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. The molar mass is typically expressed in grams per mole (g/mol).

2. How Molar Mass is Calculated

The molar mass is calculated by summing the atomic masses of all atoms in the chemical formula:

Example: For water (H₂O):

• 2 Hydrogen atoms: 2 × 1.008 g/mol = 2.016 g/mol
• 1 Oxygen atom: 1 × 15.999 g/mol = 15.999 g/mol
• Total molar mass = 2.016 + 15.999 = 18.015 g/mol

3. Importance of Molar Mass

Details: Molar mass is crucial for converting between grams and moles of a substance, which is fundamental in stoichiometric calculations, preparing solutions, and determining empirical and molecular formulas.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the chemical formula using standard notation (e.g., H2O, C6H12O6, NaCl). The calculator recognizes element symbols (case-sensitive) and subscripts.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

Q2: How do I calculate molar mass for hydrates?
A: Include the water molecules in the formula (e.g., CuSO₄·5H₂O would include 5 water molecules in the calculation).

Q3: What if my element isn't recognized?
A: The calculator includes common elements. For less common elements, you may need to calculate manually.

Q4: How accurate are the atomic masses used?
A: The calculator uses standard atomic weights from IUPAC. For precise work, use isotope-specific masses.

Q5: Can I calculate molar mass for ions?
A: Yes, but the calculator doesn't account for charge - use the neutral element's atomic mass.