MODULE 2:

Formula mass
or
molecular mass
Formula Mass (or Molecular Mass) is defined as the mass in grams of a mole of
a substance. It is the sum of the atomic masses (in amu) in the molecule.

Remember Me!!

In solving Formula Mass or Molecular Mass, it is important to correctly

write/identify the chemical formula to accurately solve for the mass of a substance.

The term formula mass is used for compounds that are made up of ions and
have primarily ionic compound. The term molecular mass is used for compounds that
are composed of molecules and have primarily covalent bonding.
Take note class that the formula mass of a compound is the sum of the atomic
masses of atoms in a formula unit of that compound. And it expresses in a.m.u. unit.
While the molecular mass of the compound is the sum of the atomic masses of atoms
in one molecule of the compound. And it expresses in gram per mole (g/mol).

Besides these differences, a similarity exists between formula mass and molecular
mass is that they have the same value.
 For example:

1. 𝐴𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑚 ℎ𝑦𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒, 𝐴𝑙 (𝑂𝐻 )3

No. of Atoms in the Atomic Mass Total Mass for Each

formula Element

27.0 𝑎𝑚𝑢
1 mole Aluminum x = 27 amu
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐴𝑙

16.0 𝑎𝑚𝑢
3 moles Oxygen x = 48 amu
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂

1.0 𝑎𝑚𝑢
3 moles Hydrogen x = 3 amu
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐻
______________________
Formula Mass of 𝐴𝑙 (𝑂𝐻 )3 = 78 amu

2. 𝑃ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑡𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑒, 𝑃𝐶𝑙4

No. of Atoms in the Atomic Mass Total Mass for Each

formula Element

31 𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙
1 atom Phosphorous x = 31 g/mol
1 𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑚 𝐶𝑙

35.45 𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙
4 atoms Chlorine x = 142 g/mol
1 𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑚 𝐶𝑙
________________________
Molecular Mass of 𝑃𝐶𝑙4 = 173 g/mol

3. 𝑆𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑓𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑎ℎ𝑦𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 4. 𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒, 𝐶𝑎(𝑁𝑂3 )2

𝑁𝑎2 𝑆𝑂4 ∙ 10 𝐻2 𝑂
1 𝑥 16 = 16 𝑎𝑚𝑢 6 𝑥 16 = 96 𝑎𝑚𝑢
2𝑥1 = 2 𝑎𝑚𝑢 2 𝑥 14 = 28 𝑎𝑚𝑢
_____________
= 10 𝑥 18 = 180 𝑎𝑚𝑢 1 𝑥 40 = 40 𝑎𝑚𝑢
_____________
4 𝑥 16 = 64 𝑎𝑚𝑢
1 𝑥 32 = 32 𝑎𝑚𝑢 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 = 164 𝑎𝑚𝑢

2 𝑥 23 = 46 𝑎𝑚𝑢
_____________
= 142 𝑎𝑚𝑢
+ 180 𝑎𝑚𝑢
_____________
𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎2 𝑆𝑂4 ∙ 10 𝐻2 𝑂 = 322 𝑎𝑚𝑢

= 180 𝑎𝑚𝑢