1. What is Molar Mass?

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance (chemical element or chemical compound). It is a physical property defined as the mass of a given substance divided by the amount of substance in moles.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the molar mass equation:

Where:

• \( MW \) — Molar mass (g/mol)
• Atomic masses — From periodic table values

Explanation: The calculator parses the chemical formula, identifies each element and its count, then sums the atomic masses of all atoms.

3. Importance of Molar Mass

Details: Molar mass is essential for converting between grams and moles, preparing solutions, stoichiometric calculations, and determining empirical/molecular formulas.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the chemical formula using standard notation (e.g., H2O for water, C6H12O6 for glucose). Subscripts should come immediately after element symbols.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between molecular weight and molar mass?
A: While often used interchangeably, molecular weight refers to the mass of one molecule (in atomic mass units), while molar mass refers to the mass of one mole of substance (in grams per mole).

Q2: How do I calculate molar mass for hydrates?
A: Include the water molecules in the formula (e.g., CuSO4·5H2O). The calculator will account for all atoms.

Q3: What about parentheses in formulas?
A: This basic calculator doesn't handle complex formulas with parentheses. For such cases, manual calculation may be needed.

Q4: Why are the atomic masses not whole numbers?
A: Atomic masses account for natural isotopic abundance. For example, chlorine has isotopes Cl-35 and Cl-37, resulting in an average atomic mass of ~35.45.

Q5: Can I use this for ionic compounds?
A: Yes, the calculator works for both molecular and ionic compounds as long as you input the correct formula (e.g., NaCl for sodium chloride).