Stoichiometry Worksheet

Your CAMS textbook has clear explanations of the basic elements of stoichiometry in
sections 1.4, 1.5 and Appendix A. For extra practice, try all the problems at the end of
Appendix A and chapter 1 odd problems 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29.
The Factor-Label Method
The most efficient way to work any stoichiometry problem is using the factor-label
method. In this method, the value and units give are multiplied by a series of true ratios,
to give the value and units desired. For example, suppose you have $1000 American
dollars. You travel to Japan and change your money to Yen. Then you travel to Pakistan
and change your Yen to Rupee. How many Rupee would you have? Here’s how you
would set up the problem using the exchange rates of 115.7 Yen/dollar and 0.543
Rupee/Yen.
$1000 dollars x 115.7 Yen = 115,700 Yen
1 dollar
115,700 Yen x 0.543 Rupee = 62,825 Rupee
1 Yen
However, since multiplication is commutative, two steps are not necessary. The same
answer can be achieved in one step:
$1000 dollars x 115.7 Yen x 0.543 Rupee = 62,825 Rupee
1 dollar 1 Yen
Notice how each ratio is true. On the day this document was prepared, the currency
exchange rate was 115.7 Yen/dollar and 0.543 Rupee/Yen. Also, notice how units in
both the numerator and denominator are crossed out, leaving only the desired units.
Chemistry stoichiometry problems work the same way. They are just a series of true
ratios. Instead of the currency exchange rate, the ratios come from the number of items
in a mole, the masses on the periodic table, the molecular mass, the chemical formula or
the balanced chemical equation.
Items in a Mole
There are 12 items in a dozen. There are 6.022 x 1023 items in a mole. This value is also
known as Avagadro’s number. Why such a large number? It’s actually the inverse of the
atomic mass unit (amu), 1.66 x 10-24 grams/amu. This allows the masses on the periodic
table to be used for both individual atoms and moles of atoms. One individual carbon
atom weighs 12 atomic mass units. One mole of carbon weighs 12 grams.
12 amu_ x 6.022 x 1023 C atoms x 1.66 x 10-24 grams = 12 grams
1 C atom 1 mol C 1 amu 1 mol C
Example 1: How many Ni atoms are in 0.35 mol of Ni atoms?
0.35 mol Ni x 6.022 x 1023 Ni atoms = 2.11 x 1023 Ni atoms
1 mol Ni
(Avagadro’s #)

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 Example 2: How many Ni atoms are in 103.2 grams of Ni?
Strategy: Convert grams of Ni to moles of Ni, then convert to number of atoms
103.2 g Ni x 1 mol Ni x 6.022 x 1023 Ni atoms = 1.06 x 1024 Ni atoms
58.71 g Ni 1 mol Ni
(periodic table) (Avagadro’s #)

Example 3a: How many C atoms are in 34.8 grams of CH4?

Strategy: Convert grams of CH4 to moles of CH4, then convert to moles of C, then to
number of C atoms
34.8 g CH4 x 1 mol CH4 x 1 mol C x 6.022 x 1023 C atoms = 1.31 x 1024 C atoms
16.043 g CH4 1 mol CH4 1 mol C
(molar mass) (formula) (Avagadro’s #)

molar mass of CH4: 1 C mol x 12.011 g C/mol C = 12.011 g C

4 H mol x 1.008 g H/mol H = 4.032 g H
16.043 g CH4/mol CH4
Example 3b: How many H atoms are in 34.8 grams of CH4?
Strategy: Convert grams of CH4 to moles of CH4, then convert to moles of H, then to
number of H atoms
34.8 g CH4 x 1 mol CH4 x 4 mol H x 6.022 x 1023 H atoms = 5.23 x 1024 C atoms
16.043 g CH4 1 mol CH4 1 mol H
(molar mass) (formula) (Avagadro’s #)

Example 3c: How many atoms are in 34.8 grams of CH4?

Strategy: Convert grams of CH4 to moles of CH4, then convert to moles of atoms,
then to number atoms
34.8 g CH4 x 1 mol CH4 x 5 mol atoms x 6.022 x 1023 atoms = 6.53 x 1024 atoms
16.043 g CH4 1 mol CH4 1 mol atoms
(molar mass) (formula) (Avagadro’s #)

Example 4, Mixing Techniques: Rank the items below in order from least atoms to
most atoms. 1.75 mol Li
40.5 g Al
0.75 mol NH3
76.9 g S8
1.75 mol Li: 1.75 mol Li x 6.022 x 1023 Li atoms = 1.05 x 1024 Li atoms
1 mol Li
(Avagadro’s #)

40.5 g Al: 40.5 g Al x 1 mol Al x 6.022 x 1023 Al atoms = 9.03 x 1023 Al atoms
26.98 g Al 1 mol Al
(periodic table) (Avagadro’s #)

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0.75 mol NH3: 0.75 mol NH3 x 4 mol atoms x 6.022 x 1023 atoms = 1.81 x 1024 atoms
1 mol NH3 1 mol atoms
(formula) (Avagadro’s #)

76.9 g S8: 76.9 g S8 x 1 mol S8 x 8 mol atoms x 6.022 x 1023 atoms = 1.44 x 1024 atoms
256.4 g S8 1 mol S8 1 mol atoms
(molar mass) (formula) (Avagadro’s #)

In order from least atoms to most atoms: 40.5 g Al < 1.75 mol Li < 76.9 g S8 < 0.75 mol NH3

Please note that the same conclusion would be reached by comparing moles of atoms.
1.75 mol Li: 1.75 mol Li atoms
40.5 g Al: 40.5 g Al x 1 mol Al = 1.50 mol Al atoms
26.98 g Al
(periodic table)

0.75 mol NH3: 0.75 mol NH3 x 4 mol atoms = 3.00 mol atoms
1 mol NH3
(formula)

76.9 g S8: 76.9 g S8 x 1 mol S8 x 8 mol atoms = 2.40 mol atoms

256.4 g S8 1 mol S8
(molar mass) (formula)

Atoms in a Molecule
The number of atoms in a molecule are given by the chemical formula. The moles of
atoms in a mole of molecule is also given by the chemical formula. It is the same ratio.
Example 5a: How many H atoms are in 3 molecules of C6H12O6?
3 molecules C6H12O6 x 12 H atoms = 36 H atoms
1 molecule C6H12O6
(formula)

Example 5b: How many mol of H atoms are in 3 moles of C6H12O6 molecules?
3 mol C6H12O6 x 12 mol H = 36 mol H
1 mol C6H12O6
(formula)

Example 6a: How many mols of C are in 0.45 mol of C5H10?

0.45 mol C5H10 x 5 mol C = 2.25 mol C
1 mol C5H10
(formula)

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Be sure to pay attention to unit cancellation: flip the ratio when warranted. Notice how
the ratio is flipped such that units cancel in the next example.
Example 6b: How many mols of C5H10 are present if the compound contains 3.25
mol of C?
3.25 mol C x 1 mol C5H10 = 0.65 mol C5H10
5 mol C
(formula)

If the compound has parentheses, be sure to multiply the atom’s subscript with the value
outside the parentheses.
Example 7: How many Ca’s, P’s and O’s atoms are in one Ca3(PO4)2?
There are no parentheses around Ca: just use the subscript of 3. 3 Ca/Ca3(PO4)2

There are parentheses around P: When no subscript is present, there is one atom
within the parentheses. Multiply 1 by the 2 outside the parentheses.
1 x 2 = 2 P / Ca3(PO4)2

There are parentheses around O: Multiply the subscript of 4 by the 2 outside the
parentheses. 4 x 2 = 8 O / Ca3(PO4)2

Molar Mass
The molar mass of a mol of atoms is found on the periodic table. For molecules, the
molar mass is simply the sum of the molar masses of each element in the molecule.

Example 8: What is the molar mass of one mole of Ca(OH)2?

1 mol Ca x 40.08 g Ca/mol Ca = 40.08 g Ca

2 mol O x 16.00 g O/mol O = 32.00 g O
2 mol H x 1.008 g H/mol H = 2.016 g H
74.10 g Ca(OH)2/mol Ca(OH)2

If working with a single molecule, the technique is the same, but the units of the answer
are in atomic mass units (amu).

Example 9: What is the mass of one molecule of CH3Br?

1 C x 12.01 amu C/C = 12.01 amu C

3 H x 1.008 amu H/H = 1.024 amu H
1 Br x 79.90 amu Br/Br = 79.90 amu Br
94.94 amu CH3Br/CH3Br
Balancing Reactions
Balancing a chemical reaction is a lot like doing a crossword puzzle: once the answer to
1 down is found, it offers a clue to the answer for 2 across. One works up and down,
until all the answers match. In the same way, one works back and forth between the

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reactant and product side of the reaction, until atoms in = atoms out and charge in =
charge out.
Follow the directions below to balance any chemical reaction. Polyatomic ions (groups
of elements in parentheses) can be treated as a single unit.
1. Select the molecule with the most atoms and assume the coefficient is “1”
2. Based on the formula of molecule, decide what the coefficients should be on the
other side of the reaction.
3. Work back and forth until all species have coefficients.
4. Check your answer by ensuring that atoms in = atoms out and charge in = charge
out.
Example 10: _____ C3H8 + _____ O2 ! _____ CO2 + ______ H2O
C3H8 is the molecule with the most atoms, so assume the coefficient is “1”.
1 C3H8 + _____ O2 ! _____ CO2 + ______ H2O
If there is “1” C3H8, then 3C’s and 8H’s are needed on the product side. This means a
coefficient of “3” is needed in front of CO2, and a coefficient of “4” is needed in front
of H2O.
1 C3H8 + _____ O2 ! 3 CO2 + 4 H2O
If there are 3 CO2 and 4 H2O molecules, this gives a total of 10 O atoms on the
product side. Therefore 10 O atoms are needed on the reactant side. This can be
achieved by placing a coefficient of “5” in front of the O2 .
1 C3H8 + 5 O2 ! 3 CO2 + 4 H2O
Once all species have coefficients, check to see that atoms in = atoms out and charge
in = charge out. On the reactant side there are 3 C’s, 8 H’s, 10 O’s and a charge of
zero. On the product side there are 3 C’s, 8 H’s, 10 O’s and a charge of zero.
Reaction balanced. Please note that one does not typically write down coefficients of
“1”, so the final balanced equation is:
C3H8 + 5 O2 ! 3 CO2 + 4 H2O
Example 11: _____ Al3+ + _____ CO32- ! _____ Al2(CO3)3
Al2(CO3)3 is the compound with the most atoms, so assume the coefficient is “1”.
_____ Al3+ + _____ CO32- ! 1 Al2(CO3)3
Notice there is a CO3 group in parentheses on the product side and a CO32- on the
reactant side. This is the polyatomic ion known as carbonate. It can be treated as a
single entity. If there is “1” Al2(CO3)3, then 2Al’s and 3 CO3’s are needed on the
reactant side. This means a coefficient of “2” is needed in front of Al3+, and a
coefficient of “3” is needed in front of CO32-.
2 Al3+ + 3 CO32- ! 1 Al2(CO3)3

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 Once all species have coefficients, check to see that atoms in = atoms out and charge
in = charge out. On the reactant side there are 2 Al’s, 3 CO3’s, and a charge of zero
((2x+3) + (3x-2) = 0). On the reactant side there are 2 Al’s, 3 CO3’s, and a charge of
zero. Please note that one does not typically write down coefficients of “1”, so the
final balanced equation is:
2 Al3+ + 3 CO32- ! Al2(CO3)3
Mass to Moles to Mass
The ratios that have been presented up to this point (atoms in a molecule, molar mass and
balancing reactions) can be used to solve more complex chemistry problems which
involve conversion from grams of one substance to grams of another, either in a chemical
formula or a chemical reaction. The key is to convert to moles, as shown in example 12:
Example 12a: A sample of SO2 contains 2.68 grams of S. How many moles of SO2
are present?
Strategy: Convert g of S to mol of S, then convert to mol of SO2
2.68 g S x 1 mol S x 1 mol SO2 = 0.0836 mol SO2
32.07 g S 1 mol S
(periodic table) (formula)

Example 12b: A sample of SO2 contains 2.68 grams of S. What is the mass of the
sample?
Strategy: Convert g of S to mol of S, then convert to mol of SO2, then convert to
mass of SO2
2.68 g S x 1 mol S x 1 mol SO2 x 64.07 g SO2 = 5.35 g SO2
32.07 g S 1 mol S 1 mol SO2
(periodic table) (formula) (molar mass)

Example 12c: A sample of SO2 contains 2.68 grams of S. How many moles of
oxygen are in the sample?
Strategy: Convert g of S to mol of S, then convert to mol O. Since the O is part of
chemical formal, the word “oxygen” refers to the O atom, not the O2 molecule.
2.68 g S x 1 mol S x 2 mol O = 0.167 mol O
32.07 g S 1 mol S
(periodic table) (formula)

Example 12d: A sample of SO2 contains 2.68 grams of S. What is the mass of
oxygen in the sample?
Strategy: Convert g of S to mol of S, then convert to mol of O, then convert to mass
of O. Since the O is part of chemical formal, the word “oxygen” refers to the O
atom, not the O2 molecule.
2.68 g S x 1 mol S x 2 mol O x 16.00 g O = 2.67 g O
32.07 g S 1 mol S 1 mol O
(periodic table) (formula) (periodic table)

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The same technique of converting to molar amounts can be used for stoichiometry
problems involving reactions. The coefficients in the reaction can be used to convert
from one substance to another.
Consider the following reaction of 17.0 grams of Al with oxygen. The balanced
chemical reaction is: 4 Al + 3 O2 ! 2Al2O3
Example 13a: How many moles of Al react?
Strategy: Convert g of Al to mol of Al
17.0 g Al x 1 mol Al = 0.630 mol Al
26.98 g Al
(periodic table)

Example 13b: How many moles of oxygen are required for complete reaction?
Strategy: Convert g of Al to mol of Al, then convert to mol oxygen using the
coefficients in the balanced reaction. The balanced reaction contains oxygen
molecules, so the word “oxygen” refers to O2, no O.
17.0 g Al x 1 mol Al x 3 mol O2 = 0.473 mol O2
26.98 g Al 4 mol Al
(periodic table) (rxn coeff)

Example 13c: How many moles of product form?

Strategy: Convert g of Al to mol of Al, then convert to mol Al2O3 using the
coefficients in the balanced reaction.
17.0 g Al x 1 mol Al x 2 mol Al2O3 = 0.315 mol Al2O3
26.98 g Al 4 mol Al
(periodic table) (rxn coeff)

Example 13d: How many grams of product form?

Strategy: Convert g of Al to mol of Al, then convert to mol of Al2O3 using the
coefficients in the balanced reaction, then covert to the mass of Al2O3
17.0 g Al x 1 mol Al x 2 mol Al2O3 x 101.96 g Al2O3 = 32.12 g Al2O3
26.98 g Al 4 mol Al 1 mol Al2O3
(periodic table) (rxn coeff) (molar mass)

Limiting Reagent
The limiting reagent is the reactant which can make the least amount of product. It is not
necessarily the reagent present in the least mass or with the least number of moles. The
reaction stoichiometry must also be factored into calculations involving the limiting
reagent.
Identification of the limiting reagent requires two steps. Step 1: Divide the grams of
reagent by the molar mass to get moles of reactant. Step 2: Divide the moles or reactant
by the coefficient in the balanced reaction. The reactant associated with the smallest
value is the limiting reagent. All calculations are then based on the limiting reagent.

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 Consider the reaction of 3 mol of P4 with 10 mol of O2 to produce P2O5. The
balanced reaction is: P4 + 5 O2 ! 2 P2O5
Example 14a: Which is the limiting reagent?
P4: 3 mol P4 / (1 mol P4/reaction) = 3 mol reaction
O2: 10 mol O2 / (5 mol O2/reaction) = 2 mol reaction
The limiting reagent is O2. Now all further calculations can be based on the limiting
reagent. A great way to do this is to set up a reaction table with an initial row, delta
row and final row. Since the O2 is the limiting reagent, all of it will be consumed (-10
mol).
P4 + 5 O2 ! 2 P2O5
initial 3 mol 10 mol 0 mol
delta -10 mol
final 0 mol

Since 10 mol of O2 reacts, 10 mol O2 x (1 mol P4/5 mol O2 ) = 2 mol P4 will react.
The sign in the delta row should be negative. Since 10 mol of O2 reacts, 10 mol O2 x
(2 mol P2O5/5 mol O2 ) = 4 mol P2O5 will form. The sign in the delta row should be
positive.
P4 + 5 O2 ! 2 P2O5
initial 3 mol 10 mol 0 mol
delta -2 mol -10 mol +4 mol
final 0 mol

The final row is just the mathematical result of the initial and delta rows.
P4 + 5 O2 ! 2 P2O5
initial 3 mol 10 mol 0 mol
delta -2 mol -10 mol +4 mol
final 1 mol 0 mol 4 mol

The reaction table can be used to answer many questions regarding the reaction.
Example 14b: How many moles of P4 remain after the reaction is complete? The
table indicates that 1 mol of P4 remains.
Example 14c: How many moles of P2O5 are formed? The table indicates that 4 mols
of P2O5 form.

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Problems
1) Rank the items below in order from least atoms to most atoms.
30.97 g P4
2 mol N2
3 mol Si
80.16 g Ca

2) How many moles of O are in 0.35 mol of Ni(OH)2?

3) How many moles of S and O are in 0.23 mol SO3?

4) How many moles Al(OH)3 are present if the compound contains 4.83 mol of H?

5) What is the molar mass of Mg(NO3)2?

6) What is the mass of one molecule of I2?

7) Balance the reaction: ____ C4H4 + ____ O2 ! ____ CO2 + ____ H2O

8) Balance the reaction: ____ Fe + ____ O2 ! ____ Fe2O3

9) A sample of PCl3 contains 0.859 grams of P. a) How many moles of PCl3 are in the
sample? b) What is the mass of the sample? c) How many moles of chlorine are in the
sample? d) What mass of chlorine is in the sample?

10) 23.0 g of bromine reacts according the following reaction: 4Fe + 3Br2 ! 2Fe2Br3.
a) How many moles of bromine react? (hint: think about if bromine refers to the atom
or molecule) b) How many moles of iron are needed for complete reaction? c) How
many moles product form? d) How many grams of product form?

11) 4 moles of Cl2 and 6 moles of O2 react to give Cl2O7. The balanced reaction is:
2 Cl2 + 7 O2 ! 2 Cl2O7 a) What is the limiting reagent? b) How many moles of Cl2
remain after the reaction is complete? c) How many moles of O2 remain after the
reaction is complete? d) How many moles of Cl2O7 form?

Answers
1) 30.97 g P4 < 80.16 g Ca < 3 mol Si < 2 mol N2 2) 0.70 mol O
3) 0.23 mol S, 0.69 mol O 4) 1.61 mol
5) 148.32 g 6) 253.8 amu
7) 1,6,4,2 8) 4, 3, 2
9a) 0.0277mol PCl3 9b) 3.80 g PCl3
9c) 0.0832 mol Cl 9d) 2.95 g Cl
10a) 0.144 mol Br2 10b) 0.192 mol Fe
10c) 0.0959 mol Fe2Br3 10d) 33.7 g Fe2Br3
11a) O2 11b) 2.3 mol Cl2
11c) 0 mol O2 11d) 1.7 mol Cl2O7

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