1. The factor label method
A way to solve math problems in chemistry
Used to convert
km to miles, m to km, mol to g, g to mol, etc.
To use this we need: 1) desired quantity, ) given quantity, 3) conversion factors
Conversion factors are valid relationships or equities expressed as a fraction
E.g. for 1 km=0.6 miles the conversion factor is
Q. write conversion factors for 1 foot =12 inches
Q. what conversion factors can you think of that involve meters?

2. Conversion factors Conversion factors for 1 ft = 12 in
There are almost an infinite number of conversion factors that include meters:

3. Conversion factors
We have looked at conversion factors that are always true. There are conversion factors that are only true for specific questions
E.g. A recipe calls for 2 eggs, 1 cup of flour and 0.5 cups of sugar
We can use these conversion factors
Q - the chemical equation between H2 and O2 involves 2 H2 molecules combining with 1 O2 molecule to make 2 H2O molecules. Write all possible conversion factors

4. 2H2 + O2  2H2O 2 molecules H2 1 molecule O2 2 molecules H2
2 molecules H2O
1 molecule O2
2 molecules H2O
2 mol H2
1 mol O2
2H2 + O2  2H2O
2 mol H2
2 mol H2O
1 mol O2
2 mol H2O

5. The steps to follow
Now we are ready to solve problems using the factor label method. The steps involved are:
Write down the desired quantity/units
Equate the desired quantity to given quantity
Determine what conversion factors you can use (both universal and question specific)
Multiply given quantity by the appropriate conversion factors to eliminate units you don’t want and leave units you do want
Complete the math

6. First write down the desired quantity
Factor label example
Q - How many kilometers are in 47 miles? (note: 1 km = miles)
# km
First write down the desired quantity

7. Next, equate desired quantity to the given quantity
Factor label example
Q - How many kilometers are in 47 miles? (note: 1 km = miles)
# km
= 47 mi
Next, equate desired quantity to the given quantity

8. Now we have to choose a conversion factor
Factor label example
Q - How many kilometers are in 47 miles? (note: 1 km = miles)
# km
= 47 mi
Now we have to choose a conversion factor

9. What conversion factors are possible?
Factor label example
Q - How many kilometers are in 47 miles? (note: 1 km = miles)
# km
= 47 mi
1 km
0.621 mi
0.621 mi
1 km
What conversion factors are possible?

10. Pick the one that will allow you to cancel out miles
Factor label example
Q - How many kilometers are in 47 miles? (note: 1 km = miles)
# km
= 47 mi
1 km
0.621 mi
0.621 mi
1 km
Pick the one that will allow you to cancel out miles

11. Pick the one that will allow you to cancel out miles
Factor label example
Q - How many kilometers are in 47 miles? (note: 1 km = miles)
# km
= 47 mi
1 km
0.621 mi
0.621 mi
1 km
Pick the one that will allow you to cancel out miles

12. Multiply given quantity by chosen conversion factor
Factor label example
Q - How many kilometers are in 47 miles? (note: 1 km = miles)
# km
= 47 mi
1 km
0.621 mi
0.621 mi
1 km
Multiply given quantity by chosen conversion factor

13. Multiply given quantity by chosen conversion factor
Factor label example
Q - How many kilometers are in 47 miles? (note: 1 km = miles)
x 1 km
0.621 mi
# km
= 47 mi
Multiply given quantity by chosen conversion factor

14. Cross out common factors
Factor label example
Q - How many kilometers are in 47 miles? (note: 1 km = miles)
x 1 km
0.621 mi
# km
= 47 mi
Cross out common factors

15. Cross out common factors
Factor label example
Q - How many kilometers are in 47 miles? (note: 1 km = miles)
x 1 km
0.621
# km
= 47
Cross out common factors

16. Are the units now correct?
Factor label example
Q - How many kilometers are in 47 miles? (note: 1 km = miles)
x 1 km
0.621
# km
= 47
Are the units now correct?

17. Yes. Both sides have km as units.
Factor label example
Q - How many kilometers are in 47 miles? (note: 1 km = miles)
x 1 km
0.621
# km
= 47
Yes. Both sides have km as units.

18. Yes. Both sides have km as units.
Factor label example
Q - How many kilometers are in 47 miles? (note: 1 km = miles)
x 1 km
0.621
# km
= 47
Yes. Both sides have km as units.

19. Factor label example Now finish the math.
Q - How many kilometers are in 47 miles? (note: 1 km = miles)
x 1 km
0.621
= 75.7 km
# km
= 47
Now finish the math.

20. Factor label example The final answer is 75.7 km
Q - How many kilometers are in 47 miles? (note: 1 km = miles)
x 1 km
0.621
= 75.7 km
# km
= 47
The final answer is 75.7 km

21. Summary The previous problem was not that hard
In other words, you probably could have done it faster using a different method
However, for harder problems the factor label method is easiest

22. More examples
You want to buy 100 U.S. dollars. If the exchange rate is 1 Can$ = 0.65 US$, how much will it cost?
# Can$
= 100 US$
x 1 Can$
0.65 US$
= Can$
One mole of a gas has a volume of 22.4 L. How many L will 300 grams of CO2 occupy? (hint: the molar mass of CO2 is ____ g/mol).
44.01
# L CO2 =
300 g CO2
x 1 mol CO2
44.01 g CO2
x 22.4 L CO2
1 mol CO2
= L CO2

23. More examples
There are 12 inches in a foot, inches in a centimeter, and 3 feet in a yard. How many cm are in one yard?
# cm
= 1 yd
x 3 ft
1 yd
x 12 in
1 ft
x 1 cm
0.394 in
= cm
A chemical reaction requires moles of sodium chloride. How many grams is this?
Sodium chloride is NaCl (58.44 g/mol)
#g NaCl =
3.000 mol NaCl
x g NaCl
1 mol NaCl
= g NaCl

24. Assignment Answer questions using the factor label method:
How many moles of H2 are in 100 g of H2?
300 g of CuSO4 is needed in an experiment. How many moles does this represent?
A chemical reaction requires moles of silver chloride. How many grams is this?
Calculate how many feet are in 1 meter (use information from the examples above).
With a U.S. dollar you can buy 1.1 Euros, 130 Yen, or 25 Rubles. How many Yen can you buy with one Ruble?

25. Assignment
How many molecules are in 73 grams H2O? (hint: form a conversion factor using Avogadro’s #)
255 g of calcium phosphate are produced in a chemical reaction. How many moles of calcium phosphate does this represent?
According to the equation 2H2 + O2  2H2O, how many grams of H2O would be produced if 7.35 mol of O2 is used up? (hint: you will need two conversion factors – 1 from the balanced equation and 1 from a molar mass)

26. 1.
# mol H2
= 100 g H2
x 1 mol H2
2.02 g H2
= 49.5 mol H2 2.
# mol CuSO4 =
300 g CuSO4
x 1 mol CuSO4
g CuSO4
= 1.88 mol CuSO4 3.
# g AgCl =
23.78 mol AgCl
x g AgCl
1 mol AgCl
= 3408 g AgCl 4.
# ft
= 1 m
x 100 cm
1 m
x in
1 cm
x 1 ft
12 in
= 3.28 ft

27. 5.
# Yen
= 1 Ruble
x 1 US $
25 Rubles
x 130 Yen
1 US $
= 5.2 Yen
# H2O molecules = 6.
73 g H2O
x 1 mol H2O
18.02 g H2O
x 6.02x1023 molecules
1 mol H2O
= 2.44 x 1024 molecules H2O 7.
# mol Ca3(PO4)2 =
255 g Ca3(PO4)2
x 1 mol Ca3(PO4)2
g Ca3(PO4)2
= mol Ca3(PO4)2 8.
# g H2O=
2 mol H2O
1 mol O2 x
18.01 g H2O
1 mol H2O x
265 g H2O =
7.35 mol O2

28. Assignment Complete the following chart: Formula Molar mass (g/mol)
Moles
(mol)
FeSO4
500
(NH4)2CO3 2
SnO2 50
Sb2O5
0.25
NaClO4
100
Mg(IO3)2
3.2
CoCl2.H2O
332

29. Assignment Complete the following chart: Formula Molar mass (g/mol)
Moles
(mol)
FeSO4
151.9
500
3.29
(NH4)2CO3
96.1
192.2 2
SnO2
150.7 50
0.332
Sb2O5
323.6
80.9
0.25
NaClO4
122.4
100
0.817
Mg(IO3)2
374.1
1196.8
3.2
CoCl2.H2O
147.8
332
2.246

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Assignment
AgCl = g/mol
#g = 2 mol x g/mol = g (2)
H2 = g/mol
#mol = 100 g x mol/2.016 g = 49.6 mol (2)
CuSO4 = g/mol
#mol= 300 g x mol/ g=1.879 mol (2)
KClO = g/mol
#mol = 250 g x mol/90.55 g = 2.76 mol (2)
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