Titanium metal is obtained from the mineral rutile, TiO2. The process requires multiple steps, as shown in the following reactions: TiO2(S) + 2 Cl2(G) + 2 C(s) → TiCl4(s) + 2 CO(g) TiCl4(s) + 2 Mg(s) → Ti(s) + 2 MgCl2(s) How many moles of TiO2 are needed to form one mole of titanium?

Stoichiometry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the quantitative relationships between the reactants and products in a chemical reaction. It allows us to calculate the amounts of substances involved based on balanced chemical equations. Understanding stoichiometry is essential for determining how many moles of a reactant are needed to produce a desired amount of product.

The mole concept is a fundamental principle in chemistry that defines the amount of substance. One mole is equivalent to 6.022 x 10^23 entities, such as atoms or molecules. This concept is crucial for converting between grams and moles, enabling chemists to quantify reactants and products in chemical reactions.

A balanced chemical equation represents a chemical reaction with equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides of the equation. Balancing ensures the law of conservation of mass is upheld. In the context of the given reactions, balancing is necessary to determine the mole ratios between TiO2 and titanium, which is key to solving the problem.