Moles & Stoichiometry Cheat Sheet
Calculating Molar Mass Calculating Percent Composition
1. Write out formula of compound 1. Calculate the molar mass of the
2. Determine number of atoms of each compound
element present 2. divide the mass contribution of each
3. multiply number of atoms of the element by the total molar mass
element by the atomic mass of the 3. multiply by 100 to make a percent
element
4. add up the values just determined for Note: total of percents should equal 100%!
all of the elements present in the
compound
x by molar mass x by Avogadro’s #
Mass (grams) <-------------------- Mole ----------------------> Particles
--------------------> <--------------------- (atoms,
÷ by molar mass ÷ by Avogadro’s # molecules,
formula units)
Calculating Empirical Formula Calculating Molecular Formula
1. Change % of each element to grams of 1. calculate the empirical formula first
each element (if no sample amount is 2. calculate the molar mass of the
given assume 100 g) empirical formula
2. convert grams of each element to moles 3. take the molar mass of the molecular
of each element by dividing the grams formula (given in the problem) and
by the molar (atomic) mass of that divide it by the molar mass of the
element empirical formula. This will equal the
3. divide all molar values by the smallest number of times the e.f. is in the m.f.
molar value (to establish lowest whole 4. distribute the number attained through
number ratio) the empirical formula
4. if all values are not whole numbers,
multiply all by a whole number factor Example: 2(C2H5) = C4H10
to make the values whole (ex. 1.5 and 1
should be multiplied by 2 to get rid of
the .5 = 3 and 2)
5. plug values in with the element they
represent
Calculating the Formula of a Hydrate Naming a Hydrate
1. Determine the mass of water in the 1. write the name of the ionic compound
hydrate by subtracting the mass of the 2. use a prefix for the number of water
anhydrous from the mass of the molecules (see below)
hydrate (if necessary) -OR-convert %’s 3. write “hydrate” after the prefix
into grams by assuming a 100g sample
2. convert grams of each into moles of 1 = mono, 2 = di, 3 = tri, 4 = tetra, 5 =
each by dividing by molar mass penta,
3. divide the moles of water by the moles 6 = hexa, 7 = hepta, 8 = octa, 9 = nona, 10 =
of the anhydrous to determine the deca
number of moles of water in the
formula Example: Copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate
4. write the formula of the anhydrous
followed by a dot then the # of moles
of water and “H2O”
Example: CuSO4 · 5H2O
Stoichiometry – Interpreting Chemical Equations
“ANY TIME YOU HAVE MOLE AND MOLE IN THE SAME FRACTION ALWAYS LOOK
AT THE BALANCED CHEMICAL EQUATION”
Stoichiometry is used to convert from moles of one substance to moles of a different
substances
o These substances are related by their mole ratios established by the balanced
chemical eq.
Mole-to-Mole Conversion
1. start with a balanced chemical equation # mols Substance “A” # mols Substance “B”
2. start with substance A # mols Substance “A”
3. multiply by the mole ratio with the
substance you want to get “B” on top Example: 2H2 + O2 2H2O
of the substance you are getting rid of
“A” # mols O2 2 mols H2O
4. insert the corresponding coefficient 1 mol O2
from the equation to the ratio for each
substance
Mole-to-Mass Conversion
1. start information is the same but you Example: 2H2 + O2 2H2O
are asked to find grams of new
substance # mols O2 2 mols H2O 18 g H2O
2. follow steps listed above 1 mol O2 1 mol H2O
3. multiply by the molar mass of the new
substance to get the grams of the new
substance
Mass-to-Mass Conversion
1. start information given in grams and Example: 2H2 + O2 2H2O
asked to find grams
2. 3 step problem, grams substance A to # g O2 1 mol O2 2 mol H2O 18 g H2O
moles sub. A, mole ratio, mole of sub. 32 g O2 1 mol O2 1 mol
B to grams sub. B H2O
3. divide by molar mass, mole ratio,
multiply by new molar mass
Determining the Limiting Reactant Determining the Amount of Excess Reactant
1. put amount of each reactant into moles 1. Convert the moles of the limiting
2. divide the moles of each reactant by its reactant into moles of the excess
coefficient in the balanced equation. reactant. This will equal the number of
3. the small amount is the limiting moles USED
reactant; the other reactant(s) will be in 2. subtract this number of moles from the
excess total # of moles available of the excess
N2 + 3 H2 2 NH3 reactant. This will equal the AMOUNT
2 moles of N2/1 = 2 OF EXCESS REACTANT LEFTOVER
3 moles of H2/3 = 1 H2 is limiting 3. convert this to grams by multiplying by
Remember, the limiting reactant determines the molar mass
amount of product that will form!
Calculating Percent Yield
1. determine the theoretical yield by using your stoichiometry and a mass-to-mass conversion
2. divide the actual mass (given to you or measured in a lab) by the theoretical mass
(calculated with stoichiometry)
3. multiply by 100 to make a percent
