1. What is Molecular Weight?

Molecular weight (MW), also known as molecular mass, is the sum of the atomic weights of all atoms in a molecule. It's expressed in atomic mass units (u) or grams per mole (g/mol).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the molecular weight formula:

Where:

• \( MW \) — Molecular weight in g/mol
• Each element's atomic mass is multiplied by its count in the molecule
• The sum of all these products gives the total molecular weight

Explanation: The calculator parses the chemical formula, looks up atomic masses, and sums them according to their stoichiometric coefficients.

3. Importance of Molecular Weight

Details: Molecular weight is crucial for stoichiometric calculations, preparing molar solutions, determining reaction yields, and in various analytical techniques.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the chemical formula using standard notation (e.g., H2O, C6H12O6, NaCl). Element symbols are case-sensitive (first letter uppercase, second lowercase if applicable).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between molecular weight and formula weight?
A: Molecular weight refers to molecules, while formula weight is used for ionic compounds that don't exist as discrete molecules.

Q2: How accurate is this calculator?
A: It uses standard atomic weights. For precise work, use isotope-specific masses and exact isotopic composition.

Q3: Can it handle complex formulas?
A: This version handles basic formulas. For hydrates (e.g., CuSO4·5H2O) or complex ions, use specialized calculators.

Q4: What about elements not in the database?
A: The calculator includes common elements. For uncommon elements, it will return incomplete results.

Q5: Why are atomic weights not whole numbers?
A: Atomic weights account for natural isotopic abundance, which varies for each element.