1. What is Molecular Mass?

Molecular mass (molecular weight) is the sum of the atomic masses of all the atoms in a molecule. It's expressed in atomic mass units (u) or grams per mole (g/mol).

2. How is Molecular Mass Calculated?

The molecular mass is calculated using the formula:

For CO₂:

• 1 Carbon atom (atomic mass 12.01 g/mol)
• 2 Oxygen atoms (atomic mass 16.00 g/mol each)
• Molecular mass = (12.01 × 1) + (16.00 × 2) = 44.01 g/mol

3. Importance of Molecular Mass

Details: Molecular mass is essential for stoichiometric calculations, determining molar mass, and converting between mass and moles of a substance in chemical reactions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of carbon and oxygen atoms in your molecule. The calculator will compute the total molecular mass based on standard atomic weights.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between molecular mass and molar mass?
A: Numerically they're the same, but molecular mass refers to single molecules while molar mass refers to one mole (6.022×10²³ molecules) of a substance.

Q2: Why are atomic masses not whole numbers?
A: Atomic masses account for different isotopes and their natural abundances. For example, carbon has isotopes C-12 and C-13.

Q3: Can this calculator handle other elements?
A: This specific calculator is for carbon and oxygen only. For other elements, you would need their atomic masses.

Q4: How accurate are these calculations?
A: They use standard atomic weights from IUPAC. For precise work, isotope-specific calculations may be needed.

Q5: What about diatomic molecules like O₂?
A: Simply count each oxygen atom (O₂ would be 16.00 × 2 = 32.00 g/mol).