1. What is Molar Mass?

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance (chemical element or chemical compound). The molar mass of a compound can be calculated by summing the exact atomic masses of its constituent atoms.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( MW \) — Molar mass (g/mol)
• Each atomic mass is the exact weight of the isotope
• The sum includes all atoms in the chemical formula

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

3. Importance of Exact Weight Calculation

Details: Exact molar mass calculations are essential for stoichiometric calculations, preparing solutions with precise concentrations, and mass spectrometry applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the chemical formula using standard notation (e.g., H2O for water, C6H12O6 for glucose). Case matters - element symbols start with uppercase letters.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between molar mass and molecular weight?
A: They are often used interchangeably, but molar mass specifically refers to the mass of one mole of a substance, while molecular weight is technically dimensionless.

Q2: Why use exact atomic masses instead of average atomic masses?
A: Exact masses are needed for precise calculations in mass spectrometry and when working with specific isotopes.

Q3: How are parentheses handled in formulas?
A: This calculator handles simple formulas without parentheses. For complex formulas like Ca(OH)2, use a more advanced calculator.

Q4: What elements are supported?
A: Common elements from hydrogen to calcium are included. For less common elements, the database would need to be expanded.

Q5: How accurate are the calculations?
A: The calculations are as accurate as the atomic mass data used, typically to 4-6 decimal places for exact masses.