Final answer:
In stoichiometry, the stoichiometric coefficients in a chemical equation correspond to the number of moles for each reactant and product. These coefficients are used as conversion factors to relate moles to moles or moles to mass in the stoichiometric calculations of a chemical reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the mole method, stoichiometric coefficients in a chemical equation can be interpreted as the number of moles in each substance. Stoichiometry is the study of the relationship between the reactants and products in a chemical reaction in terms of their molar amounts. To connect these molar amounts with masses, we use the molar mass as a conversion factor, for instance, when we need to calculate the mass of a product from a given mass of a reactant.
Using stoichiometric coefficients from a balanced equation allows us to determine the amount of a substance, in moles, that will react with or produce a given number of moles of a different substance. This is essential for solving problems related to the quantification of chemicals in reactions. A balanced chemical equation is used to set up ratios, now in terms of moles, which act as conversion factors in answering stoichiometric questions.