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How do you find the molar mass from the atomic mass?

Published in Molar Mass Calculation 3 mins read

The molar mass of a compound is found by adding up the atomic masses of all the atoms present in its chemical formula.

Understanding Atomic and Molar Mass

  • Atomic Mass: This is the mass of a single atom of an element, typically expressed in atomic mass units (amu). You can find the atomic mass of each element on the periodic table.

  • Molar Mass: This is the mass of one mole of a substance, expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). One mole is equal to 6.022 x 1023 entities (like atoms, molecules, ions).

Steps to Calculate Molar Mass

Based on the reference material in the provided text, calculating molar mass involves the following steps:

  1. Identify the Chemical Formula: First, determine the chemical formula of the compound you're working with (e.g., H₂O for water).

  2. Find Atomic Masses: Locate the atomic mass of each element from the periodic table.

    • For example, as mentioned in the reference:
      • The atomic mass of hydrogen (H) is approximately 1 amu.
      • The atomic mass of oxygen (O) is approximately 16 amu.
  3. Multiply by Subscripts: If there's more than one atom of an element in the formula (indicated by a subscript), multiply the atomic mass by that subscript.

    • For example, H₂O has two hydrogen atoms, so we'd multiply the atomic mass of hydrogen by 2.
  4. Add Atomic Masses: Add the results of step 3 together to get the molar mass.

    • Continuing with the H₂O example:

      • (2 x Atomic mass of H) + (1 x Atomic mass of O) = Molar mass of H₂O
      • (2 x 1 amu) + (1 x 16 amu) = 18 amu
  5. Convert to grams per mole: Since 1 amu = 1 g/mol, this atomic mass is also its molar mass, expressed in grams per mole.

    • Therefore, the molar mass of H₂O is 18 g/mol.

Example: Calculating Molar Mass of Water (H₂O)

Based on the video description:

  • Find the atomic mass of hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) on the periodic table.
  • Multiply the atomic mass of hydrogen by 2, since there are two hydrogen atoms in water (H₂O).
  • Add the result to the atomic mass of oxygen to get the molar mass.

Practical Insight

  • Using Molar Mass: Molar mass is essential for converting between mass and moles, which is a critical step in stoichiometric calculations, allowing you to quantify reactions using units like grams or moles.
  • Accurate Calculations: For more accurate calculations, use the atomic masses from the periodic table that are expressed to more decimal places.

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