How would I scale down an experiment?

For example a procedure states that 5.0 g will be made (53% yield) but we want to propose a microscale procedure that would synthesize .120 g.

Do I simply divide desired amount of product by the one given in the procedure (.120/5) and take that ratio and multiply it to all reagents? Assuming the mole ratio is the same.

Yes.

Yes, you are correct! To scale down an experiment, you need to adjust the quantities of reagents proportionally based on the desired amount of product. Here's how you can do it step-by-step:

1. Determine the desired amount of product you want to synthesize. In this example, you want to synthesize 0.120 g.

2. Calculate the ratio between the desired amount of product and the original amount of product specified in the procedure. In this case, it would be (0.120 g) / (5.0 g) = 0.024.

3. Apply this ratio to all reagents involved in the procedure, assuming the mole ratio remains the same. Multiply the original amount of each reagent by the ratio calculated in step 2. This will give you the new quantities of reagents to use in the microscale procedure.

For example, if the procedure originally stated to use 10.0 g of reagent A, you would multiply it by the ratio (0.024) to get the new quantity for the microscale procedure: 10.0 g * 0.024 = 0.24 g.

Repeat this for all reagents in the procedure, adjusting their quantities based on the ratio calculated in step 2.

Remember to consider the precision of your equipment when working at a small scale, as precise measurements become more critical.

Please note that scaling down an experiment may not always result in the same yield as the original procedure. Other factors, such as reaction conditions or equipment differences, may also affect the yield.