Section: STEM · ChemistryDifficulty: Medium
Stoichiometry
USUK
The calculation of quantities of reactants and products in chemical reactions.
Definition
Stoichiometry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the quantitative relationships between reactants and products in chemical reactions. Using balanced chemical equations and molar masses, chemists can calculate precisely how much of each substance is consumed or produced. It is fundamental to chemical manufacturing, pharmaceutical production, and laboratory work.
Example
“A chemist uses stoichiometry to calculate that combusting 16 grams of methane (one mole) requires exactly 64 grams of oxygen (two moles) and produces 44 grams of carbon dioxide and 36 grams of water.”
Synonyms
- reaction quantities
- chemical arithmetic
- mole calculations
Images
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Related Terms
- Mole
- Chemical Equation
- Limiting Reagent
- Molar Mass