The mass of one mole of ammonia (NH₃) is 17.03052 grams.
Understanding Molar Mass
The term "mass of ammonia" can be a bit ambiguous because it can refer to different quantities. It's most helpful to talk about the molar mass of ammonia, which is the mass of one mole of ammonia molecules.
What is a mole?
A mole is a unit of measurement used in chemistry to express amounts of a chemical substance. One mole contains approximately 6.022 x 10²³ particles (atoms, molecules, ions, etc.). This is known as Avogadro's number.
Calculating the Molar Mass of Ammonia
The molar mass of ammonia (NH₃) is calculated by adding up the atomic masses of all the atoms in the molecule, which are:
- Nitrogen (N): Approximately 14.0067 atomic mass units (amu)
- Hydrogen (H): Approximately 1.00794 amu (there are three hydrogen atoms in ammonia)
Therefore, the molar mass of ammonia is:
14.0067 amu + 3 * (1.00794 amu) ≈ 17.03052 amu
Since the atomic mass unit is equivalent to grams per mole (g/mol), the molar mass of ammonia is 17.03052 g/mol.
Key Takeaways
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The molar mass of ammonia (NH₃) is 17.03052 grams per mole. This is the weight of 6.022 x 10²³ ammonia molecules.
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When discussing the mass of ammonia, it is important to specify whether you're referring to the mass of a single molecule, a specific number of molecules, or the molar mass (mass of one mole).
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The molar mass is crucial for performing calculations in chemistry, such as determining the amounts of reactants needed or the amounts of products formed in a chemical reaction.
