1. What is Molecular Mass?

Molecular mass (also called molecular weight) is the sum of the atomic masses of all the atoms in a molecule. It's typically expressed in atomic mass units (u) or grams per mole (g/mol).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the molecular mass formula:

Where:

• \( MM \) — Molecular mass (g/mol)
• \( \sum \) — Sum of all atomic masses in the molecule

Explanation: The calculator parses the chemical formula, identifies each element and its count, then sums their atomic masses.

3. Importance of Molecular Mass

Details: Molecular mass is essential for stoichiometric calculations, preparing solutions with specific molarity, and determining empirical formulas from percent composition.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the chemical formula using standard notation (e.g., H2O for water, C6H12O6 for glucose). Element symbols are case-sensitive (Na for sodium, not NA).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between molecular mass and molar mass?
A: They are numerically identical but molar mass refers to one mole of substance (g/mol) while molecular mass is the mass of a single molecule (u).

Q2: How are atomic masses determined?
A: Atomic masses are weighted averages of all naturally occurring isotopes of an element, based on their abundance.

Q3: Can this calculator handle complex formulas?
A: It handles standard chemical formulas but doesn't support parentheses or hydrates (like CuSO4·5H2O).

Q4: Why are atomic masses not whole numbers?
A: Most elements have multiple isotopes with different masses, and the atomic mass reflects their natural abundance.

Q5: How accurate are the results?
A: Results are accurate to 3 decimal places using IUPAC standard atomic weights. For precise work, use isotope-specific masses.