Periodic Table &

Relative Atomic
Mass
Relative Atomic, Molecular and Formula
Masses
• Because the mass of atoms is extremely small,
Relative Atomic Mass is used to compare their
masses.
• A carbon-12 atom has been assigned a mass of
12.00 atomic mass units or amu. This means that
1/12th the mass of a carbon-12 atom has a mass
of 1.00 amu. Relative atomic mass
compares the masses of atoms to this value.
Relative Atomic Mass

•Relative Atomic Mass (Ar) is the average

mass of one atom of an element
compared to one twelfth the mass of an
atom of carbon-12.
Relative Atomic Mass
• The word 'average' is used in the definition
because relative atomic mass takes into account
the relative abundance of each isotope. Relative
atomic mass has no units because it is a
comparative value.
• The masses of covalent and ionic compounds
are also compared to the carbon-12 atom
Relative Molecular Mass
• The term Relative Molecular Mass is used when
referring to covalently bonded elements or
compounds
• Relative molecular mass (Mr) is the average mass
of one molecule of an element or compound
compared to one-twelfth the mass of an atom of
carbon-12.
Relative Formula Mass
• The term Relative Formula Mass is used when
referring to ionic compounds
• Relative formula mass is the average mass of one
formula unit of an ionic compound compared to
one-twelfth the mass of an atom of carbon-12.
Calculating relative atomic, molecular and
formula masses
• The relative atomic mass of each element, to the
nearest whole number, can be found in the periodic
table.
• Relative molecular mass and relative formula mass are
calculated by adding together the relative atomic
masses of all elements present in the compound.
Examples
Relative Atomic Masses
• Aluminium, Al =

• Sulphur, S =

• Calcium, Ca =
Relative Atomic Masses
• Aluminium, Al = 27

• Sulphur, S = 32

• Calcium, Ca = 40
Relative Molecular Masses
• Hydrogen, H2

• Sulphur trioxide, SO3

• Glucose, C6H12O6
Relative Molecular Masses
• Hydrogen, H2
• Relative Molecular Mass of H2 = (2×1) = 2

• Sulphur trioxide, SO3

• Relative Molecular Mass of SO3 = 32 + (3×16) = 80

• Glucose, C6H12O6
• Relative Molecular Mass of C6H12O6 = (6×12) + (12×1) + (6×16) = 180
Relative Formula Masses
• Potassium sulfide, K2S

• Magnesium nitrate, Mg(NO3)2

Relative Formula Masses
• Potassium sulfide, K2S
• Relative Formula Mass 0f K2S = (2×39) + 32 = 110

• Magnesium nitrate, Mg(NO3)2

• Relative Formula Mass of Mg(NO 3)2 = 24 + 2×(14 + (3×16)) = 148
Mixed Examples
of Relative
Molecular and
Formula Masses
• H2O

• NaCl

• CaCO3

• HCl

• H2SO4

• KNO3

• Na2SO4
• H2O = 2(1) + 16 = 18

• NaCl = 23 + 35.5 = 58.5

• CaCO3 = 40 + 12 + 3(16) = 100

• HCl = 1 + 35.5 = 36.5

• H2SO4 = 2(1) + 32 + 4(16) = 98

• KNO3 = 39 + 14 + 48 = 111

• Na2SO4 = 2(23) + 32 + 4(16) = 142