Chemical Reactions and Material Balances

Chemical reactions are all around us, from the combustion of fuel in an automobile engine, to the rusting of iron metal, to the baking of cookies, to the photosynthesis of carbon dioxide and water in plants. Many industrial processes also involve chemical reactions, where raw materials are converted into products that are desired by customers. Operators who have a good understanding of basic chemistry are better able to understand and troubleshoot plant operations. In this course, we discuss some basic types of chemical reactions, show you how to balance a chemical equation, explain the difference between organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry, and discuss material balances and limiting factors in chemical processes.