1. What is Molar Mass?

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance (element or compound) measured in grams per mole (g/mol). For elements, it's numerically equal to the atomic weight from the periodic table.

2. How is Molar Mass Calculated?

For elements, the molar mass is simply the atomic weight shown on the periodic table:

For Sodium (Na):

• Atomic number: 11
• Atomic weight: 22.99 g/mol
• Standard state: Solid at 298 K
• Classification: Alkali metal

3. Importance of Molar Mass

Details: Molar mass is fundamental in chemistry for converting between grams and moles, essential for stoichiometric calculations in chemical reactions.

4. About Sodium (Na)

Properties: Sodium is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal. It's essential for many biological processes and is commonly found in table salt (NaCl).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is the molar mass of Na 22.99 g/mol?
A: This value represents the weighted average of all naturally occurring isotopes of sodium, primarily Na-23 (100% abundance).

Q2: How precise is this value?
A: The IUPAC standard atomic weight of sodium is 22.98976928(2), but we use 22.99 g/mol for most practical calculations.

Q3: Does molar mass change with temperature?
A: No, molar mass is an intrinsic property of the element and doesn't change with physical conditions.

Q4: Why is sodium's molar mass not a whole number?
A: Atomic weights account for the natural isotopic distribution. Even though Na-23 is the only stable isotope, the value isn't rounded to 23.

Q5: How does this differ from molecular mass?
A: For elements, molar mass and molecular mass are the same. For compounds, molecular mass is the sum of atomic masses in one molecule.