← Dictionary

stoichiometry

/ˌstɔɪ.kiˈɒm.ə.tri/
IELTSAcademic
noun

Stoichiometry is the part of chemistry that studies the amounts of substances in a reaction. It helps you work out how much reactant you need and how much product will form.

  • We used stoichiometry to balance the reaction.
  • Stoichiometry helps predict the product amount.
  • The teacher explained stoichiometry clearly.

Adinary Nuance

Stoichiometry is not just 'chemistry' in general. It is the measuring part of chemistry, where you calculate exact amounts in a reaction. Use it when you mean numerical relationships, not when you mean a chemical process overall. It is more specific than 'chemical equations' and more technical than 'measurement.'

In other languages

Vietnamese
tỉ lượng học
Spanish
estequiometría
Chinese
化学计量学
Japanese
化学量論
Korean
화학량론

Etymology

Stoichiometry comes from Greek stoicheion, meaning 'element,' and metron, meaning 'measure.' It entered English in the early 1800s through chemistry.

Common phrases

stoichiometric ratiostoichiometric calculationstoichiometric coefficientstoichiometry problem

Synonyms

Related words

Frequently asked questions

Is stoichiometry the same as balancing equations?
No. Balancing equations is one part of it, but stoichiometry also includes quantity calculations.
Is stoichiometry a common word in everyday English?
No. It is mainly used in chemistry, science classes, and academic writing.
How do I use stoichiometry in a sentence?
You can say, 'We studied stoichiometry in chemistry class.'
Is stoichiometry useful for exams?
Yes. It is important in chemistry problems that ask for exact amounts.