What is the Difference Between Gram Equivalent and Equivalent Weight?

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The key difference between gram equivalent and equivalent weight lies in the unit of measurement:

  • Gram Equivalent: This term refers to the mass (in grams) of an element, group, or compound that participates in a chemical reaction, usually just one type of reaction. It is a specific case of equivalent weight, where the unit of measurement is grams.
  • Equivalent Weight: This term refers to the mass of an element, group, or compound that participates in a chemical reaction. The unit of measurement can be any unit, not just grams. Equivalent weight is typically determined by dividing the molar mass of the desired substance by the number of moles of the reacting species.

In summary:

  • Gram equivalent is the mass of an equivalent in the unit of grams, while equivalent weight is the mass of an equivalent in any unit of measurement.
  • Both terms describe the amount of a substance involved in a chemical reaction, but gram equivalent is a specific case of equivalent weight with grams as the unit of measurement.

Comparative Table: Gram Equivalent vs Equivalent Weight

Here is a table comparing the difference between gram equivalent and equivalent weight:

Property Gram Equivalent Equivalent Weight
Definition The mass of an equivalent in the unit of grams, which describes the mass in grams of an element, group, or a compound. The mass of a substance in grams that combines with or is chemically equivalent to eight grams of oxygen.
Unit of Measurement Grams (g). Grams (g).
Calculation The mass of an element, group, or a compound in grams. Calculated by taking the molar mass divided by the number of equivalents.
Application Used in chemical calculations to determine the mass of a substance in grams. Used in chemical calculations to determine the mass of a substance in grams that is chemically equivalent to another substance.

The key difference between gram equivalent and equivalent weight is that gram equivalent describes the mass in grams of an element, group, or a compound, while equivalent weight is the mass of a substance in grams that is chemically equivalent to another substance, typically oxygen.