UNIT 4

ATOMS TO COMPOUNDS

Micro World
atoms & molecules

Macro World
grams

Atomic mass is the mass of an atom in

atomic mass units (amu)
By definition:
1 atom 12C weighs 12 amu
On this scale
H = 1.008 amu

O = 16.00 amu

16

Average Atomic Mass

Elements occur in nature as mixtures of

isotopes.
EXAMPLE:
Natural Carbon is a mixture of 3 isotopes:
98.89% 12C 12 amu
1.11% 13C 13.0034 amu
< 0.01% 14C
To compute for the average atomic mass of C:
(0.9889)(12 amu) + (0.0111)(13.0034 amu) = 12.01
amu

Average atomic mass (12.01)

EXERCISE
The element rhenium (Re) has two naturally
occurring isotopes, 185Re and 187Re. Relative
abundance and masses were given: 62.60%
with mass 186.956 amu for 187Re and
37.40% with mass 184.953 amu for 185Re .
Calculate the average atomic mass.

EXERCISE
The element Lithium (Li) has two
naturally occurring isotopes, 6Li and 7Li.
Relative abundance and masses were
given: 7.42% with mass 6.015 amu for 6Li
and 92.58% with mass 7.016 amu for 7Li .
Calculate the average atomic mass.

MOLE CONCEPT
The mole (mol) is the amount of a substance
that contains as many elementary entities as
there are atoms in exactly 12.00 grams of
12
C.

1 mol = NA = 6.0221367 x 1023

where NA is the Avogadros number

lar mass is the mass of 1 mole of a substance in gr

1 mole C atoms = 6.022 x 1023 C atoms =
12.01 g C
1 C atom = 12.01 amu
1 mole C atoms = 12.01 g C
1 mole Li atoms = 6.941 g Li
For any element
atomic mass (amu) = molar mass
(grams)

One Mole of:

S

Hg

Cu

Fe

3.2

Conversion of units
Where: M= molar mass in g/mol
NA = Avogadros number

EXERCISE
1. Calculate the number of iron atoms in a
4.48 mole sample of iron.
2. How many atoms are in 0.551 g of
potassium (K) ?
3. Calculate the mass of sample copper if it
contains 4.5 x 1022 Cu atoms.

ATOMS TO COMPOUNDS
A compound is a substance consisting
of chemically combined atoms from
two or more elements and present in
a definite ratio.
Two types of compounds
1. Ionic compounds
2. Molecular compounds

ATOMS TO COMPOUNDS
A molecular compound

is formed due to sharing

of electrons (covalent
bond) between atoms.
An ionic compound is

formed due to force of

attraction between
oppositely charged ions
(ionic bond).

MOLECULAR COMPOUND
It is usually composed of nonmetallic elements.

HI

hydrogen iodide

NF3

nitrogen trifluoride

SO2

sulfur dioxide

N2Cl4 dinitrogen tetrachloride

NO2

nitrogen dioxide

N2O

dinitrogen monoxide

IONIC COMPOUND
It is made up of cation and anion.
The sum of the charges on the
cation(s) and anion(s) in each
formula unit must be equal to zero.
Example: NaCl, Na2CO3, CaBr2, Al2O3

CHEMICAL FORMULA
Chemical formula shows the chemical

composition of the substance.

ratio of the elements present in the
molecule or compound
He, Au, Na monatomic elements
O2, H2, Cl2 diatomic elements
O3, P4, S8 - more complex elements
H2O, C12H22O11 compounds

Molecular mass (or molecular weight) is the sum o

he atomic masses (in amu) in a molecule.
1S
SO2

32.07 amu

2O + 2 x 16.00 amu
SO2
64.07 amu

For any molecule

molecular mass (amu) = molar mass
(grams)
1 molecule SO2 = 64.07 amu
1 mole SO2 = 64.07 g SO2

Formula mass is the sum of the atomic masses

(in amu) in a formula unit of an ionic compound.
1Na
NaCl

22.99 amu

1Cl + 35.45 amu

NaCl 58.44 amu

For any ionic compound

formula mass (amu) = molar mass
(grams)
1 formula unit NaCl = 58.44 amu
1 mole NaCl = 58.44 g NaCl

EXERCISE
1. What is the molecular mass of sucrose,

C12H22O11?
2. What is the formula mass of Ca3(PO4)2 ?

lar mass is the mass of 1 mole of a substance in gr

Molar Mass of N = 14.01 g/mol
Molar Mass of H2O = 18.02 g/mol
(2 1.008 g) + 16.00 g

Molar Mass of Ba(NO3)2 = 261.35 g/mol

137.33 g + (2 14.01 g) + (6 16.00 g)

EXERCISE
1. Which of the following 100.0 g samples
contains the greatest number of atoms?
Magnesium, Zinc, or Silver
2. Consider separate 100.0 gram samples of
each of the following:
H2O, N2O, C3H6O2, CO2
Rank them from greatest to least number of
oxygen atoms.

EXERCISE
1. How many oxygen atoms are
contained in 60.0-g of ozone, O3?
2. Calculate the number of C3H8
molecules in 74.6-g propane?
3. Calculate the number of O atoms in
in 26.5-g Li2CO3.

A molecular formula shows the

exact number of atoms of each
element in the smallest unit of a
substance
An empirical formula shows the simplest
whole-number ratio of the atoms in a substan
molecular
H2O

empirical
H2O

C6H12O6

CH2O

H2O2
N2H4

HO
NH2

Percent Composition of
Compounds
It is the percent by mass of each element in a
compound.
n x molar mass of element
x 100%
molar mass of compound

EXERCISE
Determine the percent composition by mass of
each element in the following compounds:
C3H8, Fe2(SO4)3 and H3PO4.

Percent Composition and

Empirical Formula
SAMPLE PROBLEM
Determine the empirical
formula of ascorbic acid that
has the following percent
composition by mass:
40.92% C, 4.58% H and
54.50% O.

EXERCISE
1. Determine the empirical formula of a

compound that has a percent

composition by mass: K 24.75%, Mn
34.77% and O 40.51%.
2. Calculate the number of grams Al in 371
g Al2O3.
3. A sample of a compound contains 6.541g
of Co and 2.368g of O. What is the
empirical formula for this compound?

Determination of Molecular
Formula
1. The empirical formula of a compound is CH. If
the molar mass of this compound is about 78g,
what is its molecular formula?
2. The percent composition by mass of tartaric
acid is: 32.01% C, 4.03% H, and 63.96% O.
Given that the molecular mass of tartaric acid is
150 amu, determine its molecular formula.
3. A compound was discovered whose
composition by mass is 85.6% C and 14.4% H.
Which of the following could be the molecular
formula of this compound?