Objectives:
• Use a periodic table or isotopic composition data to determine the average atomic masses of elements.
• Infer information about a compound from it chemical formula.
• Determine the molar mass of a compound from its formula.
Key Term:
• Average Atomic Mass:
Example 1:
Average Atomic Mass of Hydrogen
Relative Atomic mass(RAM) of H-1 = 1.0078250321 amu, % abundance(RIC) 99.9885%
Relative Atomic mass(RAM) of H-2 = 2.0141017780 amu, % abundance(RIC) 0.0115%
RAM = Relative Atomic Mass, RIC = Relative Isotopic Composition
(RAM H-1)*(RIC H-1) + (RAM H-2)*RIC H-2) = Average Atomic Mass of Hydrogen
(1.0078250321)*(99.9885%) + (2.0141017780)*(0.0115%) = 1.0079430754 amu
This answer does not have the correct number of significant figures, the accepted values are 1.008 amu or 1
amu(estimation purposes only) with 1.00794 is a generally accepted precise value.
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10 Minute Chemistry – The Mole and Molar Conversions
Atomic Symbols
There are capital letters that indicate the beginning of a new element which are sometimes followed by a
lowercase letter the remaining portion of the elemental symbol. Most atomic symbols are two letters that
generally follow start with the same letter as the name. However elements do have old names after which we
obtain our atomic symbols. On some periodic tables the elements 115 – 118 are symbolized by a three letter
code that indicates their position and they are temporary names as given by IUPAC(International Union of
Pure and Applied Chemistry). This is the governing body for the names, weights and rules that are used in
chemistry- many other governmental agencies take their recommendations which then become laws for a
country. (NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology)
Charge
There are times that we will see superscripts which can indicate either a charge or oxidation number. At this
point these superscripts will always indicate the charge of the atom which tells us the relative number of
electrons the atom has compared to its neutral state (Electrons=Protons for neutral atoms). We are able to
calculate the charge of an atom based on its distance from a noble gas. As the elements want to be
isoelectronic (have the same number of electrons) as a noble gas they will take the shortest distance. An atom
will give electrons and become positive if the closest is to the left, and will take electrons and be positive if the
closest noble gas is to the right. Many times brackets are used with superscripts to indicate overall charge on
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10 Minute Chemistry – The Mole and Molar Conversions
an the ion. We then use this overall charge to calculate the individual charges of each atom which is indicated
by superscripts.
Quantity
We have subscripts that determine the quantity of the preceding atom or atomic group. Subscripts that exist
on the outside of parentheses are distributed via multiplication to those atoms inside. If there are additional
subscripts applied to individual atoms inside the parentheses they are multiplied with those outside. The
absence of a subscript indicates there is only one atom.
Example 1:
Polyatomic Ion
Charges
Note that even though there are polyatomic ions, they are not always indicated by
parentheses. It is important to recognize them as they will help indicate a potential
pathway to formation(reaction mechanism).
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10 Minute Chemistry – The Mole and Molar Conversions
Example 1:
Calculate the Molar mass of water, H2O
1. Atom Inventory
H2O
H – 2(atomic mass)
O – 1(atomic mass)
2. Assign the atomic mass for each element
H – 2(1.00794 g/mole) = 2.01588 g/mol
O – 1(15.9994 g/mole) = 15.9994 g/mol
= 18.01528 g/mole
When reporting the molar mass of a compound it is essential to have the correct unit of grams/mole(g/mol)
and that you report a reasonable number of significant digits. As a rule of thumb we will have 2 digits after
the decimal point.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States
License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/ or send a letter to Creative
Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.
Digital Versions can be found at crhsteacherpages.com under Chemistry A