A Review of Alternatives for the Use of Stoichiometry in Multiple Reaction Systems

Stoichiometry allows relating the net production rates of all species engaged in multiple-reaction systems. When a set of multiple reactions is defined, such relationships are not explicitly available, and their number and the corresponding stoichiometric coefficients should be worked out from the defined reaction set. Literature procedures to such an end are reviewed in this chapter and shown that they involve the use of a number of concepts from linear algebra. An alternative procedure is then introduced, which is believed to be more suitable for its practical application in introductory CRE courses, as it minimises the need to invoke linear algebra concepts. The possibility of applying the proposed procedure to other stoichiometric issues, such as the analysis of complex reaction mechanisms, is also discussed.