Unit 7

Quantification of Elements and Compounds

Atoms

An atom is the smallest unit of matter that retains all of the chemical properties of an element.

It contains three sub atomic particles.

• Protons – Positively charged and found in the nucleus

• Neutrons – No charge is observed and found inside the nucleus

• Electrons – Negatively charged and found outside of the nucleus. They orbit around

the nucleus.

Finding the mass of an atom

• Mass of an atom is so small there is no direct method or any device to find the mass

of it.

• Further available units for measuring mass cannot be used for measuring mass of atoms.

• Even the atto-gram (ag), the smallest units of mass is too large to indicate the mass of

atoms or ions.

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The size of an Atogram

1 ag = 10-18 g

The size of an atom compared to a sand particle

Compare / The concept of Relativeness

• Assume that we want to express about the height of person A and B without using a
standard measuring ruler.

A B

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 • For this purpose, we need to create a base unit and compare it with person A and B.

C Reference Unit
A B

Example

• The height of Person B = Height of person C x 2 times

• The height of person A = Height of person C x 2.8 times (approximately)

Selecting a Reference unit for measuring masses of Atoms and Molecules

• Scientist initially selected Hydrogen atom as the base unit since it is having the lightest

mass of all elements we know.

• Later, they decided to change it to Oxygen.

• But currently we use Carbon -12 isotope as the reference unit.

Masses of Atoms

• Mass of Hydrogen (H) atom = 1.674x10-24 g

• Mass of Oxygen (O) atom = 2.66 x 10-23 g

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 • Mass of a carbon (C) atom = 1.993 x 10-23 g

m = 1.993 x 10-23 g

Element carbon and its Isotopes

• Carbon has three isotopes.

C -12 C -13 C -14

• C-12 isotope was taken as the standard isotope (Reference atom) for all calculations.

Mass of a C-12 Atom

Carbon
C – 12 Atom Mass of C -12 Isotope
1.993 x 10-23 g

1.99 x 10-23 Mass (g)

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Atomic Mass Unit (A.M.U) (A Reference Unit)

The mass of the unit relative to which the masses of other atoms are expressed is called the

atomic mass unit.

Mass of C -12 Isotope

At present,
The mass of 1/12 of C-12 isotope is known as the atomic mass unit.

Finding the mass of A.M.U

Mass of A.M.U. = 1.67 x 10-24 g Mass of A.M.U. = 1.67 x 10-27 kg

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 Relative Atomic Mass (Ar)

• The mass of an atom compared to 1/12 of the mass of an atom of C 12 isotope.

• How many times an atom of a given element weighs as much as 1/12 the mass

of C - 12 isotope is the relative atomic mass of that element.

Mass of a.m.u
1.67 x 10-24 g
x 1 x 39

Mass of Mass of

Hydrogen (H) Potassium (K)

atom = atom =
x 12 x 35.5 6.476x10-23 g
1.674x10-24 g

x 23
Mass of
Mass of
Chlorine (Cl)
Carbon (C)
atom =
atom =
5.903x10-23 g
1.993x10-23 g

Mass of
Sodium (Na)
atom =
3.819x10-23 g

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It is often useful to remember this expression:

a.m.u

a.m.u

Symbol

• Relative atomic mass – Ar

Unit

• Relative atomic mass is a ratio of masses.

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 Calculating Relative atomic mass (Ar) for standard atoms
Ar of elements can be calculated by comparing the mass of such atom with a.m.u.

Example 01
Find the relative atomic mass of Oxygen. (Mass of a C-12 atom is 1.99 x 10-23 g).

Example 02

The mass of a potassium (K) atom is 6.476 x 10-23 g. atom is 1.99 x 10-23 g. The mass of a Find
the relative atomic mass of potassium.

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Example 03

Mass of a sodium atom is 3.819 x 10-23 g. The value of the atomic mass unit is 1.67 x 10-24 g.

Find the relative atomic mass of sodium.

Molecule

• Molecule is the smallest unit possible to exist in the environment.

• Molecules formed when atoms belong to various elements combined chemically in a

specific ratio.

02 01 01

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 Relative Molecular Mass (Mr)
• The mass of a molecule compared to 1/12 of the mass of an atom of C 12 isotope.

• How many times a mass of a molecule weighs as much as 1/12 the mass of C - 12

isotope is the relative molecular mass of that element.

Molecule

Mass of a.m.u
1.67 x 10-24 g
x 2 x 71

Mass of Mass of

Hydrogen Chlorine

Molecule molecule =
-24
x 44 x 16 177.7x10-24 g
=3.32 x10 g

x 18
Mass of
Mass of
methane
Carbon dioxide
molecule=
molecule =
2.656×10−23 g
7.31x10-23 g

Mass of Water
molecule =
2.99x10-23 g

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 a.m.u

a.m.u

Calculating Relative molecular mass (Mr) for standard atoms

Mr of elements can be calculated by comparing the mass of such atom with a.m.u.

Example 01
Mass of a carbon dioxide (CO2) molecule is 7.31 x 10-23 g. Mass of a carbon atom is 1.99 x

10-23 g. Find the relative molecular mass of carbon dioxide molecule.

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Example 02

The mass of a water molecule is (H2O) 2.99 x 10-23 g. Atomic mass unit is 1.67 x 10-24

g. Find the relative molecular mass of water.

Method 02

• Relative molecular masses can be calculated based on the relative atomic masses of

each element in a given molecule.

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 • If the molecular formula of an element or a compound is known, its relative molecular

mass can be calculated.

• This is because the relative molecular mass is equal to the sum of relative atomic

masses of the atoms in a molecule.

Example

• A water molecule has two hydrogen atoms (H) and one oxygen atom (O) bound

together.

• Therefore, the relative molecular mass of water (H2O) is the sum of the relative atomic

masses of two hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom.

• Since the relative atomic mass of hydrogen is 1 and oxygen is 16, the relative molecular

mass of water can be calculated as follows.

Relative atomic mass of 2 Hydrogen atoms = 1 x 2 = 2

Relative atomic mass of 1 Oxygen atom = 1 x 16 = 16

Relative molecular mass = 16 + 2 = 18

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Relative molecular masses of some elements and compounds

Question

Calculate the relative molecular mass of the following compounds.

01. Ammonia (NH3)

Relative atomic masses (H - 1 ; N - 14 )

= 14 + (1 x3)

= 17

02. Sulphuric acid (H2SO4 )

Relative atomic masses H - 1 ; O - 16 ; S - 32

= (1 x 2) + 32 + (16 x4)

= 2 + 32 + 64

= 98

03. Sucrose (C12H22O11)

Relative atomic masses H - 1 ; C - 12 ; O -16

= (12 x12) + (1 x22) + (16 x 11)

= 144 + 22 + 176

= 342

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Displayed formula

• A formula that indicates not only the number of atoms, but also their arrangement in

space.

Empirical formula

• A formula that indicates the simplest whole number ratio of all the atoms in a molecule.

Molecular formula

• A formula that describes the exact number and type of atoms in a single molecule of a

compound.

Example - Ethane molecule

Formular mass

• Ionic compounds such as sodium chloride (NaCl) exist as lattices but not molecules.

• Its formula is written to indicate the simplest ratio in which Na+ and Cl- ions are present

in the ionic lattice.

• In such compounds what is calculated as the relative molecular mass is the mass

relevant to their empirical formula.

• It is known as the relative formula mass or formula mass.

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More Examples

Calculate the relative formula mass of the following ionic compounds.

01. Magnesium oxide (MgO)

Relative atomic masses O - 16 ; Mg - 24

= 24 + 16

= 40

02. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3)

Relative atomic masses C - 12 ; O - 16 ; Ca - 40

= 40 + 12 + (16 x 3)

= 40 + 12 +48

= 100

03. Potassium sulphate (K2SO4)

Relative atomic masses O - 16 ; S - 32 ; K - 39

= (39 x 2) + 32 + (16 x 4)

= 78 + 32 + 64

= 174

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Avogadro constant

This concept was introduced by an Italian scientist Lorenzo Romano Amedeo Carlo Avogadro.

Value of Avogadro Constant = 6.022 x 10 23

602200 000 000 000 000 000 000

• When a mass of any element equal to its relative atomic mass is taken in grams, it is

seen that it contains the same number of atoms irrespective of the element.

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 • Similarly, it can also be shown that when a mass of any substance equal to its relative

molecular mass is taken in grams, it contains the same number of molecules.

Symbol

• L

• NA

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 Mole

• Mole is the SI unit used to measure the amount of a substance.

Definition

• The mole is the amount of a substance that contains as many basic building units

(atoms, molecules, ions) as there are atoms in exactly 12.00 g of C – 12 isotope.

Therefore,

• The number of basic units contained in a mole of any substance is a constant and it is

equal to the Avogadro constant or 6.022 x 10 23.

• 6.022 x 10 23 Atoms = 1 mole of Atoms

• 6.022 x 10 23 Molecules = 1 mole of Molecules

• 6.022 x 10 23 Ions = 1 mole of Ions

• 6.022 x 10 23 Electrons = 1 mole of Atoms

• 6.022 x 10 23 Protons = 1 mole of Atoms

This is also true for the following.

• 6.022 x 10 23 Cars = 1 mole of Cars

• 6.022 x 10 23 Pencils = 1 mole of Pencils

• 6.022 x 10 23 Sand particles = 1 mole of Sand

• But it seems the concept of mole is much more relevant for things which are smaller
in size.

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• As the number of units belonging to a mole is very large, counting is impossible.

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A mole of atoms of an element is equal to its relative atomic mass in grams.

6.022 x 10 23 Atoms = 1 mole of Atoms = RAM of an element in grams

• 1 mol of sodium atoms = 6.022 x 10 23 Sodium Atoms = 23 g of Na

• 1 mol of Potassium atoms = 6.022 x 10 23 Potassium Atoms = 39 g of K

• 1 mol of Magnesium atoms = 6.022 x 10 23 Magnesium Atoms = 24 g of Mg

A mole of molecules of a given compound is equal to its relative molecular mass in grams.

6.022 x 10 23 Molecules = 1 mole of Molecules = RMM of a compound in grams

grams

• 1 mol of water = 6.022 x 10 23 Water molecules = 18 g of H2O

• 1 mol of Carbon dioxide = 6.022 x 10 23 Carbon dioxide molecules = 44 g of CO2

• 1 mol of Glucose = 6.022 x 10 23 Glucose molecules = 180 g of C6H12O6

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Molar Mass

• Molar mass is the mass of 1 mole of any substance.

Mass of 1 mole = Molar Mass

The following relationship can also be used to find the amount of any given substance (number

of moles).

• m – mass M – Molar mass n – number of moles

Unit

𝒎
M=
𝒏

𝒈
M=
𝒎𝒐𝒍

• Grams per Mole (g mol-1)

• Kilograms per mole (kg mol-1)

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Example
1. A student measured 20g of Sodium carbonate using a triple beam balance for an

experiment.

(Na =23, C = 12, O = 16)

a. What is the molecular formular of sodium carbonate?

Na2CO3

b. What is the relative molecular mass (formular mass) of sodium carbonate?

= (23 x 2) + 12 + (16 x 3 )

= 46 + 12 + 48

= 96

Formular mass of Na2CO3 = 96

c. What is the molar mass of Sodium carbonate?

Molar mass of Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) = 96 gmol-1

d. Find the number of sodium carbonate moles present in 20 g of sodium carbonate?

20 𝑔
Number of moles =
96 𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙−1

Number of moles = 0.208 mol

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e. Find the number of sodium carbonate particles present in above sample?

Number of particles in 1 mole of Sodium carbonate = 6.022 x 10 23

No. Particles in 0.208 moles of Sodium carbonate = 6.022 x 10 23 x 0.208 mol

= 1.253 x 1023 particles

f. Find the number of Oxygen atoms present in above sample?

Formula = Na2CO3
Number of Oxygen atoms in 1 Na2CO3 = 03
No. Particles in 0.208 moles of Sodium carbonate = 1.253 x 1023 particles
Number of Oxygen atoms in 1.253 x 1023 particles = 1.253 x 1023 x 03
= 3.759 x 10 23

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