Input interpretation
selenic acid | relative molecular mass
Result
Find the relative molecular mass, M_r, for selenic acid: M_r = sum _iN_im_i/m_u Plan: • Write the chemical formula and gather atomic masses from the periodic table. • Determine values for N_i and m_i using these items. • Finally, compute the mass. Write the chemical formula: H_2SeO_4 Use the chemical formula to count the number of atoms, N_i, for each element: | N_i H (hydrogen) | 2 O (oxygen) | 4 Se (selenium) | 1 Look up the atomic mass, m_i, in unified atomic mass units, u, for each element in the periodic table. Since m_i is divided by the atomic mass constant, m_u, the result is a unitless relative atomic mass: | N_i | m_i/m_u H (hydrogen) | 2 | 1.008 O (oxygen) | 4 | 15.999 Se (selenium) | 1 | 78.971 Multiply N_i by m_i/m_u to compute the relative mass for each element. Then sum those values to compute the relative molecular mass, M_r: Answer: | | | N_i | m_i/m_u | relative mass H (hydrogen) | 2 | 1.008 | 2 × 1.008 = 2.016 O (oxygen) | 4 | 15.999 | 4 × 15.999 = 63.996 Se (selenium) | 1 | 78.971 | 1 × 78.971 = 78.971 M_r = 2.016 + 63.996 + 78.971 = 144.983
Comparisons
≈ ( 0.2 ≈ 1/5 ) × relative molecular mass of fullerene ( ≈ 721 )
≈ 0.75 × relative molecular mass of caffeine ( ≈ 194 )
≈ 2.5 × relative molecular mass of sodium chloride ( ≈ 58 )
Corresponding quantities
Molar mass M from M = M_uM_r: | 145 g/mol (grams per mole)
Molecular mass m from m = M_rM_u/N_A: | 2.4×10^-22 grams | 2.4×10^-25 kg (kilograms)