How Do You Use the BCA Table in Stoichiometry to Solve Equations?

[brettcox]

is anyone familiar with the BCA (Before, Change, After) table?

if so i need someone to help explain the steps to solving an equation when you are only given the number of moles for one reactant

 

[Borek]

Google ICE table - Initial, Change, Equilibrium.

 

[ravenprp]

Yes, I am familiar with the BCA (Before, Change, After) table. This is a useful tool in stoichiometry to help keep track of the amounts of reactants and products in a chemical reaction. The steps to solving an equation using the BCA table are as follows:

1. Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction. This will help determine the molar ratios between the reactants and products.

2. Identify the known and unknown quantities. In this case, you are given the number of moles for one reactant, so that will be your known quantity. The goal is to find the number of moles for the other reactant or product.

3. Set up the BCA table with three columns: Before, Change, and After.

4. In the Before column, write the initial number of moles for the reactant that you were given.

5. In the Change column, use the coefficients from the balanced equation to determine the change in moles for each substance. For example, if the coefficient for the given reactant is 2, then the change in moles will be -2x (where x is the initial number of moles).

6. In the After column, add the initial number of moles and the change in moles to determine the final number of moles for each substance.

7. Use the information in the After column to calculate the number of moles for the desired reactant or product.

8. If needed, convert the number of moles to mass or another unit using the molar mass of the substance.

I hope this helps explain the steps to solving an equation using the BCA table. Let me know if you have any further questions.