Gram equivalent weight

Gram equivalent(geq)

It is equal to mass in grams numerically equal to equivalent weight. If the mass of a chemical entity is “g” grams, then the given mass contains gram equivalents given by :

Gram equivalent (geq)=

g

E

This formula is widely used to express grams of substance in terms of gram equivalent and vice-versa.

Relation between moles and gram equivalents (geq)

Gram equivalents is given by :

geq=

g

E

Substituting for equivalent weight, we have :

geq=

g

E

=

xg

MO

Moles is given by :

n=

g

MO

Combining expressions, we have :

geq=xn

gram equivalent=valence factorXmoles

Gram equivalent concept

Consider the example of formation of water :

2H₂+O₂→2H₂O

Here, 2 moles of hydrogen combines with 1 mole of oxygen to form 2 moles of water molecule. In terms of mass, 4 gm of hydrogen combines with 32 gm of oxygen to form 36 gm of water molecule. The relevant proportions involved with this equation are :

Coefficients of balanced equation = 2:1:2

Molecules/moles = 2:1:2

Mass = 4:32:36 = 1:8:9

On the other hand, equivalent weights of hydrogen, oxygen and water are 1, 8 and 9. Clearly, proportion of mass in which chemical entities participate is exactly the proportion of equivalent weights! Note that mole concept depends on the coefficient of balanced chemical equation. On the other hand, the equivalent weight concept is independent of coefficient of balanced chemical equation. If we know that hydrogen and oxygen combines to form water molecule, then we can say straightway that entities are in the proportion of equivalent weights - without any reference to coefficients in the balanced chemical equation.

equivalent weight of hydrogen≡equivalent weight of oxygen≡equivalent weight of water

Note that there is no mention of coefficients of balanced chemical equation in the equivalent weight relation. We should, however, understand that two techniques of analyzing chemical reactions are essentially equivalent. We need to consider coefficients involved in balanced chemical equation for applying mole concept. On the other hand, coefficients are not considered when using equivalent weight concept, but we need to know the corresponding valence factor of each entity. It is important to realize that above relation is not a relation connected by "equal to (=)" sign. Rather, they are connected by equivalent sign (≡). As such, we still need to apply unitary method to analyze the relation.

Gram equivalent concept is a step head in this context. The gram equivalents of participating entities are same. For the case of formation of water, the proportion of mass of hydrogen, oxygen and water is 1 gm: 8 gm : 9 gm. Now, we know that the gram equivalents of entities are obtained by dividing mass by equivalent weight. Hence, gram equivalents of three entities are 1/1 = 1, 8/8=1 and 9/9 = 1. Thus, gram equivalents of participating entities are same. If gram equivalents of hydrogen is 2, then gram equivalents of oxygen and water will also be 2. As such :

x gm equivalents of hydrogen=x gm equivalents of oxygen=x gm equivalents of water

Significant aspect of this relation is that it is connected with equal to (=) sign and as such relieves us from applying unitary method altogether.