Grade 11 Chemistry

Mole Concept 1
Relative atomic, molecular and formula masses
Because the mass of atoms is extremely small, scientists use a much smaller unit than a gram to
compare their masses, known as relative atomic mass. They designed a system which compares
the mass of an atom with one -twelfth the mass of a carbon -12 atom. A carbon- 12 atom was
assigned a mass of 12.00 atomic units or amu, therefore, one-twelfth the mass of the carbon 12
atom has a mass of 1.00 amu.
Relative atomic mass, therefore compares the mass of an atom of an element to one-twelfth the
mass of carbon- 12. Because it is a comparative value, relative atomic mass has no units.

Definition of Terms:
● Relative atomic mass (Aᵣ): This is the average mass of an atom of an element
compared to one- twelfth the mass of an atom of carbon-12.
● Relative molecular mass (Mᵣ): This is the average of one molecule of an element or
compound compared to one- twelfth the mass of an atom of carbon-12.
● Relative formula mass: This is the average mass of one formula unit of an ionic
compound compared to one- twelfth the mass of an atom of carbon -12.
N.B. Relative atomic mass refers to atoms; Relative molecular mass refers to covalently
bonded elements or compounds; Relative formula mass refers to ionic compounds.

Calculating Relative atomic, molecular and formula masses

⮚ Relative atomic mass: This is what you know as the mass number for the
elements in the periodic table.

Examples
Relative atomic masses:

● Magnesium =24
● Silicon = 28
● Calcium = 40
Activity: What is the Relative atomic mass of ?
● Nitrogen = 14
● Chlorine = 35.5
● Zinc = 65
● Copper = 64
● Lead = 207

⮚ Relative molecular mass: This is calculated by adding together the relative

atomic masses of all the elements in the molecule.

Examples
Relative molecular masses:

● Nitrogen, N₂
N₂ consists of two N atoms.
- Relative molecular mass of N₂ = (2x14) = 28
 ● Carbon dioxide, CO₂
CO₂ consists of one C atom and two O atoms.
- Relative molecular mass of CO₂ = 12 + (2 x 16) = 44
Activity: What is the Relative molecular mass of ?
● Iodine, I₂ = (2 x 127) = 254
● Ammonia, NH₃ = 14 + (3 x 1) = 17
● Water, H₂O = (2 x 1) + 16 = 18
● Ethanol, C₂H₅OH = (2 x 12) + (6 x 1) + 16 = 46

⮚ Relative formula mass: This is calculated by adding together the relative

atomic masses of all the elements present in the ionic compound.

Examples:
Relative formula masses
● Sodium oxide, Na₂O
- Relative formula mass of Na₂O = (2x23) +16 = 62
● Calcium nitrate, Ca(NO₃)₂
- Relative formula mass of Ca(NO₃)₂ = 40 + (2x14) + (2x3x16) = 164
Activity: What is the Relative formula mass of ?
● Potassium carbonate, K₂CO₃ = (2 x 39) + 12 + (3 x 16) = 138
● Zinc hydroxide, Zn(OH)₂ = 65 + (2 x 16) + (2 x 1) = 99
● Ammonium phosphate, (NH₄)₃PO₄ = (3 x 14) + 12 + 31 + (4 x 16) =
149