What does the term 'stoichiometry' refer to?

The term 'stoichiometry' specifically refers to the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions. It involves the quantitative relationship between the substances involved in a reaction, allowing chemists to determine how much of each reactant is needed and how much product can be expected from a given reaction. Stoichiometric calculations typically use coefficients from balanced chemical equations to relate the amounts of reactants and products, which is essential for understanding the efficiency and yield of chemical processes.

For example, in a simple reaction where hydrogen gas reacts with oxygen gas to form water, stoichiometry helps calculate how many moles of hydrogen are necessary to completely react with a certain number of moles of oxygen, ensuring that the amounts are in the correct proportions as dictated by the balanced equation. This ability to predict and manipulate the quantities of substances in reactions is crucial in fields such as chemistry, pharmacology, and engineering.