The Relative Atomic Mass, Relative Molecular Mass, and Mol

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The relative atomic mass, relative

molecular mass, and Mol


In this paper, we will learn how to express the mass of an atom and molecules, as
well as studying the relationship between the mass of a substance with its number of
particles approach the concept of the mole.

The mass of an atom depends on the number of electrons, protons, and neutrons
they have. Atomic particles are very small, so we were not able to weigh the mass of
a single atom. However, we can determine the mass of an atom in comparison to
other atoms. Thus, it takes an element that can be used as a standard for
comparison.

Atomic mass is defined as the mass of an atom in units of atomic mass units
(amu) or atomic mass unit (amu). One amu is defined as 1/12 times the mass of the
atom C-12. Carbon-12 is one isotope of carbon has six protons and six
neutrons. This element is used as a standard of comparison because these
elements have properties that are very stable with a long half-life. By setting the C-
12 atomic mass of 12 amu, we can determine the mass of atoms of other
elements. For example, it is known that a hydrogen atom has a mass only 8.4% of
the mass of the atom C-12. Thus, the mass of a hydrogen atom is 8.4% or 1.008 x
12 sma sma. By similar calculations, can be obtained mass of one atom of oxygen is
16.00 amu and the mass of one atom of iron is 55.85 amu. This means that a single
iron atom has a mass of nearly 56 times the mass of a hydrogen atom.

The relative atomic mass (Ar) an element of X can be obtained through the following
equation:

Ar X = mass of one atom of element X / (1/12) x mass of the atom C-12

In addition to calculating the relative atomic mass (Ar) an element, we can also
determine the relative molecular mass (Mr) of a compound. Relative molecular mass
(Mr) of a compound can be obtained through the following equation:

Mr X = mass of 1 molecule compound X / (1/12) x mass of the atom C-12

Weight (mass) of each atom can be found in the periodic table, so that the mass of a
molecule can be obtained by adding the mass of each atom in the compound. For
example, water, H 2 O, is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen
atom. By looking at the periodic table, we can see that the mass of a hydrogen atom
is equal to 1,008 amu and the mass of one atom of oxygen is 16.00 amu. Thus, the
mass of a water molecule can be obtained by summing the mass of the mass of two
hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

Mr H 2 O = 2 x Ar H + 1 x Ar O = 2 x 1.008 + 1 x 16.00 = 18.016 amu


Another example, the periodic table, we can see that the mass of one atom of
copper is 63.55 amu and the mass of one atom of sulfur is 32.07 amu. While the
mass of one atom of oxygen is 16.00 amu, while the mass of a hydrogen atom is
1.008 amu. Thus, the mass of the molecule CuSO 4 .5H 2 O is as follows:

Mr CuSO 4 .5H 2 O = 1 x + 1 x Cu Ar Ar Ar S + 4 x 5 x Mr O + H 2 O

= 1 x + 1 x Cu Ar Ar Ar S + O + 4 x 5 x (2 x Ar H + 1 X Ar O)

= 1 x 1 x 63.55 + 32.07 + 16.00 + 4 x 5 x (2 x 1.008 + 1 x 16,00)

= 249.700 amu

When we look at the relative atomic mass of carbon in the periodic table, it turns out
the relative atomic mass of carbon is not exactly 12.00 amu, but sma 12.01. This
difference is caused by the presence of the element carbon in nature in various
forms isotopes. This means, the atomic mass of an element should be expressed in
terms of average value.

For example, the abundance of carbon-12 and carbon-13 in nature respectively by


98.90% and 1.10%. The relative atomic mass of the element of C-13 is 13.00335
amu. Thus, the relative atomic mass of the carbon atoms on average is 98.90% x
12.00 sma + 1.10% = 12.01 x 13.00335 sma sma. Thus, the relative atomic mass of
the carbon atoms is 12.01 amu. The average value is shown as a relative atomic
mass of the element on the periodic table.

Another example, the copper elements in the universe are in two isotopic forms,
namely Cu-63 and Cu-65. Abundance respectively in nature amounted to 69.09% for
Cu-63 and 30.91% for Cu-65. The relative atomic mass of each isotope is 62.93 amu
(Cu-63) and 64.9278 sma (Cu-65). The relative atomic mass average copper atoms
are sma 69.09% x 62.93% x 64.9278 + 30.91 = 63.55 amu amu. Thus, the relative
atomic mass of copper atoms in the periodic table is 63.55 amu.

When chemists associated with atoms and molecules, they require the appropriate
unit that can be used to the size of atoms and molecules are very small. This unit is
called the mole. In the SI system, a mole is the quantity used to indicate that a
substance has a number of atoms, molecules, or ions, which is equal to the number
of atoms which is owned by 12 grams of carbon-12 isotope. The number of atoms
which is owned by 12 grams of carbon-12 isotope is determined through an
experiment and this number is known as Avogadro's number (N A). The value of the
currently accepted as Avogadro's number is as follows:

N A = 6.0221367 x 10 23 (usually rounded up to 6.022 x 10 23)

This means that for every 1 mole of any substance, whether the atoms, molecules,
or ions, will have a 6,022 x 10 23 atoms, molecules, or ions.

Previously, we already know that one mole of isotope C-12 has a mass of 12 grams
and 6,022 x 10 23 atoms C-12. Massa owned by one mole of a substance is
called the molar mass (relative molecular mass or Mr compound; the relative
atomic mass or Ar to the elements). Can be observed that the molar mass
(Ar) isotope C-12 together with the relative atomic mass unit amu. Thus, the relative
atomic mass of an element (in units sma) represent the mass of one mole of the
element in question (in grams).

For example, the relative atomic mass of the element Na is 22.99 amu. This means
that the mass of one mole of Na element was 22.99 grams. In the Na element
contained 22.99 grams of 6.022 x 10 23 atoms Na. If we have as much as 114.95
grams of Na element, it would be equivalent to 114.95 grams / 22.99 (g / mol) or 5
moles Na elements. Thus, the number of atoms which is owned by 114.95 grams of
Na element (equivalent to 5 moles Na element) is 5 x 6.022 x 10 23 atoms Na.

By knowing the molar mass and Avogadro's number, we can calculate the mass of
a single atom in grams. For example, we all know that the molar mass of the C-12
was 12.00 grams and contained 6.022 x 10 23 atoms C-12 in a mole of that
element. Thus, the mass of the atom C-12 is as follows:

12.00 g atom C-12 / 6.022 x 10 23 atoms C-12 = 1.993 x 10 -23 grams

It is known also that the mass of the atom C-12 is 12 amu. Thus, the relationship
between amu and the gram can be obtained through the following ways:

12 sma = 1.993 x 10 -23 grams

1 amu = 1.661 x 10 -24 grams

1 gram = 6.022 x 10 23 sma

The relationship between mass, molar mass (Ar or Mr), and the number of particles
of matter, can be demonstrated through several following equation:

mol = mass of the element / elements Ar

mol = mass of compound / Mr compound

mol = number of particles / Avogadro's number

By knowing the relative atomic mass (Ar) constituent elements of a compound, we


can determine the relative molecular mass (Mr) of the compound. Compound molar
mass (in grams) is equal to its relative molecular mass (in amu). For example, the
relative molecular mass of 18.016 amu water. Thus, the molar mass of water is
18.016 grams. This means that the mass of one mole of water molecule is equal to
18.016 grams and contained 6.022 x 10 23 molecules of water. If we have 54.048
grams of water, it would be equivalent to 54.048 grams / 18.016 (g / mol) or 3 moles
of water molecules. The number of molecules of the 3 moles of water molecules is 3
x 6.022 x 10 23 molecules of water.

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