IGCSE Chemistry

Chemistry Calculations A

22 RAMs and Moles

Relative Atomic Mass
Relative atomic mass is the average mass of the isotopes of an element
compared with one twelfth the mass of a carbon-12 atom. It is also called
RAM or Ar
RAM = average mass of an atom of the element (in Kg)
1/12 x mass of an atom of carbon-12 (in Kg)
Q1 The average mass of an atom of Magnesium is 4.035943 x 10-26 Kg. Given that
the mass of an atom of carbon-12 is 1.9926 x 10-26, find the relative atomic mass
of Magnesium.

Q2 The relative abundances of the isotopes of Tungsten are:

180
W 0.12%
182
W 26.50%
183
W 14.31%
184
W 30.64%
185
W 28.43%
Find the relative atomic mass of Tungsten

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Relative Formula Mass (RFM of Mr)

Relative formula or relative molecular mass is the mass of a substance in relative
units.

Note: The term relative formula mass is used when calculating the mass of ionic
compounds
The term relative molecular mass is used when calculating the mass of covalent
compounds
To find the Mr of a compound, simply add the atomic masses.
e.g.: Mr of NaCl = 23 + 35.5 = 58.5
Q3 Find the Mr of the following compounds
a) Cr2(SO4)3

b) CuSO4.5H2O

c) CuCO3.Cu(OH)2

d) (NH4)2SO4.FeSO4.6H2O

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Moles (short form is mols)

Moles are the units used to measure the amount of a substance.
1 mole =
Amount of that substance that contains as many particles (atoms, ions or
molecules) as there are atoms in exactly 12g of carbon-12 = 6.02 x 1023

1 Mole

6.02 x 1023 Particles

6.02x1023 is called the Avogadros constant and

was named after the Italian scientist Amedeo
Avogadro in honour of his contributions to
Molecular theory

1 mole of sodium has 6.02x1023 sodium atoms.

1 mole of Na+ has 6.02x1023 sodium ions.
1 mole of CO2 has 6.02x1023 Carbon dioxide molecules.
1 mole of NaCl has 6.02x1023 Na+ ions and 6.02x1023 Cl- ions (A total of
1.204 x 1024 ions)
Q4 Calculate the no. of particles in:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

0.5 mols of CO2

5 mols of FeSO4
0.1 mols of O2
6 mols of H2O
10 mols of Fe2+

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Relationship between moles, mass and molar mass

Molar mass mass of 1 mole of a substance
Molar mass = Mr but the only difference between them is Mr has no units and molar
mass has units grams per mole (gmol-1)

Moles =

Mass (grams)
Molar Mass (gmol-1)

Q5 Calculate the no. of moles (to 3 s.f. where necessary) in:

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

50 grams of Copper II sulphate crystals, CuSO4.5H2O

1 Kilogram of iron, Fe
0.032 grams of Sulphur Dioxide, SO2
50 milligrams of copper carbonate, CuCO3
1 tonne of Magnesium, Mg

Q6 Calculate the mass in grams of:

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

1 mol of Lead(II) Nitrate, Pb(NO3)2

4.3 mols of methane, CH4
0.24 mols of Na2CO3.10H2O
5.25 mols of Al2O3
4.1 mols of octacontane, C80H162

Using relative formula mass to find percentage composition

e.g.: Find the percentage by mass of copper in Copper (II) Oxide, CuO

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Q7 Find the percentage composition of Oxygen in each of the following compounds

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

CO(NH2)2
(NH4)2SO4
FeSO4.7H2O
Na2CO3.10H2O
CH3CH2COOH

Empirical formula and Molecular Formula

Empirical formula is the formula that shows the simplest ratio of elements in
a compound.
Molecular formula is the formula that shows the actual ratio of elements in a
compound.
Molecular Formula mass = Empirical formula mass x n
e.g.: An organic compound has the composition 38.7% Carbon, 9.70% Hydrogen and
51.6% Oxygen by mass. The relative formula mass of the compound is 62. Calculate
the empirical formula and the molecular formula of the compound.

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Q8 A gaseous compound of C and H contains 80% C by mass. Its molecular

mass is 30.2, Calculate its empirical formula and molecular formula.
Q9 The empirical formula of a compound is C3H6O. It has molar mass 58 gmol-1.
Calculate its molecular formula.
Q10 1.24g of phosphorus was burnt completely in oxygen to give 2.84 g of
phosphorus oxide. The molecular formula of the oxide is 284 gmol-1. Find its
empirical formula and molecular formula.
Concept of molar volume
Molar volume is the volume occupied by 1 mol of a gas
under room temperature and pressure conditions (r.t.p) conditions (25 C and
1atm pressure) , molar volume is
under standard temperature and pressure conditions (s.t.p) conditions (0 C
and 1atm pressure), molar volume is
Q11 Calculate the volumes of each of these in dm3 under r.t.p conditions
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

5 mols of O2
0.5 mols of CH4
0.25 mols of water vapour, H2O
50 grams of Nitrogen, N2
100 grams of Fluorine, F2

Q12 Calculate the volumes of the same moles of the above gases in dm3 under s.t.p
conditions
Q13 Calculate the mass in grams of the following volumes of gases:
a) 24dm3 of Chlorine gas
b) 200cm3 of Oxygen gas
c) 1.42dm3 of water vapour

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23 Calculations from equations

Consider the equation:
2CaCo3 (s) + 2SO2 (s) + O2 (g)

2CaSO4 (s) + 2CO2 (g)

Calculate the mass of CaSO4 (Calcium sulphate) formed from 100 grams of Calcium
Carbonate.

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Percentage Yield

% Yield =

Actual mass of product x 100%

Expected mass of product

e.g.:
Heating 12.4 grams of copper (II) carbonate in a crucible produced 7.0 g of copper
(II) Oxide. What is the percentage yield of Copper (II) Oxide?
The equation for the above mentioned reaction is:
CuCO3

CuO + CO2

Questions (1), (2), (4), (6) and (11) from text book
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