Answer to Question #3361 in Physical Chemistry for Ian Ledson

Question

Can you explain what stoichiometric and sub-stoichiometric conditions are ?

Answer 1

A stoichiometric amount or stoichiometric ratio of a reagent is the amount or ratio where, assuming that the reaction proceeds to completion:

1. all reagent is consumed,
2. there is no shortfall of reagent, and
3. no residues remain.

The conditions are stoichiometric when when the amounts of reagents are stoichiometric.
Reaction is going under sub-stoichiometric conditions if it's involving less than the stoichiometric amounts of a reagents.