanol: C6H12O6(aq) → 2C2H5OH(aq) + 2CO2(g)
  • Stoichiometry helps predict the theoretical yield of ethanol from a given amount of glucose
• Wastewater treatment: Removal of phosphates using aluminum sulfate
  • Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 2PO4^3-(aq) → 2AlPO4(s) + 3SO4^2-(aq)
  • Stoichiometric calculations determine the required amount of aluminum sulfate for effective treatment
• Pharmaceutical synthesis: Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) production
  • C7H6O3(s) + (CH3CO)2O(l) → C9H8O4(s) + CH3COOH(l)
  • Stoichiometry is crucial for optimizing the reaction conditions and yield of the desired product