College Chemistry : Stoichiometric Calculations and Dimensional Analysis

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for College Chemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : General Topics

Consider the unbalanced equation for the combustion of pentane:

\(\displaystyle \text{C}_5\text{H}_{12}(g)+\text{O}_2(g)\rightarrow \text{CO}_2(g)+\text{H}_2\text{O}(g)\)

How many grams of \(\displaystyle \text{O}_2\) is required to react with exactly \(\displaystyle 152.3g\) of \(\displaystyle \text{C}_5\text{H}_{12}\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 540.4g\)

\(\displaystyle 541.2g\)

\(\displaystyle 535.6g\)

\(\displaystyle 543.8g\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 540.4g\)

Explanation:

Start by balancing the given chemical equation:

\(\displaystyle \text{C}_5\text{H}_{12}(g)+8\text{O}_2(g)\rightarrow 5\text{CO}_2(g)+6\text{H}_2\text{O}(g)\)

Next, convert the grams of pentane into moles of pentane.

\(\displaystyle 152.3\text{g }\text{C}_5\text{H}_{12}\cdot\frac{\text{1 molC}_5\text{H}_{12}}{72.15\text{g C}_5\text{H}_{12}}=2.110 \text{ moles of C}_5\text{H}_{12}\)

Use the stoichiometric ratio given by the balanced equation to find the number of moles of oxygen needed to react with the pentane.

\(\displaystyle 2.110\text{ moles of C}_5\text{H}_{12}\cdot\frac{8\text{ moles of O}_2}{1\text{mole of C}_5\text{H}_{12}}=16.89\text{ moles of O}_2\)

Finally, convert the number of moles of oxygen into grams of oxygen.

\(\displaystyle 16.89\text{ moles of O}_2\cdot \frac{32.00\text{g of O}_2}{1\text{ mole of O}_2}=540.39\text{g of O}_2\)

There should be \(\displaystyle 4\) significant figures, so the answer is \(\displaystyle 540.4\text{g of O}_2\).

Example Question #1 : General Topics

Consider the following unbalanced reaction:

\(\displaystyle \text{K}_2\text{SO}_4(aq)+\text{BaCl}_2(aq)\rightarrow \text{KCl}(aq)+\text{BaSO}_4(s)\)

How many grams of \(\displaystyle \text{BaSO}_4\) can be produced if \(\displaystyle 15.0\text{mL}\) of \(\displaystyle 1.20\text{M}\text{ K}_2\text{SO}_4\) is mixed with \(\displaystyle 25.0\text{mL}\) of \(\displaystyle 0.75\text{M BaCl}_2\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 4.15g\)

\(\displaystyle 4.38g\)

\(\displaystyle 5.07g\)

\(\displaystyle 4.20g\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 4.20g\)

Explanation:

Start by balancing the equation:

\(\displaystyle \text{K}_2\text{SO}_4(aq)+\text{BaCl}_2(aq)\rightarrow 2\text{KCl}(aq)+\text{BaSO}_4(s)\)

Next, figure out which reactant is the limiting reactant.

\(\displaystyle 15.0\times10^{-3}\text{L K}_2\text{SO}_4\cdot\frac{1.20\text{ moles of K}_2\text{SO}_4}{1.00\text{L K}_2\text{SO}_4}\cdot\frac{\text{1 mole K}_2\text{SO}_4}{\text{1 mole BaSO}_4}=0.018\text{ moles of BaSO}_4\)

\(\displaystyle 25.0\times10^{-3}\text{L BaCl}_2\cdot\frac{0.75\text{moles BaCl}_2}{1\text{L BaCl}_2}\cdot\frac{1\text{ mole BaCl}_2}{1\text{ mole BaSO}_4}=0.01875\text{ moles of BaSO}_4\)

Since fewer moles of \(\displaystyle \text{BaSO}_4\) is produced when \(\displaystyle \text{K}_2\text{SO}_4\) is reacted, then \(\displaystyle \text{K}_2\text{SO}_4\) must be the limiting reactant.

Convert the amount of moles of \(\displaystyle \text{BaSO}_4\) into grams.

\(\displaystyle 0.018\text{ moles of BaSO}_4\cdot\frac{233.43\text{g BaSO}_4}{\text{1 mole BaSO}_4}=4.20\text{g BaSO}_4\)

Example Question #2 : Stoichiometric Calculations And Dimensional Analysis

What is the mass in \(\displaystyle kg\) of a gas with a volume of \(\displaystyle 2.5\: L\) and a density of \(\displaystyle 0.76\: \frac{g}{mL}\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2.5\:kg\)

\(\displaystyle 1.6\:kg\)

\(\displaystyle 2.1\:kg\)

\(\displaystyle 1.9\:kg\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1.9\:kg\)

Explanation:

For this question, we're given the density and volume of a gas and we're asked to find the mass of the gas.

To answer this question, we'll need to use dimensional analysis. What this means is that we'll need to cancel out units in order to obtain the ones that we're looking for.

\(\displaystyle 2.5\: L\cdot\frac{1000\:mL}{1\:L}\cdot \frac{0.76\: g}{1\: mL}\cdot \frac{1\:kg}{1000\:g}=1.9\:kg\)

Example Question #3 : Stoichiometric Calculations And Dimensional Analysis

\(\displaystyle 2H_{2}(g)+ O_{2}(g)\rightarrow 2H_{2}O (g)\)

Use the equation shown to determine how many grams of water form when \(\displaystyle 2.34L\) of \(\displaystyle H_{2}(g)\) reacts completely with \(\displaystyle O_{2}\) at \(\displaystyle STP\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1.88g\) of water

\(\displaystyle 6.5g\) of water

\(\displaystyle 3.55g\) of water

\(\displaystyle .104g\) of water

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1.88g\) of water

Explanation:

Use the relations \(\displaystyle 1mol=22.4L H_{2}\), molar mass \(\displaystyle H_{2}O=18.02\frac{g}{mol}\), and \(\displaystyle 2molH_{2}O=2molH_{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 2.34L H_{2} * \frac{1mol H_{2}}{22.4L H_{2}}=.104mol H_{2} * \frac{2mol H_{2}O}{2molH_{2}}=.104molH_{2}O*\frac{18.02gH_{2}O}{1molH_{2}O}=1.88gH_{2}O\)

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