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 grams per mole (g/mol).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Steps:

1. Parse the chemical formula into elements and their counts
2. Look up atomic masses from periodic table
3. Multiply each element's atomic mass by its count in the formula
4. Sum all the contributions

3. Importance of Molar Mass

Applications: Essential for stoichiometric calculations, preparing solutions, determining molecular formulas, and converting between mass and moles in chemical reactions.

4. Using the Calculator

Instructions: Enter a valid chemical formula (e.g., H2O, C6H12O6, NaCl). Element symbols must be properly capitalized (first letter uppercase, second lowercase if applicable).

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 accurate are these calculations?
A: Accuracy depends on the precision of the atomic masses used. This calculator uses standard atomic weights.

Q3: Does this work for ionic compounds?
A: Yes, the calculation is the same for both molecular and ionic compounds.

Q4: What if my element isn't recognized?
A: The calculator currently includes common elements. More can be added to the atomic mass array.

Q5: How are parentheses handled in formulas?
A: This basic version doesn't handle parentheses or complex formulas like (NH4)2SO4.