MASS RELATIONSHIPS

IN CHEMICAL REACTIONS
 ATOMIC MASS
Atomic mass units (amu) are convenient units to use when dealing with extremely
small masses of individual atoms.
1 amu = 1.66054x10 – 24 g and 1 g = 6.022x1023 amu

Average atomic mass / Atomic Weight average of the isotopic masses, weighed
according to the naturally occurring abundances of the isotopes of an element.
Atomic Weight = 𝛴(fractional abundance × mass of isotope)

1. The natural abundances of the three stable isotopes of magnesium are 78.99%
magnesium-24 (23.98 504 amu), 10.00% magnesium-25 (24.9858 amu), and
11.01% magnesium-26 (25.9829 amu). Calculate the atomic weight of magnesium.
 ATOMIC WEIGHT

1. The natural abundances of the three stable isotopes of magnesium are 78.99%
magnesium-24 (23.98 504 amu), 10.00% magnesium-25 (24.9858 amu), and
11.01% magnesium-26 (25.9829 amu). Calculate the atomic weight of magnesium.

Atomic Weight = [ 0.7899 ×23.98504 amu + 0.10000×24.9858 amu

+(0.1101 ×25.9829 amu)]
= 24.3050 amu
Considering significant figures, it becomes
= 24.31 amu
 ATOMIC WEIGHT

2. The two most abundant naturally occurring isotopes of carbon are carbon-12
(98.90%, 12.000 amu) and carbon-13 (1.100%, 13.003 amu). From these abundances,
calculate the atomic weight of carbon.

Atomic Weight = [ 0.9890 12.000 amu + 0.010×13.003amu ]

= 12.011033 amu
Considering significant figures, it becomes
= 12.01 amu
 FORMULA & MOLECULAR
WEIGHT
Formula Weight – the sum of atomic weights for the atoms shown in the chemical formula.

Molecular Weight (MW) – the sum of atomic weights for the atoms in a molecule as shown
in the molecular formula.

Methanol, CH3OH
MW = 1 (AW of C) + 4 (AW of H) + 1 (AW of O)
= 1(12.01 amu) + 4(1.01 amu) + 1(16.00 amu)
= 32.05 amu

= 1(12.01 amu) + 4(1.008 amu) + 1(16.00 amu)

= 32.042 amu

Urea, (NH2)2CO
MW = 2 (AW of N) + 4 ( AW of H) + 1 (AW of C) + 1 (AW of O)
= 2(14.01 amu) + 4(1.008 amu) + 12.01 amu + 16.00 amu
= 60.062 amu
 THE MOLE
UNIT: mol or n
Used to measure chemical quantities.
Equal to the amount of matter that contains as many particles as the number of atoms
contained in exactly 12 g of 12C.

Avogadros Number (NA) = 6.022x1023 entities

1 mol of molecules has a mass equal to the molecular weight in grams

1 mol H2O is the number of molecules in 18.016g H2O

1. Zinc (Zn) is a silvery metal that is used in making brass (with copper) and in plating
iron to prevent corrosion. How many grams of zinc are in 0.356 mole of zinc ?

0.356 mol Zn x 63.59 g Zn = 23.3 g Zn

1 mol Zn
 THE MOLE

2) Sulfur (S) is a nonmetallic element that is present in coal. When coal is burned, sulfur is
converted to sulfur dioxide and eventually to sulfuric acid that gives rise to the acid rain
phenomenon. How many atoms are in 16.3 g of S ?

16.3 g S x 1 mol S x 6.022 x 1023 S atoms = 3.06 x 10 23 S atoms

32.07 g S 1 mol S
 MOLAR MASS
Molar Mass – mass of 1 mol of substance (g/mol or g• mol – 1.
- for elements, molar mass is the same as their atomic weight.

Sample:
Determine the molar mass of the following:
1. SO3
2. (NH4)2CO3
3. AlPO4
4. HClO4
 CONVERSION

molar mass moles NA

grams # of particles

Mass (g) = moles (mol) x molar mass (g/mol)

particle
Number of particles = moles (mol) x NA ( )
mol

mass (g) number of particles

Moles (mol) = =
molar mass ( g ) N ( particle)
A mole
mol
 EXCERCISES

1. How many molecules are there in 3.10 moles of H2O?

2. How many grams are there in 3.8 moles of H2O?
3. How many glucose molecules are in 5.23 g of C6H12O6?

a. Calculate the mass of 7.9 moles of O.

b. Calculate the number of moles of atoms contained in 2.35 g Li.
c. Calculate the number of atoms in 81.0 g Arsenic.
 PERCENTAGE COMPOSITION

Percentage composition – a list of the mass percent of each element in a compound.

Steps:
1. Calculate the molecular mass of each element mass (molecular weight, formula mass,
formula weight) of the compound.
2. Calculate the total mass of each element present in the formula of the compound

number of atoms of X (AW of X)

%X = ×100
FW of compound
In mammals, lactose or milk sugar is broken down to glucose (C6H12O6), the key nutrient
for generating chemical potential energy. What is the mass percent of each element in
glucose?

Molecular mass of glucose = (6 x 12.01) + (12 x 1.008) + (6 x 16.00)

72.06 g
% C= x 100 = 40.00%
180.156 g
12.096
% H= x 100 = 6.714%
180.156
96.00 g
% O= x 100 = 53.29 %
180.156
 EXCERCISES
Calculate the percentage composition of each element in
1. CCl3Br
2. NH3
3. What is the percent carbon in glucose?
4. What is the percentage of O in ethanol, CH3CH2OH?