Final answer:
The mole ratio from a balanced chemical equation is a crucial conversion factor in stoichiometry, allowing the calculation of product amounts from reactant moles, and vice versa.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mole ratio is essential in chemistry for performing stoichiometry calculations which involve converting moles of one substance to moles of another based on a balanced chemical equation. The mole ratio functions as a conversion factor derived from the coefficients of the substances in the balanced equation, allowing chemists to predict the amounts of products formed from reactants or vice versa.
For example, in a balanced chemical equation of the formation of ammonia (NH3), the coefficients provide the mole ratios needed. If the equation was N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3, it indicates that 1 mole of nitrogen gas reacts with 3 moles of hydrogen gas to produce 2 moles of ammonia. This ratio is used to convert moles of nitrogen to moles of ammonia or moles of hydrogen to moles of ammonia and so on.
In a laboratory setting, where most substances are measured by mass, the molar mass is used to convert mass to moles, after which the mole ratio is used to calculate the moles of another substance involved in the reaction. This calculation is crucial when trying to determine the amount of product formed from a specific mass of reactant.