Stoichiometry is a mathematical tool used in chemistry to determine the quantities of elements in a reaction. It is based on the laws of conservation of mass and definite proportions. Chemists use stoichiometry to balance equations and predict outcomes. It is used in various industries and even in baking.
Stoichiometry is the mathematics underlying the science of chemistry. Using known physical laws such as the law of conservation of mass and the law of definite proportions, stoichiometry is used to gather information about the quantities of various elements used in a chemical reaction and whether they have taken the form of gases, solids or liquids. Using mathematics, someone can determine the quantities of particular elements needed to create a desired reaction, or the quantities used in generating a reaction that has already occurred.
Initial chemistry lessons typically include an introduction to stoichiometry, where students are asked to balance chemical equations on homework and in class. Stoichiometry is based on the fact that elements behave in predictable ways and that matter cannot be created or destroyed. Therefore, when elements are combined to create a reaction, something known and specific will happen, and the outcome of the reaction can be predicted based on the elements and quantities involved.
Chemists examine both reactants and their products, which may include a new chemical compound along with the remains. In a simple example of stoichiometry, the gases oxygen and hydrogen combine to create water, but only in set quantities. Given a given amount of water, a chemist can determine how much oxygen and water went into the reaction that created the water, using stoichiometry and a knowledge of basic chemistry. Chemists working in the laboratory can also determine the amount of various products needed to create a particular reaction before embarking on an experiment.
One of the foundations of stoichiometric calculations is that the amounts must remain constant. You can’t pull elements out of thin air, and so an equation will be unbalanced if one side contains more elements than the other. Chemists use a unit called a mole to measure mass in stoichiometry, and when balancing the equations, they make sure that both sides are equal, even if the chemical reaction has produced a new chemical compound.
While stoichiometric calculations may seem to be the province of scientists alone, people actually use stoichiometry every day, even though they may not be aware of it. Bakers, for example, rely heavily on the principles of chemistry and the need to balance ingredients, and use the known properties of the “elements” they work with to create a balanced equation: a recipe that will succeed. Stoichiometry is also used in a number of industries, from petroleum refining to hair dye manufacturing.
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