Stoichiometry Tutorial

Finding Molar Mass

Moles and Molar Mass

The mole is the "counting unit" used by chemists to indicate the number of atoms, ions, molecules, or formula
is similar to other counting units that you've used before....pair (2), dozen (12), and gross (144). One mole o
of molecules (molecular compound) or formula units (ionic compound). The molar mass of a compound tells you t
tells you the number of grams per mole of a compound. The units for molar mass are, therefore, grams/mole.
To find the molar mass of a compound:
1. Use the chemical formula to determine the number of each type of atom present in the compound.

2. Multiply the atomic weight (from the periodic table) of each element by the number of atoms of that e
3. Add it all together and put units of grams/mole after the number.

Example: Find the molar mass of sodium carbonate, Na2CO3.

Na

23.0

= 46.0

12.0

= 12.0

16.0

= 48.0

molar
mass

= 106.0 g/mole

For many (but not all) problems, you can simply round the atomic weights and the molar mass to the near
least as many significant figures in your molar mass as the measurement with the fewest significant figur
measured value that determines how many signficant figures to use in your answer!

Example: What is the molar mass of calcium nitrate, Ca(NO 3)2?

Ca

40.1

= 40.1

14.0

= 28.0

16.0

= 96.0

molar
mass

= 164.1 g/mol

Notice that you must be very careful when you're counting the number of atoms present in this compound
there are 2 nitrate ions (NO3-). In order to figure out how many N atoms are present, you must multiply
figure out how many O atoms are present, you must multiply the subscripts (in this case 3 x 2 = 6). Noti
atoms inside the ( ) and not the Ca ion.

Practice Problems
Calculate the molar mass for each of the following compounds:
1. Fe2O3
2. AgNO3
3. Pb(Cr2O7)2
4. Ca(ClO4)2

Stoichiometry Tutorial
Finding Molar MassAnswers

1. The molar mass of Fe2O3 is 159.7 g/mol.

Fe

55.85

111.70

16.0

+ 48.0

molar
mass

= 159.7 g/mol

2. The molar mass of AgNO3 is 169.9 g/mol.

Ag

107.9

107.9

14.0

14.0

16.0

+ 48.0

molar
mass

169.9
g/mol

3. The molar mass of Pb(Cr2O7)2 is 639.2 g/mol.

Pb

207.2

207.2

Cr

52.0

208.0

14

16.0

+ 224.0

molar mass =

639.2
g/mol

4. The molar mass of Ca(ClO4)2 is 239.1 g/mol.

Ca

40.1

40.1

Cl

35.5

71.0

16.0

+ 128.0

molar
mass

239.1
g/mol

Molar Mass as a Conversion Factor

Chemical reactions occur on a molecular (or atomic) basis. When we want to plan a chemical reaction, we must kn
a compound that should be present in the flask. The easiest way to keep track of (or count) the number of mole
plan experiments using the number of moles of reactants and/or products, we commonly carry out those experi
Once we plan the experiment, we then need a way to convert between grams and moles of a particular substanc

As you will recall, the molar mass of a compound tells you the mass present in 1 mole of that substance. In othe
compound. Since the molar mass relates two different sets of units, grams and moles, it can be used as a conve
moles (or vice versa) is by using dimensional analysis....i.e. keeping track of your units as you go along.
Converting Grams A to Moles A

1. Write down the units that you are looking for (including the formula for the compound) and an equal sign

mol NaCl

2.
3. Write down the number of grams you were given in the problem:

mol NaCl = 12.5 g NaCl

4.
5. Put a multiplication sign after the mass and draw a line

mol NaCl

12.5 g NaCl

________

6.
7. Write the molar mass (including the units) above and below the line you've drawn in such a way that the
o

put the number of grams in the molar mass on the bottom

put "1 mol" on the top

mol NaCl

= 12.5 g NaCl

x 1 mol NaCl

58.5 g NaCl

8. Cancel out the "grams" and do the math.

mol NaCl = 12.5 g NaCl x

1 mol NaCl

= 0.214 m

58.5 g NaCl
9.
Converting Moles A to Grams A
1. Write down the units that you are looking for (including the formula for the compound) and an equal sign:

g NaCl
2.

Write down the number of moles you were given in the problem:

g NaCl = 0.122 mol NaCl

3.
4. Put a multiplication sign after the moles and draw a line

g NaCl =

0.122 mol NaCl

________

5. Write the molar mass (including the units) above and below the line you've drawn in such a way that
6. the moles cancel out.
o

put the number of grams in the molar mass on the top

put "1 mol" on the bottom

g NaCl = 0.122 molNaCl

x 58.5 g NaCl
1 mol NaCl

7. Cancel out the "mol" and do the math.

g NaCl = 0.122 mol NaCl x

58.5 gNaCl
1 mol NaCl

8.

Practice Problems:
1. 12.5 g CaCl2 = _______ mol CaCl2
2. 10.0 g Na2SO4 = _______ mol Na2SO4
3. 16 g NaOH = _______ mol NaOH
4. 125 mg NaOH = ______ mol NaOH
5. 0.125 mol CaCl2 = _____ g CaCl2
6. 0.25 mol Na2SO4 = ______ g Na2SO4
7. 1.55 mol NaOH = ______ g NaOH

= 7.14 g NaC

1. 12.5 g CaCl2 = 0.113 mol CaCl2

mol CaCl2

= 12.5 g CaCl2

x 1 mol CaCl2

111.1 g CaCl2

0.113 mol
CaCl2

2. 10.0 g Na2SO4 = 0.0704 mol Na2SO4

mol Na2SO4

= 10.0 g Na2SO4

x 1 mol Na2SO4

142.0 g Na2SO4

0.0704 mol

Na2SO4

3. 16 g NaOH = 0.40 mol NaOH

mol NaOH = 16 g NaOH

x 1 mol NaOH

= 0.40 mol NaOH

40.0 g NaOH
4. 125 mg NaOH = 3.13 x 10-3 mol NaOH
mol NaOH = 125 mg NaOH x

1 g

1000 mg

x 1 mol

40.0 g

= 3.13 x 10-3 mol

NaOH

The only "twist" on this problem is that you first must convert mg to grams. The problem is then identical to the
previous problem in terms of the approach to solving it. Notice that the answer was given in scientific notation.

Your calculator should have read 0.003125. Remember that the answer should be reported to 3 signficant figures s
it was rounded to 0.00313 and then converted to scientific notation because it is a small number.

5. 0.125 mol CaCl2 = 13.9 g CaCl2

g CaCl2

= 0.125 mol CaCl2

x 111.1 g CaCl2 = 13.9 g C

1 mol CaCl2

6. 0.25 mol Na2SO4 = 36 g Na2SO4

g Na2SO4 = 0.25 mol Na2SO4

x 142.0 gNa2SO4
1 mol Na2SO4

= 36 g
Na2SO4

The answer before rounding was 35.5 g. However, the answer must be reported to 2 significant figures. Therefore

7. 1.55 mol NaOH = 62.0 g NaOH

g NaOH = 1.55 mol NaOH x 40.0 g NaOH = 62.0 g N

1 mol NaOH