: also called molecular weights, formula weights, or atomic masses (however

normally the units for atomic masses are in Daltons (Da) or amu)
Calculating molecular weights of compounds and formula weights of ionic
compounds:
Using the number of atoms present in the compound and the molecular weight of
the individual atoms or ions, we can calculate an overall molecular weight for the
entire compound.
Molecular weight of the compound = sum of the atomic mass of the elements
present in the compound.
Example: Molecular weight of C
2

!
2C atoms = 2 " #2.$#
g
%
mole
= 2&.$2
g
%
mole
! atoms = !" #.$$'
g
%
mole
= !.$&'
g
%
mole
(hen the individual atomic masses are summed 2&.$2)!.$&' =
*$.$+
g
%
mole
Example: Molecular weight of ,l-./
*
0
*
# ,l = #" 2!.1'
g
%
mole
= 2!.1'
g
%
mole
*. = *" #&.$#
g
%
mole
= &2.$*
g
%
mole
1/ -remember * sets of ./
*
means 9 oxygens total!!) =
9*1!99
g
"mole = 1#$!91
g
"mole
%hen ta&e the sum: '(!9)*#'!+$*1#$!91 = '1'!9'
g
"mole
Molar Mass: the mass of a substance per # mole of its entities -atoms, molecules,
ions, or formula units0. Units for molar mass are
grams
%
mole
. /nce again, the periodic
table is used to calculate the molar mass -previousl2 we called this molecular mass
3 it4s the same thing550
#.0 to 6nd the molar mass of an element, simpl2 loo7 at the atomic mass of an
element on the periodic table.
a.0 monatomic elements: Cu, 8e, Mg etc . . . (heir molar mass value is
the same as their amu value 3 thus the molar mass of Cu is !*.99
grams
%
mole
: for 8e it4s 99.'9
grams
%
mole

: and for Mg it4s 2&.*#
grams
%
mole
.
b.0 diatomic elements: ;
2
:
2
, .
2
, /
2
, 8
2
, Cl
2
, <r
2
, =
2
: have to ta7e into
account that there are 2 things present5 >o the molar mass of /
2
is
2xmolar mass of # ox2gen:
/
2
molar mass
2 x #9.111& = *#.11''
grams
%
mole
c.0 the same applies to sulfur, whose ma?or form exists as >
'
>
'
molar mass
' x *2.$!! = 29!.92'
grams
%
mole
1
2.0 to 6nd the molar mass%molecular mass of a compound, we perform the
same calculation . . .
a.0 for ionic compounds we call this the formula weight: Cr
2
->/
&
0
*
this species results from Cr
)*
) >/
&
@2

it would be named: chromium -===0 sulfate
(he formula weight would be determined b2 ta7ing the sum of
all the atoms present in the compound:
Cr
2
->/
&
0
*
Cr = 2 x 9#.11!# = #$*.1122
> = * x *2.$!! = 1!.#1'
/ = #2 x #9.111& = #1#.112'
,dding the masses of the atoms together we get:
#$*.1122 ) 1!.#1' ) #1#.112' = *12.#'*
grams
%
mole
(he KEY point is that the subscript in the formula refers to the number
of atoms%ions present in the compound 3 and the parentheses indicate
multiplication 3 remember ->/
&
0
*
indicates * >/
&
@2
groups: so we have
>/
&
@2
) >/
&
@2
) >/
&
@2
adding up the atoms present we see the * sulfurs
and the &)&)& = #2 ox2gens. (he subscripts also indicate the number
of moles of atoms or ions present.
(he mole is useful as it allows one to calculate the mass -g, 7g, Ag0 of a
substance in a particular sample if 2ou 7now the moles of the substance -we4ll
use this when we tal7 about solutions5550. =f 2ou 7now the mass of a
substance 2ou can inversel2 calculate the number of moles:
moles grams /B grams moles U>E molecular weight5
Bemember the units for molecular weight are
grams
%
mole
>o it can be used as the conversion factor between the two
species55
Given: 2.50 moles of Fe want to know ? grams
2.9$ moles 8e x
,e mole 1
,e grams !)#-
= #.&$ x #$
2
grams 8e
Given: 45.789 grams of Fe want to know ? moles
'
&9.+'1 grams of 8e x
,e grams !)#-
,e mole 1
= '.#11$ x #$
@#
moles
Given: 25.2 moles of !l
2
"#$
4
%
&
want to know ? grams
>tep #: calculate molecular weight of ,l
2
->/
&
0
*

>tep 2: convert moles to grams
following steps above:
,l
2
->/
&
0
*
,l: 2 x 2!.1'#9 = 9*.1!*$
>: * x *2.$!! = 1!.#1'
/: #2 x #9.111&= #1#.112'
>um = 9*.1!*$)1!.#1')#1#.112' = *&2.#9&
grams
%
mole
29.#2 moles ,l
2
->/
&
0
*
x
$ # '
$ # '
) (./ 0l mole 1
) (./ 0l grams $#'!1#
= '.919 x #$
*
grams
,l
2
->/
&
0
*
Given: 500.2& grams of !l
2
"#$
4
%
&
want to know ? moles
9$$.2* grams ,l
2
->/
&
0
*
x
$ # '
$ # '
) (./ 0l grams $#'!1#
) (./ 0l mole 1
= #.&!2$ grams
,l
2
->/
&
0
*
1ut 2 what exactly 3. this mole thing44

: the central concept of chemistr2.
(2picall2, we perform a chemical reaction, and we ta7e grams of substance , and
react it with grams of substance <. <ut if we examine what is reall2 going on, we
are tal7ing about this chemical reaction as each atom or molecule reacts with other
atoms or molecules. /C then can we tal7 about Duantities of things that are ?ust
soooooo small. Ce are not as7ed to go into the balance room and weigh out 9
molecules of , . . . but we can, using this concept of the mole, determine how man2
molecules%atoms are involved in chemical reactions.
(he mole -n0: a unit derived b2 chemists to count up the chemical entities involved
in chemical reactions which can be determined b2 weighing the substance.
@de6ned as the amount of a substance that contains the same number of
entities as there are atoms in exactl2 #2 grams of
#2
C.
@ the mole speci6es the number of ob?ects in a 6xed mass, therefore # mole of
a substance represents a 6xed number of chemical entities
# mole of substance = !.$22 x #$
2*
entities
$
(hin7 about the siEe of this number. #$
1
is a billion. #$
#'
is a billion billion. #$
2*
is
one hundred thousand billion billion. =f 2ou had !.$22 x #$
2*
dollars 2ou could spend
a billion dollars a second for 2our entire lifetime and still have used less than
$.$$#F of 2our mone2. =f C atoms were the siEe of peas, !.$22 x #$
2*
of them would
cover the entire surface of our planet to a depth of over #$$m55
those entities could be atoms, molecules, formula units, ions
# mole
#2
C = !.$22 x #$
2*
carbon atoms
# mole
2
/ = !.$22 x #$
2*

2
/ molecules
# mole .aCl = !.$22 x #$
2*
formula units
# mole of electrons = !.$22 x #$
2*
electrons
# mole of .a
)#
ions = !.$22 x #$
2*
.a
)#
ions
# mole of electrons = !.$22 x #$
2*
electrons
(here are several relationships to be familiar with: the 6rst is:
#Ga = #u = # amu = #.!!$! x #$
@2&
grams
example: Calculate the number of grams in one
#
atom
#
= #.$$+' amu x =

amu
g x
1
1+ ((+( ! 1
'#
#.!+x #$
@2&
grams
Calculating the grams of a molecule is treated the same wa2 3 except 3 2ou must
sum the amu values for each element present -?ust li7e we will do for calculating
molecular masses0
Example: calculate the number of grams in one molecule of
2
/
#
= #.$$+' amu x 2 atoms = 2.$#9! amu
#!
/ = #9.111& amu x #/ atom = #9.111& amu
total amu = #9.111& ) 2.$#9! = #'.$#9$ amu

2
/ = #'.$#9$ amu x =

amu
g x
1
1+ ((+( ! 1
'#
2.11#! x #$
@2*
grams
(he central relationship between the mass of # atom and the mass of # mole of
those atoms comes from the periodic table. (he atomic mass is expressed in amu
-u, or Ga03 which is numericall2 eDuivalent to the mass of one mole of atoms of the
element expressed in
g
%
mole
.
@ (hus, # .a atom has a mass of 22.11 amu = # mole of .a atoms with a
mass of 22.11 g
@ # >i atom has a mass of 2'.$1 amu = # mole of >i atoms with a mass of
2'.$1 g
@ (herefore, our units can be
g
%
mole
. (his means that we can sa2 that #.$$+'
amu = #.$$+'
grams
%
mole
.
#
Hthe mon7e2 wrenchI
,nother relationship exists that 2ou should be aware of. =t is G=88EBE.( than the
relationship between grams and moles and the two should ./( be confused.
,vogadro4s .umber -.
,
0 is used to calculate the number of entities 3 e.g. atoms,
molecules, formula units, ions, etc in # mole of substance. ./(=CE it is not used for
grams55 Grams to moles an' moles to grams onl( )ses t*e mole+)lar
weig*t,,
,vogadro4s .umber is used to convert:
Moles to atoms
Moles to ions
Moles to molecules
Moles to formula units
,vogadro4s .umber = !.$22 x #$
2*

5 moles
5 entities
Given: 4 moles of +ar-on want to know ? atoms
& moles Carbon x
car6on of mole 1
car6on of atoms (!+''x1+
'$
= 2.&$1 x #$
2&
atoms of
carbon
Given: . grams of +ar-on want to know ? atoms
>tep #: convert grams to moles -using MC0
>tep 2: convert moles to atoms -using .
,
0
#! grams x
7 grams 1'!++
7 mole 1
= #.** moles of Carbon
#.** moles C x
car6on of mole 1
car6on of atoms (!+''x1+
'$
= '.$$ x #$
2*
atoms of
carbon
Given: et*(lene w*i+* +onsists of /
2
0
4
mole+)les. 0ow man(
atoms of / are in 2.50 moles of /
2
0
4
an' *ow man( atoms of 0
are in 2.50 moles of /
2
0
4
?
.ote: # mole of C
2

&
contains 2 moles of C and & moles of
2.9$ moles C
2

&
x
# '
8 7 mole 1
7 mole '
x
car6on of mole 1
car6on of atoms (!+''x1+
'$
= *.$# x #$
2&
C
atoms

2.9$ moles C
2

&
x
# '
8 7 mole 1
8 moles #
x
8ydrogen of mole 1
8 of atoms (!+''x1+
'$
= !.$2 x #$
2&

atoms
Given: 0ow man( /a ions are t*ere in 4.5. grams of +al+i)m
+*lori'e? 0ow man( +*lori'e ions are t*ere in 4.5. grams of
+al+i)m +*lori'e?
>tep #: write molecular formula for calcium chloride
>tep 2: calculate 8C -formula weight0 for calcium chloride
>tep *: convert grams to moles using answer from >tep 2
>tep &: convert moles to atoms using .
,
Calcium chloride = Ca
)2
) Cl
@#
= CaCl
2
CaCl
2
= Ca: # x &$.$+' = &$.$+'
Cl: 2 x *9.&9* = +$.1$!
8C = &$.$+' ) +$.1$! = ##$.1'&
grams
%
mole
&.9! grams CaCl2 x
'
'
7a7l grams 11+!9)#
7a7l mole 1
x
'
7a7l mole 1
7a mole 1
x
7a of mole 1
ions 7a (!+''x1+
' '$ +
= 2.47 1 0
22
/a
22
ions
&.9! grams CaCl2 x
'
'
7a7l grams 11+!9)#
7a7l mole 1
x
'
7a7l mole 1
7l mole '
x
7l of mole 1
ions 7l (!+''x1+
91 '$
= 4.95 1 0
22

/l
3
ions
Given: 4.5. g of +al+i)m +*lori'e ? form)la )nits 'o (o) *ave
&.9! grams CaCl
2
x
'
'
7a7l grams 11+!9)#
7a7l mole 1
x
'
'
'$
7a7l of mole 1
7a7l of units formula (!+''x1+
= 2.&+ x#$
22

formula

units of CaCl
2
Each element in a compound ma7es up its own percentage of that compound. ,
certain F of the mass of CaCl
2
is attributed to the calcium and a certain F of the
mass of CaCl
2
is attributed to the chlorine -chloride0. ,s with an2 F @ the sum of the
parts should add up to #$$5
(he mass F of a particular element in the compound can be calculated b2 the
following eDuation:
Mass F of element ; =
com:ound of mole 1 of (grams) mass
mole)
grams
( 5 of mass molar formula in 5 moles
x
(
Given: ! +om4o)n' wit* t*e mole+)lar form)la /
&
0
4
$ is known as
a+rolein. ? mass 4er+ent of ea+* element in a+rolein. ? grams of
o1(gen in 44.5 mg of a+rolein
(here are * moles of C for ever2 & moles of for ever2 # mole of / in
acrolein.
Jnowing the moles of each element, calculate grams
* moles C x
7 moles 1
7 g 1'!+++
= *!.$$$ grams C in # mole
& moles x
8 moles 1
8 g 1!++-)
= &.$*#2 grams in # mole
# mole / x
/ moles 1
/ g 1!999
= #9.111 grams / in # mole
(otal mass of acrolein = *!.$$$)&.$*#2)#9.111 = 9!.$*$
grams
%
#mole
Mass F of carbon =
acrolein (!+$+g
7 g $(!+++
x#$$ = !&.29#F C
Mass F of h2drogen =
acrolein (!+$+g
8 g #!+$1'
x #$$ = +.#19F
Mass F of ox2gen =
acrolein (!+$+g
/ g 1!999
x #$$ = 2'.99&F /
Math chec7: !&.29#F)+.#19F)2'.99&F = 00.0005
>ample of acrolein #&&.9 mg K grams of /:
Convert #&&.9mg to grams: #&&.9 mg x
mg 1+++
grams 1
= $.#&&9 grams
,crolein is composed of 2'.99&F /, so 2'.99&F of $.#&&9 grams is
ox2gen
$.#&&9 grams x $.2'99& = $.$&#2! or &.#2! x #$
@2
grams of ox2gen in
#&&.9 mg of acrolein
-
Chen given the chemical formula for a compound, 2ou can see how eas2 it is to
determine mass percent of each element present in the compound. Chat if onl2
the mass percents were givenK Could 2ou use that information in reverse to predict
the molecular formulaK
Ce are going to determine the subscripts -the number of moles0 of each atom
present in the compound. Chemists will ta7e a sample compound, brea7 it down
into its components, calculate the number of grams, convert that to moles, and then
convert the number of moles into a whole number ratio. (his is a valid
representation of the formula, however, this is the empirical formula.
(he HproblemI with the empirical formula is that it is the smallest whole number
ratio of the elements present in the compound, and therefore it ma2 not be an
accurate representation of the compound itself. -C
2

2
is ./( C
!

!
even though the2
have the same empirical formula550 <ut nonetheless, the2 are useful and can be
used to help determine the molecular formula.
Calculating the Empirical 8ormula:
#. =f given grams, convert grams to moles
2. Givide through b2 the lowest number of moles
*. (hese numbers are the subscripts, but remember 3 the2 must be whole
numbers -no partial atoms exist550 2ou therefore M,L have to multipl2 through
b2 the smallest integer that will turn all numbers into whole numbers. Chat
2ou do to one number 3 2ou must must must must must do to all the others.
8or example: if 2ou calculated that 2ou have 2 moles of ,, 2.9 moles of <, and #
mole of C, 2ou will notice that 2.9 is not a whole number. Ce need to ma7e it so,
therefore we multipl2 b2 the >M,MME>( number that will ma7e it a whole number.
Multipl2ing b2 # gets us nowhere. Chat about 2K Les, that wor7s. <U( we must
multipl2 ever2thing b2 25 (herefore we will have & moles of ,, 9 moles of <, and
2 moles of C.
#. =f given F of atoms, assume #$$F and ?ust turn the F into grams
2. Covert the grams to moles
*. Givide through b2 the lowest number of moles
&. (hese numbers are the subscripts, but remember 3 the2 must be whole
numbers -no partial atoms exist550 2ou therefore M,L have to multipl2 through
b2 the smallest integer that will turn all numbers into whole numbers. Chat
2ou do to one number 3 2ou must must must must must do to all the others.
)
ow do empirical formulas tie into molecular formulasKK (he2 each contain the
same atoms -e.g. if we have an empirical formula of C, the molecular formula will
also have C in it 3 and nothing else550 but the diNerence is, molecular formulas are
some whole number multiple of the empirical formula: C could mean C
2

2
or C
&

&
or C
!

!
. (hus, if we 7now -are given0 the molar mass of the compound, we can
compare our empirical formula mass to the given molar mass. =f the2 are the same,
then we have an empirical formula that is the molecular formula. =f the2 are
diNerent, then we must 6nd the whole number multiple5
Getermining the Chole .umber Multiple:
whole@number multiple =
mole
grams
in mass formula em:irical
given) (
mole
grams
in mass molar

Bemember that the whole number multiple applies to ,MM the elements in the
compound5
,nother t2pe of chemical reaction to be aware of is the combustion reaction.
Combustion is used to measure the amount of h2drogen and carbon in an organic
substance as it burns in the presence of ox2gen. ,ll of the h2drogen is converted or

2
/, while all of the carbon is converted to C/
2
. =f the organic compound contains
a halogen, nitrogen, or ox2gen, simple math -550 can be used to determine its mass.
Ce will 7now the mass of the components at the end of the combustion reaction
and we 7now the mass of the starting compounds. Conservation of mass tells us
that the mass must be conserved. Using addition%subtraction, the mass of the
missing component can be found.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
9