Anish Jain

Linear Algebra required for chem. majors

Useful for balancing chemical equations
Can solve basic math problems in chemistry
Martin Cockett, Graham Doggett
Discuss and teach these uses
Question:
It takes three different ingredients A, B, and C, to produce a
certain chemical substance. A, B, and C have to be dissolved in
water separately before they interact to form the chemical.
Suppose that the solution containing A at 1.5 g/cm
3
combined
with the solution containing B at 3.6 g/cm
3
combined with the
solution containing C at 5.3 g/cm
3
makes 25.07 g of the
chemical. If the proportion for A, B, C in these solutions are
changed to 2.5 g/cm
3
, 4.3 g/cm
3
, and 2.4 g/cm
3
, respectively
(while the volumes remain the same), then 22.36 g of the
chemical is produced. Finally, if the proportions are 2.7 g/cm
3
,
5.5 g/cm
3
, and 3.2 g/cm
3
, respectively, then 28.14 g of the
chemical is produced. What are the volumes (in cubic
centimeters) of the solutions containing A, B, and C?
Simplified Version:
Three Ingredients A,B,C
Defined by fixed volume
1.5 g/cm
3
of A + 3.6 g/cm
3
of B+ 5.3 g/cm
3
of C= 25.07 g
2.5 g/cm
3
of A + 4.3 g/cm
3
of B+ 2.4 g/cm
3
of C= 22.36 g
2.7 g/cm
3
of A + 5.5 g/cm
3
of B+ 3.2 g/cm
3
of C= 28.14 g
Represent volumes with a, b, and c respectively:
1.5 a+ 3.6 b+ 5.3 c= 25.07
2.5 a+ 4.3 b+ 2.4 c= 22.36
2.7 a+ 5.5 b+ 3.2 c= 28.14

Rewrite In Matrix Form:
Solve:
Converting back to equation form:
a=1.5cm
3
, b=3.1cm
3
, c=2.2cm
3
Demonstrates use of linear algebra for simple chemistry
problem

Linear Algebra can be used to balance chemical
equations
Law of Conservation of Matter:
Mass is neither created nor destroyed in any chemical reaction.
Therefore balancing of equations requires the same number of
atoms on both sides of a chemical reaction. The mass of all the
reactants (the substances going into a reaction) must equal the
mass of the products (the substances produced by the reaction).
Question:
Balance the chemical equation xC
2
H
6
+ yO
2

zCO
2
+ tH
2
O
by finding out how much of each molecule is needed to
satisfy the Law of Conservation of Matter. The amount of
each molecule needed is represented by x, y, z, and t.
The amount of each type of atom is written in parentheses:
(2x)C+(6x)H+(2y)O=(z)C+(2z)O+(2t)H+(t)O
We can break this down into three equations by matching
them up by the atom:
2x=z
6x=2t
2y=2z+t
First rewrite equations:
2x-z=0
6x-2t=0
2y-2z-t=0
Write in Matrix Form:
Can simplify matrix to:



Writing back in equation form:
x=2/6t
y=7/6t
z=2/3t
t=1t

t can be any real number and equation would be
balanced
However, small integer numbers are preferred
Set t=6:
2C
2
H
6
+ 7O
2
4CO
2
+ 6H
2
O