Question

Explain POAC and its uses with one example?

Answer 1

Principle of Atom Conservation:

• POAC stands for the principle of Atom conservation which is used to solve a chemical equation.
• It is derived from the Law of conservation of mass.
• Mass of atoms of an element in reactant = mass of atoms of an element in a product.
• This principle is useful in solving problems of nearly all stoichiometric calculations, one need not balance the chemical equation if POAC is obtained.
• Example: Potassium Perchlorate decomposition reaction can be considered:

$\underset{\mathrm{Potassium}\mathrm{Perchlorate}}{{\mathrm{KClO}}_3\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Potassium}\mathrm{Chloride}}{\mathrm{KCl}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Dioxygen}}{{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$

Applying POAC for K atoms: Moles of K atoms in ${\mathrm{KClO}}_3$= Moles of K atoms in $\mathrm{KCl}$ since one mole contains 1 mole of K atoms.

• Therefore, POAC works on the principle of conservation of mass.