Reaktionsstökiometri

Reaktionsstökiometri, often translated as reaction stoichiometry, is a fundamental concept in chemistry that deals with the quantitative relationships between reactants and products in a chemical reaction. It is based on the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. This means that the total mass of the reactants must equal the total mass of the products.

The core of reaction stoichiometry lies in the use of balanced chemical equations. A balanced chemical equation uses stoichiometric coefficients to represent the relative number of moles of each substance involved in a reaction. These coefficients ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both the reactant and product sides of the equation, thereby satisfying the law of conservation of mass.

By understanding these stoichiometric ratios, chemists can predict the amount of product that can be formed from a given amount of reactant, or conversely, determine the amount of reactant needed to produce a specific amount of product. This is essential for calculations in laboratory settings, industrial processes, and theoretical chemical analysis. Concepts such as limiting reactants and theoretical yield are direct applications of reaction stoichiometry, allowing for precise control and prediction of chemical transformations.