Solution Stoichiometry/ Solution Dilution

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betterfuture

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What volume of 0.150 M KCl solution will completely react with 0.150 L of a 0.175 M Pb(NO3)2 solution according to the following balanced chemical equation?

2KCl + Pb(NO3)2 ---> PbCl2 + 2KNO3

Okay so I was doing solution dilution problems with M1V1=M2V2 which is important for preparing diluted solutions in the lab or during the equivalence point, but then I encountered the above problem. I saw in the book they used a lengthy process to figure out the volume for KCl solution but I used a shortcut method. I used M1V1=M2V2. I of course got a different answer than the book. But I noticed that if I multiplied the answer by 2 I would get 0.350 L KCl(the answer)

I think I just figured out a shortcut method! I thought I would let others know because the trick is that in M1V1=M2V2 the moles don't change. But here, 1 mole of Pb(NO3)2 reacts with 2 moles of KCl so you would have to use stoichiometric coefficients to get the right answer corresponding to the reaction of the two reactants. I am not sure if this works for every problem, I just worked something out in my brain. Is my reasoning correct? Am I allowed to use this method?

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If I'm interpreting your approach correctly, then yes you are doing it correctly. The point here is that M1V1 = M2V2 is for dilutions where you're not interconverting between substances. In a chemical reaction, you are interconverting between substances and the mole ratios between those substances are not always one. Therefore, you need to correct for that. You did it in your head, but another way to do it is to use normality, or normals of solution. Basically, that takes into account the fact that 1 mole of [Pb] is equivalent to 2 moles of KCl in this reaction.
 
Oh man! So you mean I can actually use this faster method?

And I am just wondering, why is it that I never encountered normality is any of my undergrad chemistry courses? Is this a fairly new topic or is it just not important enough to be covered in classes? I ask because Normality kind of bugs me and most likely the MCAT will use Normality in titrations and solution chemistry.
 
And I am just wondering, why is it that I never encountered normality is any of my undergrad chemistry courses? Is this a fairly new topic or is it just not important enough to be covered in classes? I ask because Normality kind of bugs me and most likely the MCAT will use Normality in titrations and solution chemistry.

I doubt the MCAT will use normality as molarity is the common and unambiguous way to do it. Normality depends on the specific reaction you're talking about - molarity does not. So I wouldn't worry too much about it, but it's just a heads-up that you should have been taught this in gen chem because we normally cover it when we teach acids and bases.
 
I doubt the MCAT will use normality as molarity is the common and unambiguous way to do it. Normality depends on the specific reaction you're talking about - molarity does not. So I wouldn't worry too much about it, but it's just a heads-up that you should have been taught this in gen chem because we normally cover it when we teach acids and bases.

Thank you! I greatly appreciate your help!
 
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