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# Chapter 1.7: The Mole and Molar Mass

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 Howard University General Chemistry: An Atoms First Approach Unit 1: Atomic Theory      Unit 2: Molecular Structure        Unit 3: Stoichiometry          Unit 4: Thermochem & Gases Unit 5:  States of Matter         Unit 6: Kinetics & Equilibria        Unit 7: Electro & Thermo Chemistry       Unit 8: Materials

### Learning Objectives

• To calculate the molecular mass of a covalent compound.
• To calculate the formula mass of an ionic compound.
• To calculate the number of atoms, molecules or formula units in a sample.

Chemistry is the study of how atoms and molecules interact with each other which occurs on the atomic scale. Chemists need a way of simply determining how many molecules they have in a beaker. The mole concept, which we will introduce here, bridges that gap by relating the mass of a single atom or molecule in amu to the mass of a collection of a large number of such molecules in grams.

As you learned, the mass number is the sum of the numbers of protons and neutrons present in the nucleus of an atom. The mass number is an integer that is approximately equal to the numerical value of the atomic mass. Although the mass number is unitless, it is assigned units called atomic mass units (amu). Because a molecule or a polyatomic ion is an assembly of atoms whose identities are given in its molecular or ionic formula, we can calculate the average atomic mass of any molecule or polyatomic ion from its composition by adding together the masses of the constituent atoms. The average mass of a monatomic ion is the same as the average mass of an atom of the element because the mass of electrons is so small that it is insignificant in most calculations. This is not much help in the laboratory for the typical chemist who only has a balance to weight out chemicals but needs to know how the number of atoms or molecules. Clearly something clever is needed but first let us briefly review how to calculated molecular masses.

## Molecular

The molecular mass The sum of the average masses of the atoms in one molecule of a substance, each multiplied by its subscript. of a substance is the sum of the average masses of the atoms in one molecule of a substance. It is calculated by adding together the atomic masses of the elements in the substance, each multiplied by its subscript (written or implied) in the molecular formula. Because the units of atomic mass are atomic mass units, the units of molecular mass are also atomic mass units. The procedure for calculating molecular masses is illustrated in Example 1.

### Example 1.7.1

Calculate the molecular mass of ethanol, whose condensed structural formula is CH3CH2OH. Among its many uses, ethanol is a fuel for internal combustion engines.

Given: molecule

Asked for: molecular mass

Strategy:

A Determine the number of atoms of each element in the molecule.

B Obtain the atomic masses of each element from the periodic table and multiply the atomic mass of each element by the number of atoms of that element.

C Add together the masses to give the molecular mass.

Solution:

A The molecular formula of ethanol may be written in three different ways: CH3CH2OH (which illustrates the presence of an ethyl group, CH3CH2−, and an −OH group), C2H5OH, and C2H6O; all show that ethanol has two carbon atoms, six hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom.

B Taking the atomic masses from the periodic table, we obtain

$$2 \times atomic;\ mass\;of\:carbon = 2\;atoms \left( {\dfrac{12.011amu}{atom}} \right) = 24.022\;amu$$

$$6 \times atomic;\ mass\;of\:hydrogen = 6\;atoms \left( {\dfrac{1.0079amu}{atom}} \right) = 6.0474\;amu$$

$$1 \times atomic;\ mass\;of\:oxygen = 1\;atoms \left( {\dfrac{15.9994amu}{atom}} \right) = 15.9994amu$$​

C Adding together the masses gives the molecular mass:

24.022 amu + 6.0474 amu + 15.9994 amu = 46.069 amu

Alternatively, we could have used unit conversions to reach the result in one step, as described in Essential Skills 2

$$\left [ 2\; atoms\: \; \left ( \dfrac{12.011\; amu}{1\, \; atom\; C} \right ) \right ] +$$​ $$\left [ 6\; atoms\: H\; \left ( \dfrac{1.0079\; amu}{1\, \; atom\; H} \right ) \right ]+$$ $$\left [ 1\; atoms\: O\; \left ( \dfrac{15.9994\; amu}{1\, \; atom\; O} \right ) \right ]$$

The same calculation can also be done in a tabular format, which is especially helpful for more complex molecules:

 2C (2 atoms)(12.011 amu/atom) = 24.022 amu 6H (6 atoms)(1.0079 amu/atom) = 6.0474 amu 1O (1 atoms)(15.9994 amu/atom) = 15.9994 amu C2H6O molecular mass of ethanol = 46.069 amu

#### Exercise

Calculate the molecular mass of trichlorofluoromethane, also known as Freon-11, whose condensed structural formula is CCl3F. Until recently, it was used as a refrigerant. The structure of a molecule of Freon-11 is as follows:

Answer: 137.368 amu

### Note the Pattern

Atomic mass, and molecular mass have the same units: atomic mass units.

## The Mole

In Dalton’s theory each chemical compound has a particular combination of atoms and that the ratios of the numbers of atoms of the elements present are usually small whole numbers. We also described the law of multiple proportions, which states that the ratios of the masses of elements that form a series of compounds are small whole numbers. The problem for Dalton and other early chemists was to discover the quantitative relationship between the number of atoms in a chemical substance and its mass. Because the masses of individual atoms are so minuscule (on the order of 10−23 g/atom), chemists do not measure the mass of individual atoms or molecules. In the laboratory, for example, the masses of compounds and elements used by chemists typically range from milligrams to grams, while in industry, chemicals are bought and sold in kilograms and tons. To analyze the transformations that occur between individual atoms or molecules in a chemical reaction it is therefore absolutely essential for chemists to know how many atoms or molecules are contained in a measurable quantity in the laboratory—a given mass of sample. The unit that provides this link is the mole (mol). The quantity of a substance that contains the same number of units (e.g., atoms or molecules) as the number of carbon atoms in exactly 12 g of isotopically pure carbon-12., from the Latin moles, meaning “pile” or “heap” (not from the small subterranean animal!).

Many familiar items are sold in numerical quantities that have unusual names. For example, cans of soda come in a six-pack, eggs are sold by the dozen (12), and pencils often come in a gross (12 dozen, or 144). Sheets of printer paper are packaged in reams of 500, a seemingly large number. Atoms are so small, however, that even 500 atoms are too small to see or measure by most common techniques. Any readily measurable mass of an element or compound contains an extraordinarily large number of atoms, molecules, or ions, so an extraordinarily large numerical unit is needed to count them. The mole is used for this purpose.

A mole is defined as the amount of a substance that contains the number of carbon atoms in exactly 12 g of isotopically pure carbon-12. According to the most recent experimental measurements, this mass of carbon-12 contains 6.022142 × 1023 atoms, but for most purposes 6.022 × 1023 provides an adequate number of significant figures. Just as 1 mol of atoms contains 6.022 × 1023 atoms, 1 mol of eggs contains 6.022 × 1023 eggs. The number in a mole is called Avogadro’s number: 6.022142 x 1023, after the 19th-century Italian scientist who first proposed how to measure the number of molecules in a gas. Since the mass of the gas can also be measured on a sensitive balance, knowing both the number of molecules and their total mass allows us to simply determine the mass of a single molecule in grams.

The mole provides a bridge between the atomic world (amu) and the laboratory (grams). It allows determination of the number of molecules or atoms by weighing them. The numerical value of Avogadro's number, usually written as No, is a consequence of the arbitrary value of one kilogram, a block of Pt-Ir metal called the International Prototype Kilogram, and the choice of reference for the atomic mass unit scale, one atom of carbon-12. A mole of C-12 by definition weighs exactly 12 g and Avogadro's number is determined by counting the number of atoms. It is not so easy. Avogadro's number is the fundamental constant that is least accurately determined.

The definition of a mole—that is, the decision to base it on 12 g of carbon-12—is arbitrary but one arrived at after some discussion between chemists and physicists debating about whether to use naturally occurring carbon, a mixture of C-12 and C-13, or hydrogen. The important point is that 1 mol of carbon—or of anything else, whether atoms, compact discs, or houses—always has the same number of objects: 6.022 × 1023.

In the following video, Prof. Steve Boon shows how Avogadro's hypothesis can be used to measure the molecular masses of He, N2 and CO2. Follow along and record the measurements to get the relative masses. When we consider the behavior of gases in Unit 5, we can use the data to calculate the molecular weight of each gas. This method was, until the invention of the mass spectrometer, the best way of measuring molecular weights of gas molecules

### Note the Pattern

One mole always has the same number of objects: 6.022 × 1023.

To appreciate the magnitude of Avogadro’s number, consider a mole of pennies. Stacked vertically, a mole of pennies would be 4.5 × 1017 mi high, or almost six times the diameter of the Milky Way galaxy. If a mole of pennies were distributed equally among the entire population on Earth, each person would get more than one trillion dollars. Clearly, the mole is so large that it is useful only for measuring very small objects, such as atoms.

The concept of the mole allows us to count a specific number of individual atoms and molecules by weighing measurable quantities of elements and compounds. To obtain 1 mol of carbon-12 atoms, we would weigh out 12 g of isotopically pure carbon-12. Because each element has a different atomic mass, however, a mole of each element has a different mass, even though it contains the same number of atoms (6.022 × 1023). This is analogous to the fact that a dozen extra large eggs weighs more than a dozen small eggs, or that the total weight of 50 adult humans is greater than the total weight of 50 children. Because of the way in which the mole is defined, for every element the number of grams in a mole is the same as the number of atomic mass units in the atomic mass of the element. For example, the mass of 1 mol of magnesium (atomic mass = 24.305 amu) is 24.305 g. Because the atomic mass of magnesium (24.305 amu) is slightly more than twice that of a carbon-12 atom (12 amu), the mass of 1 mol of magnesium atoms (24.305 g) is slightly more than twice that of 1 mol of carbon-12 (12 g). Similarly, the mass of 1 mol of helium (atomic mass = 4.002602 amu) is 4.002602 g, which is about one-third that of 1 mol of carbon-12. Using the concept of the mole, we can now restate Dalton’s theory: 1 mol of a compound is formed by combining elements in amounts whose mole ratios are small whole numbers. For example, 1 mol of water (H2O) has 2 mol of hydrogen atoms and 1 mol of oxygen atoms.

## Molar Mass

The molar mass is defined as the mass in grams of 1 mol of that substance. One mole of isotopically pure carbon-12 has a mass of 12 g. For an element, the molar mass is the mass of 1 mol of atoms of that element; for a covalent molecular compound, it is the mass of 1 mol of molecules of that compound; for an ionic compound, it is the mass of 1 mol of formula units. That is, the molar mass of a substance is the mass (in grams per mole) of 6.022 × 1023 atoms, molecules, or formula units of that substance. In each case, the number of grams in 1 mol is the same as the number of atomic mass units that describe the atomic mass, the molecular mass, or the formula mass, respectively.

### Note the Pattern

The molar mass of any substance is its atomic mass, molecular mass, or formula mass in grams per mole.

The periodic table lists the atomic mass of carbon as 12.011 amu; the average molar mass of carbon—the mass of 6.022 × 1023 carbon atoms—is therefore 12.011 g/mol:

Substance (formula) Atomic, Molecular, or Formula Mass (amu) Molar Mass (g/mol)
carbon (C) 12.011 (atomic mass) 12.011
ethanol (C2H5OH) 46.069 (molecular mass) 46.069
calcium phosphate [Ca3(PO4)2] 310.177 (formula mass) 310.177

The molar mass of naturally occurring carbon is different from that of carbon-12 and is not an integer because carbon occurs as a mixture of carbon-12, carbon-13, and carbon-14. One mole of carbon still has 6.022 × 1023 carbon atoms, but 98.89% of those atoms are carbon-12, 1.11% are carbon-13, and a trace (about 1 atom in 1012) are carbon-14. (For more information, see Section 1.6 ) Similarly, the molar mass of uranium is 238.03 g/mol, and the molar mass of iodine is 126.90 g/mol. When we deal with elements such as iodine and sulfur, which occur as a diatomic molecule (I2) and a polyatomic molecule (S8), respectively, molar mass usually refers to the mass of 1 mol of atoms of the element—in this case I and S, not to the mass of 1 mol of molecules of the element (I2 and S8).

The molar mass of ethanol is the mass of ethanol (C2H5OH) that contains 6.022 × 1023 ethanol molecules. As you calculated in Example 1, the molecular mass of ethanol is 46.069 amu. Because 1 mol of ethanol contains 2 mol of carbon atoms (2 × 12.011 g), 6 mol of hydrogen atoms (6 × 1.0079 g), and 1 mol of oxygen atoms (1 × 15.9994 g), its molar mass is 46.069 g/mol. Similarly, the formula mass of calcium phosphate [Ca3(PO4)2] is 310.177 amu, so its molar mass is 310.177 g/mol. This is the mass of calcium phosphate that contains 6.022 × 1023 formula units.

The mole is the basis of quantitative chemistry. It provides chemists with a way to convert easily between the mass of a substance and the number of individual atoms, molecules, or formula units of that substance. Conversely, it enables chemists to calculate the mass of a substance needed to obtain a desired number of atoms, molecules, or formula units. For example, to convert moles of a substance to mass, we use the relationship

$$(moles)(molar \; mass) \rightarrow mass \tag{1.71}$$

or, more specifically,

$$moles\left ( \dfrac{grams}{mole} \right ) = grams$$​

$$\left ( \dfrac{mass}{molar\; mass} \right )\rightarrow moles \tag{1.72}$$

$$\left ( \dfrac{grams}{grams/mole} \right )=grams\left ( \dfrac{mole}{grams} \right )=moles$$

Be sure to pay attention to the units when converting between mass and moles.

Figure 1.7.2 is a flowchart for converting between mass; the number of moles; and the number of atoms, molecules, or formula units. The use of these conversions is illustrated in Example 3 and Example 4.

Figure 1.7.2 A Flowchart for Converting between Mass; the Number of Moles; and the Number of Atoms, Molecules, or Formula Units

### Example 1.7.2

For 35.00 g of ethylene glycol (HOCH2CH2OH), which is used in inks for ballpoint pens, calculate the number of

1. moles.
2. molecules.

Given: mass and molecular formula

Asked for: number of moles and number of molecules

Strategy:

A Use the molecular formula of the compound to calculate its molecular mass in grams per mole.

B Convert from mass to moles by dividing the mass given by the compound’s molar mass.

C Convert from moles to molecules by multiplying the number of moles by Avogadro’s number.

Solution:

A The molecular mass of ethylene glycol can be calculated from its molecular formula using the method illustrated in Example 1:

 2C (2 atoms)(12.011 amu/atom) = 24.022 amu 6H (6 atoms)(1.0079 amu/atom) = 6.0474 amu 2O (2 atoms)(15.9994 amu/atom) = 31.9988 amu C2H6O molecular mass of ethanol = 62.068 amu

The molar mass of ethylene glycol is 62.068 g/mol

B The number of moles of ethylene glycol present in 35.00 g can be calculated by dividing the mass (in grams) by the molar mass (in grams per mole):

$$\; 35.00\; g\; ethylene glycol\left ( \frac{1\; mol\; ethylene\; glycol\; (g))}{62.068\; g\; ethylene\; glycol} \right )=0.5639\; mol\; ethylene\; glycol$$

It is always a good idea to estimate the answer before you do the actual calculation. In this case, the mass given (35.00 g) is less than the molar mass, so the answer should be less than 1 mol. The calculated answer (0.5639 mol) is indeed less than 1 mol, so we have probably not made a major error in the calculations.

C To calculate the number of molecules in the sample, we multiply the number of moles by Avogadro’s number:

$$molecules\; of\; ethylene\; glycol=0.5639\; mol\left ( \dfrac{6.022\times 10^{23}}{1\; mol} \right )$$

$$= 3.396\times 10^{23}\; molecules​$$

Exercise

For 75.0 g of CCl3F (Freon-11), calculate the number of

1. moles.
2. molecules.

Answer:

1. 0.546 mol
2. 3.29 × 1023 molecules

### Example 1.7.3

Calculate the mass of 1.75 mol of each compound.

1. S2Cl2 (common name: sulfur monochloride; systematic name: disulfur dichloride)
2. Ca(ClO)2 (calcium hypochlorite)

Given: number of moles and molecular or empirical formula

Asked for: mass

Strategy:

A Calculate the molecular mass of the compound in grams from its molecular formula (if covalent) or empirical formula (if ionic).

B Convert from moles to mass by multiplying the moles of the compound given by its molar mass.

Solution:

We begin by calculating the molecular mass of S2Cl2 and the formula mass of Ca(ClO)2.

A The molar mass of S2Cl2 is obtained from its molecular mass as follows:

 2S (2 atoms)(32.065 amu/atom) = 64.130 amu 2Cl (2 atoms)(35.353 amu/atom) = 70.906 amu S2Cl​2 molecular mass of S2Cl​2 = 135.036 amu

The molar mass of S2Cl2 is 135.036 g/mol.

The mass of 1.75 mol of S2Cl2 is calculated as follows:

$$moles\; S{_{2}}Cl_{2} \left [molar\; mass \dfrac{g}{mol} \right ]= mass\; S{_{2}}Cl_{2}$$

$$1.75\; mol\; S{_{2}}Cl_{2}\left ( \dfrac{135.036\; g\; S{_{2}}Cl_{2}}{1\;mol\;S{_{2}}Cl_{2}} \right )=236\;g\; S{_{2}}Cl_{2}$$

B The formula mass of Ca(ClO)2 is obtained as follows:

 1Ca (1 atom )(40.078 amu/atom) = 40.078 amu 2Cl (2 atoms)(35.453 amu/atom) = 70.906 amu 2O (2 atoms)(15.9994 amu/atom) = 31.9988 amu Ca(ClO)2 formula mass of Ca(ClO)2 = 142.983 amu

The molar mass of Ca(ClO)2 is 142.983 g/mol

$$moles\; Ca\left ( ClO \right )_{2}\left [ \dfrac{molar\; mass\; Ca\left ( ClO \right )_{2}}{1\; mol\; Ca\left ( ClO \right )_{2}} \right ]=mass\; Ca\left ( ClO \right )_{2}$$

$$1.75\; mol\; Ca\left ( ClO \right )_{2}\left [ \dfrac{142.983\; g Ca\left ( ClO \right )_{2}}{1\; mol\; Ca\left ( ClO \right )_{2}} \right ]=250.\; g\; Ca\left ( ClO \right )_{2}$$​

Exercise

Calculate the mass of 0.0122 mol of each compound.

1. Si3N4 (silicon nitride), used as bearings and rollers
2. (CH3)3N (trimethylamine), a corrosion inhibitor

Answer:

1. 1.71 g
2. 0.721 g

### Summary

The molecular mass and the formula mass of a compound are obtained by adding together the atomic masses of the atoms present in the molecular formula or empirical formula, respectively; the units of both are atomic mass units (amu). The mole is a unit used to measure the number of atoms, molecules, or (in the case of ionic compounds) formula units in a given mass of a substance. The mole is defined as the amount of substance that contains the number of carbon atoms in exactly 12 g of carbon-12 and consists of Avogadro’s number (6.022 × 1023) of atoms of carbon-12. The molar mass of a substance is defined as the mass of 1 mol of that substance, expressed in grams per mole, and is equal to the mass of 6.022 × 1023 atoms, molecules, or formula units of that substance.

### Key Takeaway

• To analyze chemical transformations, it is essential to use a standardized unit of measure called the mole.

### Conceptual Problems

Please be sure you are familiar with the topics discussed in Essential Skills 2 (Section 7.7 "Essential Skills 2") before proceeding to the Conceptual Problems.

1. Describe the relationship between an atomic mass unit and a gram.

2. Construct a flowchart to show how you would calculate the number of moles of silicon in a 37.0 g sample of orthoclase (KAlSi3O8), a mineral used in the manufacture of porcelain.

3. Construct a flowchart to show how you would calculate the number of moles of nitrogen in a 22.4 g sample of nitroglycerin that contains 18.5% nitrogen by mass.

### Numerical Problems

Please be sure you are familiar with the topics discussed in Essential Skills 2 (Section 7.7 "Essential Skills 2") before proceeding to the Numerical Problems.

1. Derive an expression that relates the number of molecules in a sample of a substance to its mass and molecular mass.

2. Calculate the molecular mass or formula mass of each compound.

1. KCl (potassium chloride)
2. NaCN (sodium cyanide)
3. H2S (hydrogen sulfide)
4. NaN3 (sodium azide)
5. H2CO3 (carbonic acid)
6. K2O (potassium oxide)
7. Al(NO3)3 (aluminum nitrate)
8. Cu(ClO4)2 [copper(II) perchlorate]
3. Calculate the molecular mass or formula mass of each compound.

1. V2O4 (vanadium(IV) oxide)
2. CaSiO3 (calcium silicate)
3. BiOCl (bismuth oxychloride)
4. CH3COOH (acetic acid)
5. Ag2SO4 (silver sulfate)
6. Na2CO3 (sodium carbonate)
7. (CH3)2CHOH (isopropyl alcohol)
4. Calculate the mass in grams of each sample.

1. 0.520 mol of N2O4
2. 1.63 mol of C6H4Br2
3. 4.62 mol of (NH4)2SO3
5. Give the number of molecules or formula units in each sample.

1. 1.30 × 10−2 mol of SCl2
2. 1.03 mol of N2O5
3. 0.265 mol of Ag2Cr2O7
6. Give the number of moles in each sample.

1. 9.58 × 1026 molecules of Cl2
2. 3.62 × 1027 formula units of KCl
3. 6.94 × 1028 formula units of Fe(OH)2
7. What is the total number of atoms in each sample?

1. 0.431 mol of Li
2. 2.783 mol of methanol (CH3OH)
3. 0.0361 mol of CoCO3
4. 1.002 mol of SeBr2O
8. What is the total number of atoms in each sample?

1. 0.980 mol of Na
2. 2.35 mol of O2
3. 1.83 mol of Ag2S
4. 1.23 mol of propane (C3H8)
9. What is the total number of atoms in each sample?

1. 2.48 g of HBr
2. 4.77 g of CS2
3. 1.89 g of NaOH
4. 1.46 g of SrC2O4
10. Decide whether each statement is true or false and explain your reasoning.

1. There are more molecules in 0.5 mol of Cl2 than in 0.5 mol of H2.
2. One mole of H2 has 6.022 × 1023 hydrogen atoms.
3. The molecular mass of H2O is 18.0 amu.
4. The formula mass of benzene is 78 amu.
11. Complete the following table.

Substance Mass (g) Number of Moles Number of Molecules or Formula Units Number of Atoms or Ions
MgCl2 37.62
AgNO3   2.84
BH4Cl     8.93 × 1025
K2S       7.69 × 1026
H2SO4   1.29
C6H14 11.84
HClO3     2.45 × 1026

### Contributors

• Anonymous

Modified by Joshua Halpern

Verifying Avogadro's Hypothesis Video from HC Communications on YouTube

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