How is the molar mass of a compound determined?

The molar mass of a compound is determined by summing the atomic masses of all atoms present in its chemical formula. Each element in a compound has a specific atomic mass, which is typically found on the periodic table. To calculate the molar mass, you multiply the atomic mass of each element by the number of times that element appears in the formula, and then add those values together.

For example, for water (H₂O), you would add the atomic mass of hydrogen (approximately 1 g/mol) multiplied by 2 (for the two hydrogen atoms) to the atomic mass of oxygen (approximately 16 g/mol) to find the total molar mass:

(2 × 1 g/mol) + (1 × 16 g/mol) = 2 g/mol + 16 g/mol = 18 g/mol.

This method is essential for stoichiometric calculations in chemistry, enabling chemists to determine how many grams of reactants are needed and how many grams of products are produced in a chemical reaction.

Other methods listed, like measuring gas volume or analyzing physical properties, do not provide the molar mass directly and are related to different aspects of chemical analysis. For instance, gas volumes can be influenced by