TheLucidSTEM‹ Chemistry simulationsChemistry · AS Level 9701 · 2 Atoms, molecules and stoichiometry
9701 AS Chemistry/ Topic 2 Atoms, molecules and stoichiometry/ 7 interactive simulations/ drag to rotate 3D scenes

Atoms, molecules and stoichiometry, made interactive

Seven simulations covering Topic 2: relative atomic mass from a mass spectrum, the mole and the Avogadro constant, empirical and molecular formulae, limiting reagents and reacting masses, the ideal gas equation and molar volume, a titration you carry out yourself, and percentage yield with atom economy.

1. Relative atomic mass from a mass spectrum 2D · 2.1

A mass spectrometer sorts the isotopes of an element by mass and measures how much of each there is. The relative atomic mass is the abundance-weighted mean. Pick an element and read the calculation off the spectrum.

Element

RELATIVE ATOMIC MASS Ar
Ar = Σ(isotopic mass × % abundance) ÷ 100. Isotopic masses are taken as the mass numbers here; the relative isotopic mass is measured against ¹²C = 12 exactly.

2. The mole and the Avogadro constant 3D · 2.2

One mole of any substance contains 6.02 × 10²³ particles and has a mass in grams equal to its relative formula mass. Choose a substance, set a mass, and watch the count of particles change. The scene shows a tiny sample: each model stands for 5 × 10²¹ particles.

drag to rotate · wheel to zoom · each model = 5 × 10²¹ particles

Substance

36 g
MOLAR MASS M
AMOUNT n = m / M
PARTICLES N = n × L
ONE PARTICLE HAS MASS

3. Empirical and molecular formulae 2.3

From percentage composition to a formula: divide each percentage by Ar to get moles, divide by the smallest, and scale to whole numbers. The molecular formula is a whole-number multiple of the empirical formula, fixed by Mr.

Composition by mass

Percentages should add to 100. If a compound is described by masses instead of percentages, the same method works with the masses.

Working

EMPIRICAL FORMULA
MOLECULAR FORMULA

4. Reacting masses and the limiting reagent 2D · 2.4

The balanced equation fixes the ratio in which substances react. Whichever reactant runs out first limits the amount of product; the other is in excess. Set the amounts, press React, and watch the bars.

Reaction

2.0 mol
2.0 mol
LIMITING REAGENT
IN EXCESS BY
PRODUCT FORMED
MASS OF PRODUCT

5. Molar gas volume and pV = nRT 3D · 2.5

One mole of any ideal gas occupies 24.0 dm³ at room temperature and pressure. The ideal gas equation links pressure, volume, amount and temperature. Move the sliders and watch the piston find the new volume.

drag to rotate · the weights on the piston are the pressure

Conditions

1.0 mol
293 K
101 kPa
VOLUME V = nRT / p
VOLUME PER MOLE
MOLECULES

6. Titration 2D · 2.4

25.0 cm³ of sodium hydroxide of unknown concentration is in the flask with phenolphthalein. Add hydrochloric acid of known concentration from the burette until the pink just disappears, then use n = cV and the 1 : 1 ratio to find the unknown.

Burette: HCl, mol dm⁻³

VOLUME OF ACID ADDED
0.00 cm³
FLASK
YOUR TITRE
…
Add acid in big steps first, then drop by drop as the pink starts to flicker. Stop at the first permanent colour change.

7. Percentage yield and atom economy 2.4

Percentage yield compares what you actually made with the theoretical maximum. Atom economy asks what fraction of the reactant mass ends up in the product you want, and is fixed by the equation alone.

Reaction

ATOM ECONOMY

Percentage yield

20 g
10 g
THEORETICAL YIELD
PERCENTAGE YIELD
Yields are below 100 % because reactions may be incomplete or reversible, side reactions happen, and product is lost on transfer and purification.
TheLucidSTEM · Cambridge International AS Level Chemistry 9701 · Topic 2 Atoms, molecules and stoichiometry. Every scene runs in the browser; drag to rotate 3D scenes, wheel to zoom. Values are standard textbook data rounded for teaching.

About this lab: Atoms, molecules and stoichiometry

Relative atomic mass from a mass spectrum, the mole and the Avogadro constant in 3D, empirical and molecular formulae, limiting reagent bars, a 3D gas piston for pV = nRT and molar volume, an acid-base titration you carry out yourself, and percentage yield with atom economy.

Seven simulations covering Topic 2: relative atomic mass from a mass spectrum, the mole and the Avogadro constant, empirical and molecular formulae, limiting reagents and reacting masses, the ideal gas equation and molar volume, a titration you carry out yourself, and percentage yield with atom economy.

Atoms, molecules and stoichiometry is a free, browser-based simulation for Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry 9701 (topic 2 Atoms, molecules and stoichiometry). The same ideas are examined in Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 (topic 7 Acids, bases and salts, topic 12 Experimental techniques and chemical analysis, topic 3 Stoichiometry). The course is assessed in Paper 1 (Multiple Choice (AS)), Paper 2 (AS Structured), Paper 3 (Advanced Practical), Paper 4 (A Level Structured), Paper 5 (Planning, Analysis, Evaluation). Syllabus for examination in 2025-2027. There are 7 tabs, each a self-contained experiment with its own controls and live readings, and nothing to install: it runs on a laptop, tablet or classroom projector.

Syllabus coverage

Full syllabus map: AS Level Chemistry 9701 topic 2.

How to use this simulation

  1. 1. Relative atomic mass from a mass spectrum. A mass spectrometer sorts the isotopes of an element by mass and measures how much of each there is.
  2. 2. The mole and the Avogadro constant. One mole of any substance contains 6.02 × 10²³ particles and has a mass in grams equal to its relative formula mass.
  3. 3. Empirical and molecular formulae. From percentage composition to a formula: divide each percentage by Ar to get moles, divide by the smallest, and scale...
  4. 4. Reacting masses and the limiting reagent. The balanced equation fixes the ratio in which substances react.
  5. 5. Molar gas volume and pV = nRT. One mole of any ideal gas occupies 24.0 dm³ at room temperature and pressure.
  6. 6. Titration. 25.0 cm³ of sodium hydroxide of unknown concentration is in the flask with phenolphthalein.
  7. 7. Percentage yield and atom economy. Percentage yield compares what you actually made with the theoretical maximum.
  8. The buttons at the end of the tab strip give the scene the whole window (Full screen, Hide controls) and, on a dark stage, a projector-friendly palette (Light scene). Many scenes also have drag handles: drag them to change the set-up directly.

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