ATOMIC MASS

Main Idea: The atomic mass of an element

1 amu = 1.660539  1024 g
is derived from the masses of its stable
Dividing the mass of an atom with the atomic mass unit gives the isotopes.
relative atomic mass of an element.

Since elements may exist in different isotopic forms, a representative atomic mass for an element – the average atomic
mass – is obtained. Average atomic mass is the value indicated in the periodic table. It is the weighted average of the atomic masses
of the known stable isotopes of an element based on percent isotopic abundances. Carbon, for instance, has several known isotopes
(C-12, C-13, and C- 14), but only C-12 and C-13 are found stable and in relativity significant amounts in nature. These two isotopes
are the only ones considered in determining the average atomic mass of carbon.

Average atomic mass of C = (atomic mass of 𝟏𝟐𝟔𝐂  abundance of 𝟏𝟐𝟔𝐂) + (atomic mass of 𝟏𝟑𝟔𝐂  abundance of𝟏𝟑𝟔𝐂)

= (12.00 amu  0.9893) + (13.0034 amu  .0107)

= 11.872 amu + 0.139 amu

= 12.011 amu  12.01 amu

Using this example, the mass (in grams) of an atom of carbon can be easily calculated from the atomic mass in amu.

𝟏.𝟔𝟔𝟎𝟓𝟑𝟗 ×𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟒 𝒈
mass of C atom = 12.01 amu  = 1.9943  1023 g
𝟏 𝒂𝒎𝒖

AVOGADRO’S NUMBER AND THE MOLE CONCEPT

The Avogadro’s number (NA) is a constant used to quantify the number of particles of an element (atoms, ions) or
compound (molecules, formula units). Note that molecule is the particle unit of covalent compounds; formula unit refers to that of
ionic compounds. Named in honor of the Italian scientist Amadeo Avogadro, the Avogadro’s number has the value 6.022141  1023,
which is commonly rounded off to 6.022  1023.
The mole (symbol: mol) is a term used to refer to the quantity of particles of a substance (atoms, ions, molecules, or
formula units) that is equal to the Avogadro’s number.

1 mol = 6.022  1023

It is more convenient to refer to the amount of a substance in moles rather than in number of particles. The concept of
mole relates the atomic scale to the macroscale of matter; that is, from atoms to moles to grams or liters, and vice versa. It also links
the atomic scale to the gram scale. The amu is used in the atomic scale, and gram is used in the molar scale. An atom of copper has a
mass of 63.55 amu, while a mole of copper atoms has a mass of 63.55 g.

𝟏.𝟔𝟔𝟎𝟓𝟑𝟗 ×𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟒 𝒈
mass of Cu atom = 63.55 amu  = 1.05  1022 g
𝟏 𝒂𝒎𝒖

mass of 1 mol Cu atoms = (1.05  1022 g)  (6.022  1023) = 63. 55 g

The mass of one mole of an element or compound is called its molar mass (MM), which is numerically equal to the atomic
mass of the element, the molecular mass of a covalent compound, or the formula mass of an ionic compound. Expressed in
grams/mole, the molar mass is obtained as the sum of the product of the atomic masses and the number of atoms of every element
that comprise the compound.

Examlpe : Calculate the molar mass of sodium phosphate (Na3PO4). What will be the mass in grams of one mole of Na 3PO4? (atomic
masses: Na= 22.99 amu, P= 30.97 amu, O= 16.00 amu)

Solution:

formula mass of Na3PO4 = (atomic mass of Na 3) + (atomic mass of P  1) + (atomic mass of O  4)
= (22.99 amu  3) + (30.97 amu  1) + (16.00 amu  4)
= 68.97 amu + 30.97 amu + 64.00 amu
= 163.94 amu
The molar mass of Na3PO4 is 163.94 g/mol, the same value for the mass of Na3PO4 formula unit (in amu) but different in scales.

GENERAL CHEMISTRY_AAZ_’18-‘19 Page 1

 The mole concept and Avogadro’s number allow for the calculation of the number of particles from a given number of
moles and vice versa. They are also used to convert the mole of a substance to its mass and vice versa.

multiply divide by
with NA MM
number of atoms/ions/
molecules/formula moles Mass of substance
units multiply
divide by
NA with MM

Sample Problems:
1. Determine the number of atoms and the mass of 0.85 mole of copper.
Main Idea: Mole refers to an Avogadro’s
Solution: number of particles of matter.

𝟔.𝟎𝟐𝟐 ×𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬

number of Cu atoms = 0.85 mol  = 5.12 1023
𝟏 𝐦𝐨𝐥
𝟔𝟑.𝟓𝟓 𝐠
mass of Cu = 0.85 mol  = 54.02 g
𝟏 𝐦𝐨𝐥

2. How many grams and atoms of hydrogen are present in 65 grams of glucose (C 6H12O6), which has a molar mass of 180.16 g/mol?

Solution:
A molecule of C6H12O6 is made up of six atoms of carbon, twelve atoms of hydrogen, and six atoms of oxygen.

𝟏 𝐦𝐨𝐥 𝐂𝟔𝐇𝟏𝟐𝐎𝟔 𝟏𝟐 𝐦𝐨𝐥 𝐇

mole of H atoms = 65 g C6H12O6   = 4.3 mol
𝟏𝟖𝟎.𝟏𝟔 𝐠 𝐂𝟔𝐇𝟏𝟐𝐎𝟔 𝟏 𝐦𝐨𝐥 𝐂𝟔𝐇𝟏𝟐𝐎𝟔

𝟏.𝟎𝟎𝟖 𝐠
mass of H atoms = 4.3 mol  = 4.4 g
𝟏 𝐦𝐨𝐥

𝟔.𝟎𝟐𝟐 ×𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐇 𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬

number of H atoms = 4.3 mol H  = 2.59  1024
𝟏 𝐦𝐨𝐥 𝐇

PERCENT COMPOSITION

The mass of each element in a chemical in a chemical formula as well as its percent composition in the compound may be
obtained. The general formula for calculating the percent composition of an element in a compound is given by

(𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀) (𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝)

%A=  100
𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝

where A is the element of interest.

Sample Problem: Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) is commonly used as an additive in the manufacture of glass, or as water softener and
neutralizer for chlorine in pools. It is commonly known as soda ash or washing soda. What are the percentages of each element in
the compound? (atomic masses: Na= 22.99 amu, C= 12.01 amu, O= 16.00 amu)

Solution:
formula mass of Na2CO3= (atomic mass of Na  2) + (atomic mass of C  1) + (atomic mass of O  3)
= (22.99 amu  2) + (12.01 amu  1) + (16.00 amu  3)
= 45.98 amu + 12.01 amu + 48.00 amu
= 105.99 amu
Applying the general formula for percent composition for each constituent element,
𝟒𝟓.𝟗𝟖 𝐚𝐦𝐮
% Na =  100 = 43.38 %
𝟏𝟎𝟓.𝟗𝟗 𝐚𝐦𝐮
𝟏𝟐.𝟎𝟏 𝐚𝐦𝐮
% C=  100 = 11.33 %
𝟏𝟎𝟓.𝟗𝟗 𝐚𝐦𝐮
𝟒𝟖.𝟎𝟎 𝐚𝐦𝐮
% O = 𝟏𝟎𝟓.𝟗𝟗 𝐚𝐦𝐮  100 = 45.29 %
The percent composition of all the elements composing a particular compound should always add up to 100%.

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