How to convert a molecular formula into molar mass

Converting a molecular formula into molar mass involves determining the atomic masses of the elements present in the formula and calculating the total mass of the compound. Here are the steps to follow: Identify the elements in the molecular formula: Look at the chemical formula and identify the symbols for each element present. For example, in the molecular formula H2O (water), the elements are hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O). Determine the atomic mass of each element: Consult the periodic table to find the atomic masses of the elements. The atomic mass is usually given in atomic mass units (amu). For example, the atomic mass of hydrogen is approximately amu, and the atomic mass of oxygen is approximately amu. Count the number of atoms for each element: Examine the subscripts in the molecular formula to determine the number of atoms of each element. For example, in H2O, there are two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Calculate the contribution of each element: Multiply the atomic mass of each element by the number of atoms present in the formula. For example, in H2O, the contribution of hydrogen is 2 x amu = amu, and the contribution of oxygen is 1 x amu = amu. Sum up the contributions: Add up the contributions of all the elements in the formula to obtain the molar mass of the compound. For H2O, the molar mass would be amu amu = amu. Convert to grams per mole (g/mol): The molar mass is expressed in grams per mole. So, if the molar mass is given in amu, you need to convert it to grams per mole by multiplying by the molar mass constant, which is approximately 1 g/mol. Following these steps, you can convert a molecular formula into molar mass. Remember to consider any parentheses or brackets in the formula and calculate the mass accordingly.
Back to Top