1. What is Molecular Weight?

Molecular weight (MW) is the sum of the atomic weights of all atoms in a molecule. It's expressed in atomic mass units (amu) or grams per mole (g/mol) and is crucial for stoichiometric calculations in chemistry.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the molecular weight formula:

Where:

• \( MW \) — Molecular weight (g/mol)
• \( \text{atomic\_masses} \) — Standard atomic weights of elements (g/mol)
• \( \text{counts} \) — Number of atoms of each element in the molecule

Explanation: The calculator parses the chemical formula, identifies each element and its count, then sums the products of atomic masses and counts.

3. Importance of Molecular Weight

Details: Molecular weight is essential for preparing solutions, determining reaction stoichiometry, calculating yields, and in analytical techniques like mass spectrometry.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the chemical formula using standard notation (e.g., H2O for water, C6H12O6 for glucose). Case matters - element symbols start with uppercase letters.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between molecular weight and molar mass?
A: They are numerically identical but molar mass refers to one mole of substance while molecular weight is the mass of one molecule.

Q2: How are atomic weights determined?
A: Atomic weights are weighted averages of isotopic masses based on their natural abundance, as determined by IUPAC.

Q3: Does this work for ionic compounds?
A: Yes, the calculator works for both molecular and ionic compounds (e.g., NaCl).

Q4: What if my element isn't recognized?
A: The calculator includes common elements. For comprehensive calculations, use specialized chemistry software.

Q5: How accurate are the results?
A: Results are based on standard atomic weights and are accurate for most general purposes, but may differ slightly from experimental values.