Mass Relationships in

Chemical Reactions
Chapter 3

Micro World
atoms & molecules

Macro World
grams

Atomic mass is the mass of an atom in

atomic mass units (amu)
By definition:
1 atom 12C weighs 12 amu
On this scale
1H

= 1.008 amu

16O

= 16.00 amu
3.1

Natural lithium is:

7.42% 6Li (6.015 amu)
92.58% 7Li (7.016 amu)

Average atomic mass of lithium:

(7.42% x 6.015) + (92.58% x 7.016)
= 6.941 amu
100
3.1

The mole (mol) is the amount of a substance that

contains as many elementary entities as there
are atoms in exactly 12.00 grams of 12C
1 mol = NA = 6.0221367 x 1023
Avogadros number (NA)

3.2

eggs
Molar mass is the mass of 1 mole of shoes in grams
marbles
atoms
1 mole 12C atoms = 6.022 x 1023 atoms = 12.00 g
1 12C atom = 12.00 amu

1 mole 12C atoms = 12.00 g 12C

1 mole lithium atoms = 6.941 g of Li

For any element

atomic mass (amu) = molar mass (grams)
3.2

One Mole of:

S

Hg

Cu

Fe
3.2

1 12C atom
12.00 g
1.66 x 10-24 g
x
=
23
12
12.00 amu
6.022 x 10
C atoms
1 amu

1 amu = 1.66 x 10-24 g or 1 g = 6.022 x 1023 amu

M = molar mass in g/mol

NA = Avogadros number
3.2

Do You Understand Molar Mass?

How many atoms are in 0.551 g of potassium (K) ?
1 mol K = 39.10 g K
1 mol K = 6.022 x 1023 atoms K
1 mol K
6.022 x 1023 atoms K
0.551 g K x
x
=
1 mol K
39.10 g K
8.49 x 1021 atoms K
3.2

Molecular mass (or molecular weight) is the sum of

the atomic masses (in amu) in a molecule.
1S
SO2

2O
SO2

32.07 amu
+ 2 x 16.00 amu
64.07 amu

For any molecule

molecular mass (amu) = molar mass (grams)
1 molecule SO2 = 64.07 amu
1 mole SO2 = 64.07 g SO2
3.3

Do You Understand Molecular Mass?

How many H atoms are in 72.5 g of C3H8O ?
1 mol C3H8O = (3 x 12) + (8 x 1) + 16 = 60 g C3H8O
1 mol C3H8O molecules = 8 mol H atoms

1 mol H = 6.022 x 1023 atoms H

1 mol C3H8O 8 mol H atoms 6.022 x 1023 H atoms
72.5 g C3H8O x
x
x
=
1 mol C3H8O
1 mol H atoms
60 g C3H8O

5.82 x 1024 atoms H

3.3

Heavy

Light
Heavy

Light

KE = 1/2 x m x v2
v = (2 x KE/m)1/2
F=qxvxB

3.4

Percent composition of an element in a compound =

n x molar mass of element
x 100%
molar mass of compound
n is the number of moles of the element in 1 mole
of the compound
2 x (12.01 g)
x 100% = 52.14%
46.07 g
6 x (1.008 g)
%H =
x 100% = 13.13%
46.07 g
1 x (16.00 g)
%O =
x 100% = 34.73%
46.07 g
%C =

C2H6O

52.14% + 13.13% + 34.73% = 100.0%

3.5

Types of Formulas
Empirical Formula
The formula of a compound that
expresses the smallest whole number
ratio of the atoms present.
Ionic formula are always empirical formula
Molecular Formula
The formula that states the actual
number of each kind of atom found in one
molecule of the compound.

To obtain an Empirical Formula

1. Determine the mass in grams of each
element present, if necessary.

2. Calculate the number of moles of each

element.
3. Divide each by the smallest number of
moles to obtain the simplest whole
number ratio.
4. If whole numbers are not obtained* in
step 3), multiply through by the smallest
number that will give all whole numbers
* Be

careful! Do not round off numbers prematurely

A sample of a brown gas, a major air pollutant,

is found to contain 2.34 g N and 5.34g O.
Determine a formula for this substance.

require mole ratios so convert grams to moles

moles of N = 2.34g of N = 0.167 moles of N
14.01 g/mole
moles of O = 5.34 g = 0.334 moles of O
16.00 g/mole
N 0.167 O 0.334 NO 2
Formula: N O
0.167

0.334

0.167

0.167

(HONORS only)

Calculation of the Molecular Formula

(HONORS only)

A compound has an empirical formula of

NO2. The colourless liquid, used in rocket
engines has a molar mass of 92.0 g/mole.
What is the molecular formula of this
substance?
empirical formula mass: 14.01+2 (16.00) =
46.01 g/mol
n = molar mass
= 92.0 g/mol
emp. f. mass
46.01 g/mol
n = 2
2(NO2) = N2O4

Empirical Formula from % Composition

(HONORS only)

A substance has the following composition by

mass: 60.80 % Na ; 28.60 % B ; 10.60 % H
What is the empirical formula of the substance?

Consider a sample size of 100 grams

This will contain 28.60 grams of B and
10.60 grams H
Determine the number of moles of each
Determine the simplest whole number ratio

Combust 11.5 g ethanol

Collect 22.0 g CO2 and 13.5 g H2O

g CO2

mol CO2

mol C

gC

6.0 g C = 0.5 mol C

g H2O

mol H2O

mol H

gH

1.5 g H = 1.5 mol H

g of O = g of sample (g of C + g of H)

4.0 g O = 0.25 mol O

Empirical formula C0.5H1.5O0.25

Divide by smallest subscript (0.25)

Empirical formula C2H6O

3.6

Mass Changes in Chemical Reactions

1. Write balanced chemical equation

2. Convert quantities of known substances into moles
3. Use coefficients in balanced equation to calculate the
number of moles of the sought quantity
4. Convert moles of sought quantity into desired units

3.8

Methanol burns in air according to the equation

2CH3OH + 3O2
2CO2 + 4H2O
If 209 g of methanol are used up in the combustion,
what mass of water is produced?
grams CH3OH

moles CH3OH

molar mass
CH3OH
209 g CH3OH x

moles H2O

grams H2O

molar mass
coefficients
H2O
chemical equation

4 mol H2O
18.0 g H2O
1 mol CH3OH
=
x
x
32.0 g CH3OH
2 mol CH3OH
1 mol H2O

235 g H2O
3.8

Limiting Reagents

6 red
green
leftused
overup

3.9

Method 1
Pick A Product
Try ALL the reactants
The lowest answer will be the correct
answer
The reactant that gives the lowest answer
will be the limiting reactant

Limiting
Limiting
Reactant

Reactant: Method 1

10.0g of aluminum reacts with 35.0 grams of chlorine gas

to produce aluminum chloride. Which reactant is
limiting, which is in excess, and how much product is
produced?
2 Al + 3 Cl2 2 AlCl3
Start with Al:
10.0 g Al

1 mol Al
27.0 g Al

2 mol AlCl3 133.5 g AlCl3

2 mol Al

1 mol AlCl3

= 49.4g AlCl3

Now Cl2:
35.0g Cl2

1 mol Cl2
71.0 g Cl2

2 mol AlCl3 133.5 g AlCl3

3 mol Cl2

1 mol AlCl3

= 43.9g AlCl3

Method 2
Convert one of the reactants to the other
REACTANT
See if there is enough reactant A to use up
the other reactants
If there is less than the GIVEN amount, it is
the limiting reactant
Then, you can find the desired species

Do You Understand Limiting Reagents?

In one process, 124 g of Al are reacted with 601 g of Fe2O3
2Al + Fe2O3
Al2O3 + 2Fe
Calculate the mass of Al2O3 formed.
g Al

mol Al

mol Fe2O3 needed

g Fe2O3 needed

OR
g Fe2O3
124 g Al x

mol Fe2O3
1 mol Al
27.0 g Al

mol Al needed
1 mol Fe2O3
2 mol Al

Start with 124 g Al

160. g Fe2O3
=
x
1 mol Fe2O3

g Al needed
367 g Fe2O3

need 367 g Fe2O3

Have more Fe2O3 (601 g) so Al is limiting reagent

3.9

Use limiting reagent (Al) to calculate amount of product that

can be formed.
g Al

mol Al

mol Al2O3

2Al + Fe2O3
124 g Al x

1 mol Al
27.0 g Al

1 mol Al2O3
2 mol Al

g Al2O3

Al2O3 + 2Fe
102. g Al2O3
=
x
1 mol Al2O3

234 g Al2O3

3.9

Theoretical Yield is the amount of product that would

result if all the limiting reagent reacted.
Actual Yield is the amount of product actually obtained
from a reaction.
% Yield =

Actual Yield

x 100

Theoretical Yield

3.10

Chemistry In Action: Chemical Fertilizers

Plants need: N, P, K, Ca, S, & Mg

3H2 (g) + N2 (g)

NH3 (aq) + HNO3 (aq)

2NH3 (g)
NH4NO3 (aq)

fluorapatite

2Ca5(PO4)3F (s) + 7H2SO4 (aq)

3Ca(H2PO4)2 (aq) + 7CaSO4 (aq) + 2HF (g)