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# 8.3: Making Molecules: Mole-to-Mole Conversions

Skills to Develop

• Use a balanced chemical equation to determine molar relationships between substances.

Previously, you learned to balance chemical equations by comparing the numbers of each type of atom in the reactants and products. The coefficients in front of the chemical formulas represent the numbers of molecules or formula units (depending on the type of substance). Here, we will extend the meaning of the coefficients in a chemical equation.

Consider the simple chemical equation

$2H_2 + O_2 → 2H_2O$

The convention for writing balanced chemical equations is to use the lowest whole-number ratio for the coefficients. However, the equation is balanced as long as the coefficients are in a 2:1:2 ratio. For example, this equation is also balanced if we write it as

$4H_2 + 2O_2 → 4H_2O$

The ratio of the coefficients is 4:2:4, which reduces to 2:1:2. The equation is also balanced if we were to write it as

$22H_2 + 11O_2 → 22H_2O$

because 22:11:22 also reduces to 2:1:2.

Suppose we want to use larger numbers. Consider the following coefficients:

$12.044 \times 10^{23}\; H_2 + 6.022 \times 10^{23}\; O_2 → 12.044 \times 10^{23}\; H_2O$

These coefficients also have the ratio 2:1:2 (check it and see), so this equation is balanced. But 6.022 × 1023 is 1 mol, while 12.044 × 1023 is 2 mol (and the number is written that way to make this more obvious), so we can simplify this version of the equation by writing it as

$2 \;mol\; H_2 + 1\; mol\; O_2 → 2 \;mol\; H_2O$

We can leave out the word mol and not write the 1 coefficient (as is our habit), so the final form of the equation, still balanced, is

$2H_2 + O_2 → 2H_2O$

Now we interpret the coefficients as referring to molar amounts, not individual molecules. The lesson? Balanced chemical equations are balanced not only at the molecular level but also in terms of molar amounts of reactants and products. Thus, we can read this reaction as “two moles of hydrogen react with one mole of oxygen to produce two moles of water.”

By the same token, the ratios we constructed to describe molecules reaction can also be constructed in terms of moles rather than molecules. For the reaction in which hydrogen and oxygen combine to make water, for example, we can construct the following ratios:

$\mathrm{\dfrac{2\: mol\: H_2}{1\: mol\: O_2}\: or\: \dfrac{1\: mol\: O_2}{2\: mol\: H_2}}$

$\mathrm{\dfrac{2\: mol\: H_2O}{1\: mol\: O_2}\: or\: \dfrac{1\: mol\: O_2}{2\: mol\: H_2O}}$

$\mathrm{\dfrac{2\: mol\: H_2}{2\: mol\: H_2O}\: or\: \dfrac{2\: mol\: H_2O}{2\: mol\: H_2}}$

We can use these ratios to determine what amount of a substance, in moles, will react with or produce a given number of moles of a different substance. The study of the numerical relationships between the reactants and the products in balanced chemical reactions is called stoichiometry.

Example $$\PageIndex{1}$$

How many moles of oxygen react with hydrogen to produce 27.6 mol of H2O?

Solution

Steps for Problem Solving How many moles of oxygen react with hydrogen to produce 27.6 mol of H2O?
Find a balanced equation that describes the reaction

Unbalanced: H2 + O2 → H2O

Balanced: 2H2 + O22H2O

Identify the "given"information and what the problem is asking you to "find." Given: moles H2O Find: moles oxygen
List other known quantities 1 mol O2 = 2 mol H2O

Prepare a concept map and use the proper conversion factor.

Cancel units and calculate.

$$\mathrm{\cancel{27.6\: mol\: H_2O}\times\dfrac{1\: mol\: O_2}{\cancel{2\: mol\: H_2O}}=13.8\: mol\: O_2}$$

To produce 27.6 mol of H2O, 13.8 mol of O2 react.

Think about your result. Since each mole of oxygen produces twice as many moles of water, it makes sense that the produced amount is greater than the reactant amount

Example $$\PageIndex{2}$$

How many moles of ammonia are produced if 4.20 moles of hydrogen are reacted with an excess of nitrogen?

Solution

Steps for Problem Solving How many moles of ammonia are produced if 4.20 moles of hydrogen are reacted with an excess of nitrogen
Find a balanced equation that describes the reaction

Unbalanced: N2 + H2 → NH3

Balanced: N2 + 3H2 2NH3

Identify the "given"information and what the problem is asking you to "find."

Given: $$\ce{H_2} = 4.20 \: \text{mol}$$

Find: $$\text{mol}$$ of $$\ce{NH_3}$$

List other known quantities 3 mol H2 = 2 mol NH3

Prepare a concept map and use the proper conversion factor.

Cancel units and calculate.

$$\cancel{4.20 \: \text{mol} \: H_2} \times \dfrac{2 \: \text{mol} \: NH_3}{\cancel{3 \: \text{mol} \: H_2}} = 2.80 \: \text{mol} \: NH_3$$

The reaction of $$4.20 \: \text{mol}$$ of hydrogen with excess nitrogen produces $$2.80 \: \text{mol}$$ of ammonia

Think about your result. The result corresponds to the 3:2 ratio of hydrogen to ammonia from the balanced equation.

Exercise $$\PageIndex{1}$$

1. Given the following balanced chemical equation,$\ce{C5H12 + 8O2 → 5CO2 + 6H2O}$how many moles of H2O can be formed if 0.0652 mol of C5H12 were to react?
2. Balance the following unbalanced equation and determine how many moles of H2O are produced when 1.65 mol of NH3 react.$\ce{NH3 + O2 → N2 + H2O} \nonumber$
Answer a:
3.14 mol H2O
Answer b:
4NH3 + 3O2 → 2N2 + 6H2O; 2.48 mol H2O

### Summary

• The balanced chemical reaction can be used to determine molar relationships between substances.

### Contributors

• Henry Agnew (UC Davis)