Question

a. Explain the concept of mole ratio as used in reaction stoichiometry problems. b. What is the source of this ratio?

Short answer

Mole ratios are derived from the coefficients of balanced chemical equations and used to convert between amounts of reactants and products.

Step-by-step solution

Understand Mole Ratio

The mole ratio is a proportional relationship between the amounts of reactants and products in a chemical reaction. It indicates the number of moles of each substance involved as predicted by the balanced chemical equation.

Conceptual Definition

In stoichiometry, the mole ratio is used to convert between moles of reactant and moles of product. It provides a way to predict the quantities of substances consumed and produced in a reaction.

Determine the Source

The source of the mole ratio is the coefficients of the balanced chemical equation. These coefficients represent the number of moles of each substance that react and are formed.

Key concepts

Chemical Reactions

In chemistry, a chemical reaction involves the transformation of reactants into products. This occurs through the breaking and forming of chemical bonds. During a reaction, the original substances (reactants) interact and form new substances (products). Reactions can be observed through changes such as color change, gas production, or temperature change.

Balanced Chemical Equation

A balanced chemical equation is an equation where the number of atoms for each element is equal on both the reactant and product sides. This is important because it reflects the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. To balance an equation, adjust the coefficients (the numbers in front of molecules) so that the amount of each element is the same on both sides.

Reactants and Products

Reactants are the initial substances that undergo chemical changes, while products are the new substances formed as a result of the reaction. For a clear understanding, write the reactants on the left side of the equation and the products on the right. The transformation from reactants to products is governed by the balanced chemical equation and the mole ratio, ensuring that the correct amounts of substances are used and formed. For example, in the reaction \(2H_2 + O_2 \rightarrow 2H_2O\), the reactants are hydrogen (\(H_2\)) and oxygen (\(O_2\)), and the product is water (\(H_2O\)).