Atomic Mass And Molecular Mass - Practice Questions & MCQ

Atomic Mass :

One atomic mass unit is defined as a mass exactly equal to one-twelfth the mass of one carbon - 12 atom.

And 1 amu = 1.66056 x 10^-24 g

Mass of an atom of hydrogen = 1.6736 x 10^-24 g

Thus, in terms of amu, the mass of hydrogen atom

= 1.0078 amu

= 1.0080 amu

Similarly, the mass of oxygen - 16 (¹⁶O) atom would be 15.995 amu.

Today, 'amu' has been replaced by 'u' which is known as unified mass.

When we use atomic masses of elements in calculations, we actually use average atomic masses of elements which are explained.

Average Atomic Mass : 

Many naturally occurring elements exist as more than one isotope. When we take into account the existence of these isotopes and their relative abundance (percent occurrence), the average atomic mass of that element can be computed.

 In the periodic table of elements, the atomic masses mentioned for different elements actually represented their average atomic masses.

Molecular Mass :

Molecular mass is the sum of the atomic masses of the elements present in a molecule. It is obtained by multiplying the atomic mass of each element by the number of its atoms and adding them together.

Formula Mass :

It may be noted that in sodium chloride, One Na⁺ is surrounded by six CI^- and vice-versa. The formula such as NaCI is used to calculate the formula mass instead of molecular mass as in the solid-state sodium chloride does not exist as a single entity. 

Thus. formula mass of sodium chloride = atomic mass of sodium + atomic mass of chlorine 

=  23.0 u + 35.5 u  = 58.5 u