Chemical Engineering Department University of Indonesia

Units And Dimensions

Add the following:
a. 1 foot + 3 seconds =
b. 1 horsepower + 300 watts =
c. 1 foot x 3 seconds =
what is your conclusion?
- You can add, subtract, or equate numerical quantities only if dimensions of
the of the quantities are the same. And only after the units are transformed
to be the same.
- You can multiply or divide unlike units or dimensions. But you cannot cancel
or merge units unless they are identical.
SO,
DIMENSIONS are our basic concept of measurement in term of physical quantity,
such as length, mass, time, temperature, and so on.
UNITS are the means of expressing the dimensions, such as feet and centimeters
for length, or kilograms and pounds for mass.
Table 1. SI Units
Physical
Quantity

Name of Unit

Symbol

Definition

Basic S1 Units
Length
Mass
Time
Temperature
Amount
substance

meter
kilogram
second
kelvin
of mole

m
kg
s
K
mol

Derived S1 Units
Energy
Force

joule
newton

J
N

Power

watt

Density

kilogram per cubic

meter
meter per second
meter per second
squared
newton per square

Velocity
Acceleration
Pressure

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kg m2 s-2
kg m s-2 J
m-1
kg m2 s-3
J s-1
kg m-3
m s-1
m s-2
N m-2, Pa

Chemical Engineering Department University of Indonesia

Heat capacity

Time
Temperature
Volume
Mass

meter, pascal
joule
(kilogram.kelvin)

Alternative Units
minute, hour, day, min, h,
year
d, y
O
degree Celcius
C
liter (dm3)
L
ton (Mg), gram
t, g

Table 2. American Engineering SystemUnits

Physical
Name of Unit
Quantity
Basic Units
Length
feet
Mass
pound (mass)
Force
pound (force)
Time
second, hour
Temperature
degree Rankine
Energy
Power
Density
Velocity
Acceleration
Pressure
Heat capacity

J kg-1 K-1

per

Derived Units
British thermal unit, foot
pound (force)
horsepower
pound (mass) per cubic feet
feet per second
feet per second squared
pound (force) per square
inch, pascal
Btu per pound (mass) per
degree F

Symbol
ft
lbm
lbf
s, hr
OR
Btu, (ft)(lbf)
hp
lbm/ft3
ft/s
ft/s2
lbf/in.2
Btu/(lbm)(OF)

MOLE UNIT
Mole: certain numbers of molecules, atoms, electrons, or other spesified types of
particles.
amount of a substance that contains as many elementary entities as there are
atoms in 0.012 kg of carbon 12. (=6.02 x 1023 molecules, in SI; non standard:
poundmole = 6.02 x 1023 x 453.6 molecules; kilomole, kmol=1000 moles)
g mol =

Mass Balance

mass in g
molecular weight

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Chemical Engineering Department University of Indonesia

mass in lb
molecular weight
mass in g = (mol wt) (g mol)
mass in lb = (mol wt) (lb mol)
lb mol =

DENSITY
Density: ratio of mass per unit volume
Density of liquids and solids do not change significantly at ordinary conditions with
pressure, but they do change with temperature. Density varies with composition.
SPECIFIC GRAVITY
Specific Gravity: ratio of a substance of interest to that of a reference substance.
Dimensionless.
Reference substance for liquids and solids is normally water. While for gas
frequently is air, but may be other gases.
State the temperature at which each density is chosen.
sp gr = 0.73

20 o
4o

temp of solution
temp of reference substance

Specific gravity in the petroleum industry: oAPI

141.5
o
API =
131.5
o
60
sp gr o
60
o
60
141.5
sp gr o = o
60
API + 131.5
Example 1. Application of Specific Gravity
In the production of a drug having a molecular weight of 192, the exit stream
from the reactor flows at the rate of 10.3 L/min. The drug concentration is
41.2% (in water), and the specific gravity of the solution is 1.025. Calculate
the concentration of the drug (in kg/L) in the exit stream, and the flowrate of
the drug in kg mol/min.
Solution

Mass Balance

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Chemical Engineering Department University of Indonesia

Basis: 1.00 kg solution

Reactor

0.412 kg drug
0.588 kg water
s.g. = 1.025
10.3 L/min

Density of the solution = 1.025 x 1 g/cm3 = 1.025 g/cm3

The amount of drug in the solution
0.412 kg drug
g soln 1 kg 10 3 cm 3
1.025
= 0.422 kg drug/L soln
=
1.00 kg soln
cm 3 1000 g 1 L
To get the flowrate, we take a different basis
Basis: 1 minute 10.3 L solution
Molar flowrate of the drug
0.422 kg drug 1 kg mol drug
= 0.0226 kg mol/min
= 10.3 L soln/min
1L soln 192 kg drug
SPECIFIC VOLUME
The inverse of the density, that is, the volume per unit mass of unit amount of
material.
MOLE FRACTION AND MASS (WEIGHT) FRACTION
MOLE FRACTION: the moles of a particular substance divided by the total number
of moles present.
mole fraction of A =

moles of A
total moles

MASS (WEIGHT) FRACTION: the mass (weight) of a substance divided by the

total mass (weight) of al the substances present.
mass (weight) fraction of A =

mass (weight) of A
total mass (weight)

Mole percent and weight percent are the respective fractions times 100.
The composition of gases will be presumed to be given in mole percent or fraction
unless specifically stated otherwise.

Mass Balance

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Chemical Engineering Department University of Indonesia

The analysis of liquids and solids will be assumed to be weight percent or fraction
unless specifically stated otherwise.
CONCENTRATION
Concentration: the quantity of some solute per specified amount of solvent, or
solution, in a mixture of two or more components.
Can be expressed as:
1. Mass per unit volume (lbm of solute/ft3, g of solute/L, lbm of solute/bbl, kg of
solute/m3)
2. Moles per unit volume (lb mol of solute/ft3, g mol of solute/L, g mol of
solute/cm3)
3. Part per million (ppm); parts per billion (ppb) for extremely dilute solutions.
Ppm is equivalent to a weight fraction for solid and liquids; it is a mol fraction
for gases.
4. Molarity (g mol/L) and normality (equivalents/L)
Example 2. Use of ppm
The current OSHA 8 hour limit for HCN in air is 10.0 ppm. A lethal dose of
HCN in air is 300 mg/kg of air at room temperature. How many mg HCN/kg air
is the 10.0 ppm? What fraction of the lethal dose is 10.0 ppm?
Solution
Basis: 1 kg mol of the air/HCN mixture
10.0 ppm =

10.0 g mol HCN

10.0 g mol HCN

10 6 gmol (air + HCN)

10 6 gmol air
Amount of HCN (in mg) per kg of air
=
10.0 g mol HCN 27.03 g HCN 1 g mol air 1000 mg HCN 1000 g air
= 9.32 mg HCN/kg air
6
1
g
mol
HCN
29
g
air
1
g
HCN
1
kg
air
10 g mol air

Lethal dose = 300 mg/kg of air

10.0 ppm = 9.32 mg/kg of air

10.0 ppm 9.32

=
= 0.031
lethal dose 300

Mass Balance

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Chemical Engineering Department University of Indonesia

BASIS
The basis is the reference chosen for the calculations i any particular problems. A
proper choice of basis frequently makes the problem much easier to solve.
For selecting a suitable basis, ask yourself the following questions:
1. What do I have to start with?
2. What answer is called for?
3. What is the most convinient basis to use?
Example 3. Choosing a basis
Most processes for producing high-energy-content gas or gasoline from coal
include some type of gasification step to make hydrogen or synthesis gas.
Pressure gasification is preferred because of its greater yoeld of methane and
higher rate of gasification.
Given that a 50.0-kg test run of gas averages 10.0% H2, 40.0% CH4, 30.0%
CO, and 20.0% CO2. What is the average molecular weight of the gas?

Solution
Basis: 100 kg mol of gas
Component

CO2
CO
CH4
H2
Total

percent = kg
mol
20.0
30.0
40.0
10.0
100.0

Average molecular weight =

Mol. Weight

kg

44.0
28.0
16.04
2.02

880
840
642
20
2382

2382 kg
= 23.8 kg/kg mol
100 kg mol

TEMPERATURE
Temperature scale: Celcius (oC), Kelvin (oK), Fahrenheit (oF), Rankine (oR)
T o = T o + 273
K

T o = T o + 460
T o 32 = T o 1.8
F

oC = oK
oF = oR
oC
o

= 1.8

Mass Balance

or

o C = 1.8 o F

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oK
o

= 1.8

or

o K = 1.8 o R

PRESSURE

Mass Balance

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CHEMICAL EQUATION AND STOICHIMETRY

Chemical equation provides both qualitative and quantitative informations essential
for the calculation of the combining moles of materials involved in a chemical
process.
Stoichiometry: quantitative relationship between reactants and products.
Stoichiometric ratios: ratios obtained from the numerical coefficients in the
chemical equation.
Example 4. Stoichiometry
A limestone analysis:
CaCO3
MgCO3
Insoluble

92.89%
5.41%
1.70%

a. How many kilograms of calcium oxide can be made from 5 tons of this
limestone?
b. How many kilograms of CO2 can be recovered per kilogram of limestone?
c. How many kilograms of limestone are needed to make 1 ton of lime?
Solution:
Draw a process diagram
CO2
limestone

CaO
MgO
Insoluble

heat

lime

Lime includes all the impurities present in the limestone that remain after the
CO2 has been driven off.
Chemical reactions involved:
(1)
CaCO3 CaO + CO2
(2)
MgCO3 MgO + CO2
Additional data:
Mol.
Wt.

CaCO3
100.1

MgCO3
84.32

CaO
56.08

Basis: 100 kg of limestone

Limestone

Mass Balance

MgO
40.32

CO2
44.0

Products

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Chemical Engineering Department University of Indonesia

Component

CaCO3
MgCO3
Insoluble
Total

kg =
percent
92.89
5.41
1.70
100.00

kg mol

0.9280
0.0642

Solid
Component
CaO
MgO
Insoluble

0.9920

kg

CO2

52.04
2.59
1.70
56.33

40.83
2.82
43.65

The quantities of products are calculated from the chemical equation.

CaO produced rxn (1):
1 kgmol CaCO 3 1 kg mol CaO 56.08 kg CaO
= 92.89 kg CaCO 3
= 52.04 kg
100.1 kg CaCO 3 1 kg mol CaCO 3 1 kg mol CaO
MgO produced rxn (2):
1 kgmol MgCO 3 1 kg mol MgO 40.32 kg MgO
= 5.41 kg MgCO 3
= 2.59 kg
84.32 kg MgCO 3 1 kg mol MgCO 3 1 kg mol MgO
CO2 is produced from reaction (1) and reaction (2):
rxn (1):
1 kgmol CaCO 3 1 kg mol CO 2 44.0 kg CO 2
= 40.83 kg
92.89 kg CaCO 3
100.1 kg CaCO 3 1 kg mol CaCO 3 1 kg mol CO 2
rxn (2):
1 kgmol MgCO 3 1 kg mol CO 2 44.0 kg CO 2
= 2.82 kg
5.41 kg MgCO 3
84.32 kg MgCO 3 1 kg mol MgCO 3 1 kg mol CO 2
Total CO2 produced = (40.83 + 2.82) kg = 43.65 kg
Total mass product = 100 kg = amount of limestone entering the process.
Calculate the quantities originally asked for:
a. CaO produced from 5 tons of limestone
52.04 kg CaO 1000 kg
=
5 tons limestone = 2602 kg
100 kg limestone 1 ton
b. CO2 recovered per kilogram of limestone
43.65 kg CO 2
=
= 0.437 kg
100 kg limestone
c. Limestone required to make 1 ton of lime
100 kg limestone 1000 kg
=
= 1775.25 kg limestone
56.33 kg lime 1 ton

Mass Balance

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Chemical Engineering Department University of Indonesia

In industrial reactors, exact stoichiometric amounts of material used is rarely find.

To make a desired reaction take place or to use up a costly reactant, excess
reactants are nearly always used. This excess material comes out together with, or
perhaps separately from , the product and sometimes can be used again.
Some new definitions must be understood:
1. Limiting reactant: reactant that is present in the smallest stoichiometric
amount or reactant that would first disappear if the reaction were to proceed
according to the chemical equation to completion.
Determination: calculate the mole ratio(s) of the reactants in actual feed and
compare each ratio with the corresponding ratio of the coefficients in the
chemical equation.
2. Excess reactant: reactant present in excess of the limiting reactant.
Percent excess: based on the amount of any excess reactant above the
amount required to react with the limiting reactant according to the chemical
reaction.
% excess =

moles in excess
100
moles required to react with limiting reactant

moles in excess = total available moles moles required to react with the
limiting reactant
Excess air: the amount of air available to react that is in excess of the air
theoretically required to completely burn.
Even if only part of the limiting reactant actually reacts, the required and
excess quantities are based on the entire amount of the limiting reactant
as if it had reacted completely.

3. Conversion: the fraction of the feed or some key material in the feed that is
converted into products.
moles (mass) of feed (or a compound in the feed) that react
moles (mass) of feed (or a compound in the feed) introduced
Degree of completion: fraction of the limiting reactant converted into products.
% conversion =

4. Selectivity: ratio of the moles of a particular (usually the desired) product

produced to the moles of another (usually undesired or by-) product produced
in a set of reactions.
5. Yield: mass or moles of final product divided by the mass or moles of initial or
key reactant either fed or consumed. for a single reactant and product
If more than one product and more than one reactant are involved, the reactant
upon ehich the yield is to be based must be clearly stated.

Mass Balance

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Chemical Engineering Department University of Indonesia

Yield and Selectivity : measures the degree to which a desired reaction proceeds
relative to competing alternative (undesirable) reactions.
Example 5. Incomplete reaction
Antimony is obtained by heating pulverized stibnite (Sb2S3) with scrap iron
and drawing off the molten antimony from the bottom of reaction vessel.

Sb2S3 + 3Fe 2Sb + 3FeS

Suppose that 0.600 kg of stibnite and 0.250 kg of iron turnings is heated
together to give 0.200 kg of Sb metal. Determine:
a. The limiting reactant
b. The percentage of excess reactant
c. The degree of completion (fraction)
d. The percent conversion
e. The yield
Solution:
Process diagram:
1.77 g mol Sb2S3
FeS
REACTOR

4.48 g mol Fe

1.64 g mol Sb

The g mol is calculated from molecular weight data:

Component
Sb2S3
Fe
Sb
FeS

a. Examine ratio of

Sb 2 S 3
Fe

kg
0.600
0.250
0.200

mol.wt.
339.7
55.85
121.8
87.91

g mol
1.77
4.48
1.64

Sb 2 S 3
Fe

actual/available stoichiometric
1/3 = 0.33
1.77/4.48 = 0.40

actual > stoichiometric Sb2S3 : excess reactant, Fe : limiting reactant.

Mass Balance

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Chemical Engineering Department University of Indonesia

Sb2S3 required to react with limiting reactant = 4.48/3 g mol = 1.49 g mol.
b. Percentage of excess reactant:
1.77 - 1.49
100 = 18.8% excess Sb 2S 3
1.49
c. Not all of limiting reactant reacts. The amount of Fe actually does react is
computed from the amount of Sb produced:
% excess =

1.64 g mol Sb

3 g mol Fe
= 2.46 g mol Fe
2 gmol Sb

degree of completion =

2.46
= 0.55
4.48

d. Conversion refresh to Sb2S3.

The amount of Sb2S3 actually react = 1.64 g mol Sb

1 g mol Sb 2S 3
= 0.82 g
2 g mol Sb

mol Sb2S3
% conversion of Sb2S3 to Sb =

0.82
100 = 46.3%
1.77

e. Yield:
kg of Sb formed
0.200 kg Sb
1 kg Sb
0.33 kg Sb
=
=
=
kg of Sb 2 S 3 introduced 0.600 kg Sb 2 S 3
3 kg Sb 2 S 3
kg Sb 2 S 3

EXERCISES:
1. Write balanced equations for the following reaction:
a. C9H18 and oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water
b. FeS2 and oxygen to form Fe2O3 and sulfur dioxide
2. The electrolytic manufacture of chlorine gas from a sodium chloride solution is
carried out by the following reaction:
2NaCl + 2H2O 2NaOH + H2 + Cl2
How many kilograms of Cl2 can one produce from 10 m3 of a brine soluiton
containing 5% by weight of sodium chloride? The specific gravity of the solution
relative to water at 4OC is 1.07.

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Chemical Engineering Department University of Indonesia

3. Calcium oxide (CaO) is formed by decomposing limestone (pure CaCO3). In

one kiln the reaction goes to 70% completion.
a. What is the composition of solid product withdrawn from the kiln?
b. What is the yield in terms of pounds of CO2 produced per pound of
limestone charged?

Mass Balance

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