Home Back

Molar Mass Calculator Chemistry 1

Molar Mass Formula:

\[ MW = \sum (\text{atomic masses of all atoms in the compound}) \]

(e.g. H2O, C6H12O6)

Unit Converter ▲

Unit Converter ▼

From: To:

1. What is Molar Mass?

Molar mass (MW) is the mass of one mole of a substance, typically expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). It is calculated by summing the atomic masses of all atoms in a chemical formula.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ MW = \sum (\text{atomic masses of all atoms in the compound}) \]

Where:

Explanation: The calculator parses the chemical formula and sums the atomic masses of all atoms, accounting for subscripts that indicate multiple atoms.

3. Importance of Molar Mass

Details: Molar mass is essential for stoichiometric calculations, solution preparation, and converting between grams and moles in chemical reactions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the chemical formula using standard notation (e.g., H2O for water, C6H12O6 for glucose). Subscripts should be written directly after the element symbol.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between molecular weight and molar mass?
A: They are numerically identical but molecular weight is dimensionless while molar mass has units of g/mol.

Q2: How do I calculate molar mass for ionic compounds?
A: The process is the same - sum the atomic masses of all atoms in the formula unit (e.g., NaCl = Na + Cl).

Q3: Why are atomic masses not whole numbers?
A: Atomic masses account for natural isotopic abundance, so they're weighted averages of all isotopes.

Q4: How accurate is this calculator?
A: Accuracy depends on the atomic mass database used. For most purposes, 3-4 significant figures are sufficient.

Q5: What about hydrates or other special formulas?
A: For hydrates (e.g., CuSO4·5H2O), include the water molecules in the formula as they contribute to the molar mass.

Molar Mass Calculator Chemistry 1© - All Rights Reserved 2025