stöhhiomeetria

Stoichiometry is a branch of chemistry that deals with the quantitative relationships between reactants and products in chemical reactions. The term itself is derived from the Greek words "stoicheion," meaning element, and "metron," meaning measure. Essentially, stoichiometry allows chemists to predict the amounts of substances that will be consumed or produced in a given chemical reaction.

The foundation of stoichiometry lies in the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. Therefore, the number of atoms of each element must be the same on both sides of a balanced chemical equation. A balanced chemical equation serves as the roadmap for stoichiometric calculations, providing the molar ratios between reactants and products.

To perform stoichiometric calculations, one typically begins with a known quantity of a reactant or product, often expressed in grams. This quantity is then converted to moles using the molar mass of the substance. Using the mole ratios from the balanced chemical equation, the amount of another substance involved in the reaction can be calculated in moles. Finally, this molar amount can be converted back to mass if required.

Common applications of stoichiometry include determining the limiting reactant in a reaction, calculating the theoretical yield of a product, and assessing the percent yield of an experimental reaction. Understanding stoichiometry is crucial for various fields, including chemical synthesis, industrial chemical processes, and analytical chemistry.