Chapter EQUIVALENT MASS AND

GRAM EQUIVALENT

2 RICHTER, JEREMÍAS BENJAMÍN

(Hirschberg, 1762-Berlin, 1807) German chemist, he studied philosophy and mathematics under the
direction of Immanuel Kant, and in Königsberg, in 1785, he obtained a doctoral degree with a
dissertation on the use of Mathematics in Chemistry. He never achieved an academic position and
experimented with his income, working in a ceramics factory. The systematic study of numerical
proportions The ways in which various substances are combined led him to state the law of reciprocal
proportions , also known as the Wenzel-Richter law . He also introduced the term "stoichiometry" into
chemistry, discovered indium, and determined the equivalent weight of numerous acids and bases.
The equivalent mass is the fraction of the formula weight of a substance that corresponds to one unit of
chemical change. The hydrogen atom has been chosen as the unit of chemical change. No, since in most
reactions it is directly or indirectly involved; including redox reactions in which for each electron
transferred an equivalence is established with a hydrogen atom. A stable equivalent definition ce that the
equivalent mass of a substance, in processes that do not involve redox reactions, is the parts of substance
chemically equivalent to 1.008 parts of hydrogen or eight parts of oxygen.

For elements

The Equivalent Mass is defined as the numerical value obtained by relating the respective Atomic Weight and the
absolute value of its oxidation state (the equivalent mass will always be positive)
Equivalent mass _ Atomic mass
| oxidation state|

Example : Find the equivalent mass in each case:

- Or - = 8
-2
-H -=1
+1

- At ^ = 9
+3
- Hg(+1, +2) ^ = 200
^ = 100

- The gram equivalent (eq-g) is defined as the weight of said element, expressed in grams, numerically equal to the
respective equivalent weight.

Observation: To work on compounds you need to determine the respective ionic charge (q)

* Determination of “ q ” (ionic charge)

- C | -q = 2 × 2 = 4
+4

- S ^q=1×2=2
-2

- S |^q=2×3=6
+6

- Na |(OH) -q = 1 × 1 = 1
+1 -1

- Fe |(OH) ^ q = 1 × 3 = 3
+3

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For Compounds:

- The equivalent mass Meq(E) is defined as the numerical value obtained by relating the respective molecular weight ( M ) and

the ionic charge ( 0 ).

Meq(E) =M

Example : Find the Meq(E) of: PA (C = 12, O = 16, Na = 23, S = 32, H = 1)

- CO2= = 11 -NaOH = = 40
- H 2 SO 4 = = 49 -H 2 = = 1

* The Gram Equivalent (eq-g) of a compound is defined as the weight expressed in grams numerically equal to the equivalent
weight of said compound.

Number of Equivalents #(Eq-g)

To determine the Number of Equivalents of an element or compound, it will be enough to relate the weight (grams) and the eq - g.

W (g)
# Equivalents =
eq -g

Example : Determine the number of equivalents that will be had:

60g
- 60g of Ca : PA (40) ^
+2
# Equiv. = 40 = 3

18g
- 18g of Al : PA (27) -> # Equiv. = 27 = 2 - 33g of CO 2 : PA (44) —
+3

33g
# Equiv. = 44 4

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PROPOSED PROBLEMS
01. Identify the hydroxide with the highest ionic charge ( 0 ).

a) KOH b) NaOH c) Mg(OH) 2

d) Al(OH) 3 e) Pb(OH) 4

02. Of the oxides shown, find the one with the smallest “ 0 ”.

a) CaO b) Na 2 O c) Al 2 O 3
d) FeO e) a, b and d

03. Which of the following compounds will have the lowest “ 0

”?

a) Faith 2 Or 3 b) Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 c)
H 2 SO 4
d) NaOH e) Mg(OH) 2

04. Find which hydroxide has the lowest factor “ 0 ”.

a) A «(OH) 3 b) Mg(OH) 2

c) Pb(OH) 2 d) Fe(OH) 3

e) ) Na(OH)

05. Find which of the following compounds has the smallest

factor “ 0 ”.

a) Na 2 O b) MgO c) Al 2 O 3
d) PbO 2 e) a and b 06. Find the factor “ 0 ” for the
following salt: A / 2 (SO 4 ) 3

EQUIVALENT MASS AND GRAM EQUIVALENT 197

RICHTER, JEREMÍAS BENJAMÍN197
For elements..................................197
* Determination of “ q ” (ionic charge) 197
# Equivalents =.....................................198
PROPOSED PROBLEMS.............199
Keys..............................................................203

07. You have the following table:

Substance PA E.O. P - Eq
na 23 +1 to
EITHER 16 -2 b
To the 27 +3 c
fill out appropriately and indicate “a + b + c”

EQUIVALENT MASS AND GRAM EQUIVALENT 197

RICHTER, JEREMÍAS BENJAMÍN197

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For elements..................................197
* Determination of “ q ” (ionic charge) 197
# Equivalents =.....................................198
PROPOSED PROBLEMS.............199
Keys..............................................................203

a) 56 gb) 28 gc) 56 g
d) 28 ge) 84

10. How many gram equivalents are there in 94g of HNO 2 ?

PA (N = 14, O = 16)

EQUIVALENT MASS AND GRAM EQUIVALENT 197

RICHTER, JEREMÍAS BENJAMÍN197
For elements..................................197
* Determination of “ q ” (ionic charge) 197
# Equivalents =.....................................198
PROPOSED PROBLEMS.............199
Keys..............................................................203

11. Find the weight of H 3 PO 4 , which is in 6 Eq - g of the

acid. PA (P = 31, O = 16)

a) 89 gb) 98 gc) 147 g

d) 196 g) 241 g

12. Determine the equivalent weight of H 2 SO 4 in the

following reaction: PA (S=32)
H 2 SO 4 + NaOH NaHSO4 + H2O

a) 98 b) 49 c) 24.5
d) 196 e) 12.25

13. Find the number of equivalents in 520g of

Al(OH) 3 . ( M = 78).

to 20 b) 35 c) 12
EQUIVALENT MASS AND GRAM EQUIVALENT 197
RICHTER, JEREMÍAS BENJAMÍN197
For elements..................................197
* Determination of “ q ” (ionic charge) 197
# Equivalents =.....................................198
PROPOSED PROBLEMS.............199
Keys..............................................................203
51,6).

14. Determine the equivalent weight of chromium III (PA = a) 51.6 b) 17.2 c) 25.8

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d) 103.2 e) 12.9 a) 37gb) 22.2gc) 74g

d) 39.1 g) 33 g
15. Determine the equivalent mass of a new chemical
element called Trilcite, which belongs to the family of 28. Calculate the gram-equivalent of copper in cupric
alkaline earths whose atomic mass is 400. phosphate trihydrate.
Data: mA [Cu = 63.5]
a) 100 b) 150 c) 200
d) 300 e) 500 a) 63.5 gb) 31.75 gc) 21.17 g
d) 72.4 g) 43.12 g
16. Determine the equivalent mass of calcium hydroxide,
Ca(OH) 2 : 29. The molecular weight of R 2 O 3 is 326, what is the gram
Data: mA [Ca= 40] equivalent of “R”? PA (O = 16)

a) 74 b) 56 c) 31 a) 23.15 b) 46.3 c) 12.15

d) 24.6 e) 37 d) 30.14 e) 85.41

21. Which analogy is incorrect? 30. The equivalent weight of the oxide X 2 O 3 is 36.
mA [S=32, Fe= 56, Al=27, Na=23] Determine the equivalent weight of “X”.
substance equivalent mass
a) H 2 SO 4 49 a) 12 b) 64 c) 32
d) 24 e) 8
b) Na 2 SO 4 71
c) Fe 2 (SO 4 ) 3 66,66 31. The equivalent weight of salt: X(NO 3 ) 2 is 94. What is
the equivalent weight of X 3 PO 4 .
d) Fe(NO 3 ) 3 80,67
PA (P = 31, O = 16, N = 14)
e) Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 114
a) 80.3 b) 95.6 c) 100
22. Determine the equivalent mass of H 3 PO 4 , according to d) 180.6 e) 88.7
the following reaction:
Data: mA [K=39, P=31] 32. Knowing that the equivalent mass of copper chloride is
H 3 PO 4 + KOH = K 2 HPO 4 + H 2 O 99.5. What is the formula of the corresponding copper
oxide?
a) 98 b) 49 c) 32.6 Data: mA [Cu=63.5 Cl=35.5]
d) 21.4 e) 33
a) CuO b) Cu 2 O c) Cu 2 O 3
23. Identify the compound whose equivalent mass is 26. d) CuO 2 e) CuO 3
mA[Al=27, Na = 23, K = 39, S = 32]
33. Find the equivalent mass of sodium thiosulfate, Na 2 S 2 O
a) NaOH b) KOH c) H 2 SO 4 3 , knowing that when it reacts with I 2 it is transformed
d) Al(OH) 3 e) NaH into Na 2 S 4 O 6 .
Data: mA [S=32, I=127]
24. Find the equivalent mass of phosphoric acid, H 3 PO 4

knowing that it is converted to H 2 PO 4 . 1- a) 158 b) 79 c) 52.66

d) 103 e) 112
Data: mA[P =31]
34. How much calcium will combine with 1 g of oxygen? PA
a) 98 b) 49 c) 32.66 (Ca = 40, O = 16)
d) 24.5 e) 33
a) 25gb) 2.5gc) 50g
25. Determine the mass contained in 2.5 gram-equivalents of d) 5 g) 3.75 g
sulfuric acid.
Data:mA[S=32]
35. A piece of metal oxide whose mass is 2.59 g contains
0.401 g of oxygen. Calculate the gram equivalent of the
a) 98gb) 122.5gc) 245g metal. PA (O = 16).
d) 49 g) 100 g a) 43.8 b) 33.8 c) 63.8
d) 53.8 e) NA
26. Determine the mass of 0.8 eq-g of H 3 PO 4 .
Data: mA [P=31] 36. An iron nail (Fe = 56) weighing 40 g falls into a container
containing 59.5 g of H 2 SO 4 . What percentage of the
a) 49gb) 98gc) 78.4g nail does not react? PA (S=32)
d) 39.2 g) 26.08 g
to 20% b) 80% c) 65%
27. Determine the mass of 600 milliequivalents-gram of d) 58% e) 15%
Ca(OH) 2 .
Data: mA [Ca=40] 37. 10 grams of the oxide of a metal when reacted with

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sufficient H 2 O becomes 15 g of its hydroxide. Find the d) 207 e) 97

atomic weight of the metal, if it is known that the metal is
an alkaline earth. 46. During the roasting of 5 grams of metal, 9.44 grams of its
oxide are formed. Determine the mass of 0.8 eq-g of
a) 10 b) 15 c) 20 metal.
d) 25 e) 30
a) 9gb) 7.2gc) 8.2g
38. Calculate the equivalent weight of the oxidizing and d) 12 g) 10.3 g
reducing agent in the following equation: PA (Zn = 65;
N=14; Cl = 35.5; H = 1; O = 16) 47. To reduce 1.8 grams of a metal oxide, 1,008 mL of
Zn + HNO 3 + HCl ^ ZnCl 2 + NO 2 + H 2 O hydrogen were consumed, measured at normal
conditions. Calculate the equivalent mass of the
a) 21 and 32.5 b) 31.5 and 65 corresponding metal oxide.
c) 63 and 65 d) 63 and 32.5
e) 51.5 and 32.5
a) 24 b) 40 c) 32.2
d) 16.2 e) 20
39. Calculate the equivalent weight of a certain divalent
element if 9.6 g of this element reacts with 1.2 × 10 23

molecules of oxygen. PA (O = 16) 48. When 4.8 grams of a certain substance reacted with 14.6
grams of hydrogen chloride, 19 grams of the
corresponding salt were formed. Calculate the equivalent
a) 6 b) 12 c) 24
mass of said salt Data: mA [Cl=35.5]
d) 36 e) 18
a) 79 b) 58.4 c) 35.5
40. A metal oxide is reduced by a stream of H 2 , when 2.15 g
d) 47.5 e) 43.2
of the oxide are reduced, 1.35 g of water is produced.
Find the atomic weight of the metal if it is monovalent.
PA (O = 16) 49. Dissolving 1.6 grams of a metal in dilute hydrochloric
acid produces 0.896 liters of hydrogen gas under normal
conditions. Calculate the equivalent mass of the
a) 31.4 b) 16 c) 12
corresponding metal chloride.
d) 28.4 e) 6.3

41. Determine the atomic weight of a metal knowing that to 20 b) 55.5 c) 35.5
heating 4.3 g of metal oxide produced 580 ml of oxygen d) 69.5 e) 45
at 17°C and 580 mmHg. If it is known that the metal is
trivalent. 50. Dissolving 1.83 grams of a metal in sulfuric acid
produces 4.56 grams of the corresponding metal sulfate.
a) 16 b) 63.5 c) 16.7 Calculate the equivalent mass of the metal.
d) 149.4 e) 28.4 Data: mA [S=32]

42. Find the equivalent mass of X , knowing that 1 gram of X a) 32.2 b) 28 c) 24.3
represents 0.05 gram-equivalent. d) 46 e) 20

a) 40 b) 30 c) 20 51. By treating 5.64 grams of a metal nitrate with sulfuric

d) 10 e) 45 acid, 4.8 grams of the corresponding metal sulfate were
obtained. Calculate the equivalent mass of the
43. Find the equivalent mass of a metal, knowing that 4.6 corresponding metal.
grams of metal are combined with 1.6 grams of Data: mA [S=32]

a) 32 b) 28 c) 24.3
to 20 b) 23 c) 26 d) 46 e) 20
d) 30 e) 32
52. One gram of a certain metal combines with 8.89 grams of
44. Find the equivalent mass of a metal oxide, knowing that Br 2 . Find the equivalent mass of the corresponding metal
5.6 grams of the corresponding oxide contains 4 grams of sulfide.
metal. Data: mA [Br=80]

to 20 b) 25 c) 34
to 20 b) 56 c) 28 d) 29 e) 33
d) 23 e) 31
53. A certain amount of metal whose equivalent mass is 27.9
45. Determine the equivalent mass of a metal if 3.24 grams of g/eq-g displaces 700 milliliters of hydrogen from HCl
metal form 3.72 grams of the corresponding metal under normal conditions. Determine what mass of metal
sulfide. reacted?
a) 108 b) 32 c) 27 a) 1.74g b) 1.12 c) 2.34

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d) 0.89 e) 2.12

54. The same amount of metal combines with 0.2 grams of

oxygen and 3.17 grams of one of the halogens. Determine
the equivalent mass of the halogen.

a) 35.5 b) 80 c) 126.8
d) 19 e) 100

55. The mass of l liter of oxygen is equal to 1.4 grams. How

many liters of oxygen are consumed during the
combustion of 21 grams of magnesium?
Data: mA [Mg = 24]

a) 1 L b) 10 L c) 15 L
d) 13 e) 8

56. A metal forms two oxides. During the formation of the

first oxide for a given amount of metal, twice the amount
of oxygen was invested than during the formation of the
second oxide. What is the relationship between metal
oxidation degrees?

a) 1 b) 1/4 c) 1/2
d) 2/3 e) 1/3

57. Sulfuric and phosphoric acids have the same molecular

weights. What is the mass ratio of these acids consumed
to neutralize the same amount of NaOH, knowing that
sodium sulfate and sodium dihydrogen phosphate are
formed respectively.
Data: mA [S=32, Na=23]

a) 1 b) 1/2 c) 1/3
d) 3/2 e) 2/3

58. Find the equivalent mass of potassium phosphate,

knowing that, when reacting with hydrochloric acid, it
produces potassium hydrogen phosphate.
Data: mA [K=39, P =31]

a) 106 b) 53 c) 212
d) 70.6 e) 123

59. During the oxidation of 5 grams of metal, 13.89 grams of

the corresponding sulfide are formed. Determine the mass
of 200 milliequivalent-grams of the metal.

a) 9gb) 0.9gc) 4.5g

d) 1.8 g) 2.2 g

60. How many gram equivalents are there in 800g CaCO 3

a) 16 b) 18 c) 17
d) 19 e) 15

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Keys
01. and 31. b

02. and 32. b

03. b 33. to

04. and 34. b

05. and 35. to

06. c 36. and

07. d 37. c

08. c 38. d

09. b 39. b

10. b 40. c

11. b 41. d

12. c 42. c

13. to 43. b

14. d 44. c

15. to 45. to

16. to 46. b

17. b 47. and

18. b 48. d

19. c 49. b

20. and 50. to

21. and 51. to

22. b 52. b

23. d 53. to

24. c 54. c

25. b 55. b

26. and 56. c

27. b 57. b

28. b 58. c

29. b 59. d

30. and 60. to

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