Every substance has a unique molar mass, which is the mass of one mole of that substance. It's measured in grams per mole (g/mol). The molar mass is calculated using the atomic weights of the elements from the periodic table.
For example, in the compound NaHCO₃ (baking soda):
- Sodium (Na) contributes about 22.99 g/mol.
- Hydrogen (H) adds 1.008 g/mol.
- Carbon (C) adds 12.01 g/mol.
- Oxygen (O), with three atoms, contributes 48.00 g/mol (3 x 16.00).
All these values come together to give the molar mass of NaHCO₃ as approximately 84.01 g/mol.
By knowing the molar mass, you can convert between the mass of a substance and the number of moles, using the equation:This conversion is a crucial step in determining the number of atoms in a given sample.