stoichiometry

noun

stoi·​chi·​om·​e·​try ˌstȯi-kē-ˈä-mə-trē 

1

: a branch of chemistry that deals with the application of the laws of definite proportions and of the conservation of mass and energy to chemical activity

2

a

: the quantitative relationship between constituents in a chemical substance

b

: the quantitative relationship between two or more substances especially in processes involving physical or chemical change

Examples of stoichiometry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, knowing that a human has about one milligram of cobalt in the body, the successful mad scientist can use the human recipe and stoichiometry to find out how much of each element is needed. —Kyle Hill, Discover Magazine, 16 Sep. 2013

The study relies on stoichiometry, which measures the elemental ratios that appear in the chemistry of cells and ecosystems. —Natalie Elliot, Scientific American, 16 July 2021

If the regularity of chemical ratios within cells is a universal property of biological systems, here or anywhere else in the cosmos, then careful stoichiometry could be the key to eventually discovering life on an alien world. —Natalie Elliot, Scientific American, 16 July 2021

Word History

Etymology

Greek stoicheion element (from stoichos row) + English -metry; akin to Greek steichein to walk, go — more at stair

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

stoichiometry

noun

stoi·​chi·​om·​e·​try ˌstȯi-kē-ˈäm-ə-trē 

plural stoichiometries

1

: a branch of chemistry that deals with the application of the laws of definite proportions and of the conservation of mass and energy to chemical activity

2

a

: the quantitative relationship between constituents in a chemical substance

b

: the quantitative relationship between two or more substances especially in processes involving physical or chemical change

stoichiometric

-kē-ə-ˈme-trik 

adjective