The reaction of tungsten hexachloride (WCl₆) with bismuth gives hexatungsten dodecachloride (W₆Cl₁₂).
WCl₆ + Bi → W₆Cl₁₂ + BiCl₃ Unbalanced
(b) How many grams of bismuth react with 150.0 g of WCl₆?

Key Concepts

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the quantitative relationships between the reactants and products in a chemical reaction. It allows chemists to calculate how much of each substance is needed or produced in a reaction based on balanced chemical equations. Understanding stoichiometry is essential for solving problems involving mass, moles, and the ratios of reactants and products.

Molar Mass

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, typically expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). It is calculated by summing the atomic masses of all the atoms in a molecule. Knowing the molar mass of reactants and products is crucial for converting between grams and moles, which is necessary for stoichiometric calculations in chemical reactions.

Balancing Chemical Equations

Balancing chemical equations involves ensuring that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation. This is important because it reflects the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. A balanced equation provides the correct stoichiometric ratios needed to calculate the amounts of reactants and products involved.