Atomic

Mass
 Micro World Macro World
atoms & molecules grams

Atomic mass is the mass of an atom in

atomic mass units (amu)

By definition:
1 atom 12C “weighs” 12 amu

On this scale
1
H = 1.008 amu
16
O = 16.00 amu
2
The average atomic mass is the weighted average of all of the
naturally occurring isotopes of the element.

3
Average Atomic % abundance mass % abundance mass
mass of
an element
= ( of
Isotope #1
x of
Isotope #1
) + ( of
Isotope #2
x of
Isotope #2
) + …

4
Example
Silver has two naturally occurring isotopes.
Ag-107 has an abundance of 51.82% and mass of 106.9 amu.
Ag-109 has a relative abundance of 48.18% and a mass of
108.9 amu. Calculate the average atomic mass of silver.
Example
Rubidium is a soft, silvery-white metal that has two common
isotopes, 85
37 Rb and 87
37Rb. If the abundance of 85
Rb is 72.2%
with an atomic mass of 84.91 amu and the abundance of
87
Rb is 27.8% with an atomic mass of 86.91 amu, what is the
average atomic mass of rubidium?
Example
Copper, a metal known since ancient times, is used in electrical cables and pennies,
among other things.

The atomic masses of its two stable isotopes, (69.09 percent) and (30.91
percent), are 62.93 amu and 64.9278 amu, respectively.

Calculate the average atomic mass of copper. The relative abundances are given in
parentheses.
Average atomic mass (63.55)

8
Mass Spectrometry

Heavy
Light
9
 Light
Mass
Spectrum
of Ne

Heavy
10
11
Formula mass is the sum of
the atomic masses (in amu) in Molecular mass (or molecular weight)
a formula unit of an ionic is the sum of the atomic masses (in
compound. amu) in a molecule.

1S 32.07 amu
1Na 22.99 amu
2O + 2 x 16.00 amu
1Cl + 35.45 amu SO2 64.07 amu
NaCl 58.44 amu
SO2

NaCl 1 molecule SO2 = 64.07 amu

1 formula unit NaCl = 58.44 amu

12
Example
Calculate the molecular masses (in amu) of the following
compounds:

(a)sulfur dioxide (SO2), a gas that is responsible for acid rain

(b)caffeine (C8H10N4O2), a stimulant present in tea, coffee, and

cola beverages
The Mole (mol): SI base unit to measure the amount of a substance
(count numbers of particles)
Dozen = 12

Pair = 2

The mole (mol) is the SI base unit to measure the amount of a

substance (used to count numbers of particles)
1 mol = NA = 6.022 x 1023
Avogadro’s number (NA)
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 atoms
Molar mass is the mass of 1 mole of molecules in grams
formula units
1 mole 12C atoms = 6.022 x 1023 atoms = 12.00 g
1 12C atom = 12.00 amu
For any element 1 atom of Li = 6.941 amu
atomic mass (amu) = molar mass (grams) 1 mole of Li atoms = 6.941 g Li

For any ionic compound

1 formula unit NaCl = 58.44 amu
formula mass (amu) = molar mass (grams) 1 mole NaCl = 58.44 g NaCl

For any molecule 1 molecule SO2 = 64.07 amu

molecular mass (amu) = molar mass (grams) 1 mole SO = 64.07 g SO
2 2
15
 One Mole of:

C S

Hg

Cu Fe
16
M = molar mass in g/mol
NA = Avogadro’s number

17
Example
Helium (He) is a valuable gas used in industry, low-temperature research, deep-
sea diving tanks, and balloons.

How many moles of He atoms are in 6.46 g of He?

Example

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 Zn are in 0.356 mole of Zn?

Example
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?

Example
A sample of aluminum chloride (AlCl3) has a mass of
35.6 g. How many chloride ions are present?
Example
How many oxygen atoms are in 37.5 grams of the
molecular compound sulfur trioxide (SO3)