Calculations and Practical Applications
Reacting masses follow a simple four-step process: calculate moles of known substance, find the ratio from the balanced equation, work out moles of unknown substance, then calculate its mass. It's like following a recipe - the equation tells you the proportions.
Limiting reactants determine how much product you can actually make. Calculate moles of each reactant, see which runs out first, and that's your limiting factor. Think of it like making sandwiches - if you have 10 slices of bread but only 3 slices of cheese, cheese limits how many you can make.
Percentage yield compares what you actually get versus what you should theoretically get. It's rarely 100% because reactions aren't perfect - some product gets left behind or side reactions occur.
Titration Tip: Always write the balanced equation first, identify the mole ratio, then work through the formula step by step.
Atom economy measures how efficiently a reaction uses its starting materials - higher percentages mean less waste and better environmental impact.