Chapter 4: Calculations

Knowledge organiser

Formula mass Using balanced equations (HT only) Excess and limiting reactants (HT only)
Every substance has a formula mass, Mr . In a balanced symbol equation the sum of the Mr of the reactants equals the sum of the Mr of the products. In a chemical reaction between two or more reactants, often
formula mass Mr = sum (relative atomic mass of all the atoms in the formula) one of the reactants will run out before the others. You then
If you are asked what mass of a product will be If you are asked to balance an equation, you can have some of the other reactants left over. The reactant
formed from a given mass of a specific reactant, use the steps below to work out the answer. that is left over is in excess. The reactant that runs out is the
you can use the steps below to calculate the result. 1 work out Mr of all the substances
Avogadro’s constant (HT only) limiting reactant.
1 balance the symbol equation 2 calculate the number of moles of each substance
One mole of a substance contains 6.02 × 1023 atoms, ions, or molecules. 2 calculate moles of the substance with a known in the reaction using moles = mass
This is Avogadro’s constant. mass Mr To work out which reactants are in excess and which is the
mass using moles = limiting reactant, you need to:
One mole of a substance has the same mass as the Mr of the substance. Mr 3 convert to a whole number ratio
For example, the Mr (H2O) = 18, so 18 g of water molecules contains 3 using the balanced symbol equation, work out 4 balance the symbol equation 1 write the balanced symbol equation for the reaction
6.02 × 1023 molecules, and is called one mole of water. the number of moles of the unknown substance 2 pick one of the reactants and its quantity as given in the
4 calculate the mass of the unknown substance question
You can write this as: moles = mass using mass = moles × Mr Concentration
Mr 3 use the ratio of the reactants in the balanced equation to
see how much of the other reactant you need
4 compare this value to the quantity given in the question
Theoretical Concentration Concentration in mol/dm3 mol is a
5 determine which reactant is in excess and which
the unit
yield Concentration is the amount of solute in a Concentration can also be measured in
of moles
is limiting.
volume of solvent. mol/dm3.
The theoretical
yield of a chemical The unit of concentration is g/dm3. concentration of solution (mol/dm3) =
reaction is the mass Percentage yield Concentration can be calculated using:
=
number of moles of solute Titration
of a product that you mass (g) volume of solution (dm3)
The yield is the amount of product that concentration (g/dm3) = Titration is an experimental technique to work out the
expect to be produced. volume (dm3) You can use this formula and mass =
you actually get in a chemical reaction. concentration of an unknown solution in the reaction between an
moles × Mr to calculate the mass of solute
Even though no atoms Sometimes volume is measured in cm3: acid and an alkali.
Percentage yield is the actual yield as a dissolved in a solution.
are gained or lost volume (cm3) 1 U se a pipette to extract a known volume of the solution with an
proportion of the theoretical yield: volume (dm3) = • The greater the mass of solute in
during a chemical 1000 unknown concentration. A pipette measures a fixed volume only.
actual yield solution, the greater the number of
reaction, it is not always percentage yield = × 100 lots of solute in little solution = high
•  2 Add the solution of unknown concentration to a conical flask and put
possible to obtain
theoretical yield moles of solute, and therefore the
concentration the conical flask on a white tile.
the theoretical yield greater the concentration.
little solute in lots of solution = low
•  3 Add a few drops of a suitable indicator to the conical flask.
because Atom economy • If the same number moles of solute is
concentration 4 Add the other solution with a known concentration to the burette.
• some of the dissolved in a smaller volume of solution,
The atom economy of a reaction tells you the concentration will be greater. 5 Carry out a rough titration to find out approximately what volume of
product can be
the proportion of atoms that you started solution in the burette needs to be added to the solution in the conical
lost when it is
with that are part of useful products. flask. Add the solution from the burette to the solution in the conical
separated from the Moles of gases (HT only) Calculating concentration flask 1 cm3 at a time until
reaction mixture High atom economies are more sustainable,
At any given temperature and pressure, the same To calculate the concentration of the the end point is reached. Use a beaker and funnel
• there can be as they mean fewer atoms are being wasted to fill burette.
number of moles of a gas will occupy the same unknown solution (the solution in the 6 The end point is when
unexpected side in products that are not useful.
volume. conical flask): the indicator just
reactions between The percentage atom economy is
1 Write a balanced symbol equation changes colour.
reactants that At room temperature (25 °C) and pressure (1 atm),
calculated by: 7 Record the volume of
produce different one mole of any gas will occupy 24 dm3. for the reaction.
Mr of useful product 2 Calculate the moles used from the the end point as your
products atom economy = × 100 0
Mr of all products known solution using: rough value.
• the reaction may
moles = c oncentration (mol/dm3) × 8 Now repeat steps 1–7,
be reversible. The burette reading is
volume (dm3) but as you approach taken from the bottom

To calculate the number of moles of a gas: the end point add the of the meniscus.
3 Use the ratio from the balanced solution from the burette Use one
Key terms volume (dm3) symbol equation to deduce the
Make sure you can write a definition for these key terms. moles of a gas =      drop-by-drop. Swirl the hand to Swirl the flask with the
24 dm3 number of moles present in the conical flask in between control the other hand whilst the
or flow rate. drops are being added.
atom economy burette concordant end point volume (cm3) unknown solution. drops.
moles of a gas =
24 000 cm3 4 Calculate the concentration of the 9 Record the volume of
excess reactant formula mass limiting reactant
unknown solution using: the end point.
percentage yield pipette room temperature and pressure moles
concentration (mol/dm3) =
theoretical yield titration titre useful yield volume (dm3)
Chapter 4: Calculations
Retrieval questions
Learn the answers to the questions below then cover the answers column
with a piece of paper and write as many as you can. Check and repeat.

C4 questions Answers moles of solute

Put paper here

21 How can concentration in mol/dm3 be calculated?
volume (dm3)

1 method used to calculate the concentration of an

What is a mole? mass of a substance that contains 6.02×1023 particles 22 What is a titration?
unknown solution

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2 Give the value for Avogadro's constant. 6.02×1023 the point at which the reaction is complete (when the
23 What is the end-point?

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indicator changes colour) and no substance is in excess
Which formula is used to calculate the number of mass
3 moles = How should solution be added from the burette close
moles from mass and Mr ? Mr 24 drop by drop, swirling in between
to the end point?
Which formula is used to calculate the mass of a
4

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mass = moles × Mr 25 Why is a white tile used in titration? to see the colour change better
substance from number of moles and Mr ?

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the reactant that is completely used up in a
5 What is a limiting reactant? 26 What is a titre? volume of solution added from the burette
chemical reaction

6 What volume does one mole of any gas occupy at

What is a unit for concentration? g/dm3 or mol/dm3 27 24 dm3 or 24 000 cm3
room temperature and pressure?
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Which formula is used to calculate concentration mass (g)

7 concentration (g/dm3) =
from mass and volume? volume (dm3)
Which formula is used to calculate volume from mass (g)
8 volume (dm3) =
concentration and mass? concentration (g/dm3)
Which formula is used to calculate mass from
9 mass (g) = concentration (g/dm3) × volume (dm3)
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concentration in g/dm3 and volume?

10 How can you convert a volume reading in cm3 to dm3? divide by 1000

If the amount of solute in a solution is increased,

11 increases
what happens to its concentration?
If the volume of water in a solution is increased,
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12 decreases
what happens to its concentration?

13 What is the yield of a reaction? mass of product obtained from the reaction

maximum mass of the product that could have been

14 What is the theoretical yield of a reaction?
produced
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reaction may be reversible

Why is the actual yield always less than the
15 some of the product can be lost on separation
theoretical yield?
unexpected side reactions between reactants

16 What is the percentage yield? actual yield as a proportion of theoretical yield

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actual yield
17 How is percentage yield calculated? × 100
theoretical yield
measure of how many atoms of the reactants end up as
18 What is atom economy?
useful products

19 Why is a high atom economy desirable?

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results in less waste/is more sustainable

Mr of useful product
20 How is percentage atom economy calculated? × 100
Mr of all products