noun

stoichiometry

stoi-kee-OM-uh-tree

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Stoichiometry (noun) means the branch of chemistry concerned with calculating the measurable amounts of reactants and products in a chemical reaction. Example: “Her first-year course covered stoichiometry before moving on to organic chemistry.”

noun

chemistry, uncountable The branch of chemistry concerned with calculating the measurable amounts of reactants and products in a chemical reaction.

"Her first-year course covered stoichiometry before moving on to organic chemistry."

"Stoichiometry lets chemists predict how much product a reaction will yield."

"We spent the lab session practising stoichiometry calculations."

chemistry, countable The specific quantitative relationship between the reactants and products of a particular chemical reaction or equation.

"The stoichiometry of this reaction shows two molecules of hydrogen reacting with one of oxygen."

"Balancing the equation revealed a different stoichiometry than expected."

"Each reaction has its own stoichiometry, set out in the balanced equation."

How to use stoichiometry

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishIt is the chemistry of working out how much of each substance goes into, and comes out of, a reaction.

When to use it

It is a specialist chemistry term rarely used outside scientific or academic writing.

Memory tip

Link the middle of the word to the Greek stoikheion, meaning element, to remember it concerns measuring elements in reactions.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

reaction stoichiometry stoichiometry calculations stoichiometry problem balanced stoichiometry

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Her first-year course covered _____ before moving on to organic chemistry.

Etymology

The word was coined in German as Stöchiometrie by Jeremias Benjamin Richter in 1792. It comes from the Ancient Greek stoikheion, meaning element, combined with the suffix -metry, meaning measurement.

Origin: German, from Ancient Greek

Rhymes for stoichiometry

poetry symmetry geometry telemetry trigonometry

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Frequently asked questions

What does stoichiometry mean in chemistry?

It is the study of the quantitative relationships between the reactants and products in a chemical reaction, used to calculate how much of each substance is involved.

Who coined the term stoichiometry?

It was coined in German as Stöchiometrie by Jeremias Benjamin Richter in 1792, built from a Greek word for element.

Why do chemists use stoichiometry?

They use it to work out the exact amounts of reactants needed and products formed in a reaction, based on the balanced chemical equation.

What is the meaning of stoichiometry?

"stoichiometry" (noun) means the branch of chemistry concerned with calculating the measurable amounts of reactants and products in a chemical reaction.