Stoichiometry the algebraic structure of complex chemical reactions

From now on we shall concentrate on reactions taking place in a well-mixed vessel (test-tube, cell, reactor etc.) of constant volume at constant pressure and temperature. More generally speaking, it is assumed that all the transport processes in the thermodynamic sense (including volume changes due to the reaction) are negligible. Further — at the present tacit — assumptions will be made clear below. The present chapter sets up a framework for the reactions it deals with stoichiometry. 

The skeleton-like character of stoichiometry should be emphasised it does not depend on the type of the model (discrete or continuous, deterministic or stochastic, see Chapter 2) that is used afterwards when describing the time evolution. 

Stoichiometry will here be treated in two sections following history, in the first section the atomic structure of chemical components or species is taken into consideration, while in the second one it is not. Disregarding the atomic structure allows more freedom more models can be drawn into the purview of enquiry and treated with methods that were originally developed for the aims of reaction kinetics. 

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Stoichiometry the algebraic structure of complex chemical reactions... 

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