Stoichiometry Involving Redox Reactions

A redox (Oxidation-Reduction) reaction involves transferring of electrons between reacting species or change of oxidation
states of the atoms involved in the reaction. Customarily, the equation of the reaction has to be balance before any meaningful
calculations can be done.
Example
A 25.0 cm‑3 portion of sodium ethanedioate, Na2C2O4, solution of concentration 0.30M is warmed and titrated against an
acidified solution of KMnO4. If 45 cm3 of KMnO4 solution is required for the titration, determine the concentration of the
KMnO4 in (a) moldm-3; (b) gdm-3. [O = 16, K = 39, Mn = 54.9]
Equation of the reaction: 2MnO4- + 5C2O42- + 16H+ →2Mn2+ + 10CO2 + 8H2O

Solution
nC2O42- = 25 x 10-3 x 0.3 = 7.5 x 10-3 mol
From the balanced equation: nMnO /nC O
4
-
2 4
2-
= 2/5
:- nMnO4- = 2/5 x 7.5 x 10-3 = 3.0 x 10-3 mol
(a) From: n = CV,
3.0 x 10-3 = C x 45 x 10-3

Making C the subject of the formula gives C = 3.0 x 10-3 / 45 x 10-3 = 0.067 mol dm-3
(b) g dm-3 = mol dm-3 x molar mass
= 0.067 x 157.9 = 10.58 g dm-3
Exercise
What volume (mL) of 0.500 M KMnO4 solution will react completely with 20.00 g of K2C2O4. H2O according to the ff
equation? 2MnO-4- + 5C2O42- + 16H+ →2Mn2+ + 10CO2 + 8H2O.
Gas Stoichiometry
In chemical reactions, gases are sometimes evolved. Very often, a Chemist can use information from the masses of
substances reacting or those of the products some of which may be gaseous to solve chemical problems.

Example
Quicklime (CaO) is produced by the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Calculate the volume of CO2
produced at s.t.p. from the decomposition of 152 g of CaCO3 [ CaCO3 = 100.1; GMV a gas at s.t.p = 22. 42 L]

Solution
CaCO3(s) → CaO(s) + CO2(g)
1 1
n CaCO3 = nCO2
Now, 152 g CaCO3 x1 mol CaCO3/100.1 CaCO3 = 1.52 mol CaCO3
Thus, nCO2 produced is also 1.52 mol.
At s.t.p., volume of 1.52 mol CO2 is
1.52 mol CO2 x 22.42 L/1 mol CO2 = 34.1 L CO2
Exercise
1. Consider the following chemical equation: 2NO2(g) → N2O4(g).
If 25.0 mL of NO2 is completely converted to N2O4 gas under the same conditions, what volume will the N2O4 occupy?
2. How much CO is produced from the reaction of 1.0kg of octane, C8H18 , and 1.0 kg of oxygen? [H=1, C=12, O = 16].
Hint: 2C8H18 + 17O2 → 16CO + 18H2O.