Basic Principles and Calculations in Chemical Engineering

Chapter 3. Material Balances

3.1 Introduction to Material Balances

3.2 A General Strategy for Solving Material Balance Problems

Your objectives in studying this chapter are to be able to

1. Develop a conceptual understanding of material balances

2. Understand the features of open, closed, steady-state, and unsteady-state systems

3. Express in words how to form the material balances for processes involving single or multiple components

4. Familiarize yourself with the strategy to assist you in solving material balance problems

If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful after all.

Michelangelo

In Chapter 3 we introduce the concept of a material balance. Material balances are nothing more than the application ...