Relative Masses of

Atoms and Molecules

Chapter 7a
 Learning Objectives
• Define relative atomic mass and relative
molecular mass.
• Calculate relative molecular mass and relative
formula mass.
What happens
if you try to
weigh an
 Masses of Particles
• Atoms consist of 3 types of subatomic particles:
– proton, neutron, electron

Particle Actual mass (kg)

Proton 1.67 x 10-27

Neutron 1.67 x 10-27

Electron 9.11 x 10-31

 H
1

Mass of Hydrogen Atom 1

Actual mass
• How many protons, neutrons Particle
(kg)
and electrons does hydrogen 1.67 x
atom have? Proton
10-27
Proton
1.67 x
=1 Neutron
10-27
9.11 x
Neutron Electron
10-31
=0
• What is the mass of hydrogen
Electron Doesn’t
affect the
atom? (1.67=×110-27) + final mass
at all!
(9.11 × 10-31) VERY
SMALL!!!
= 1.67 × 10-27 kg
 C
12

Mass of Carbon Atom 6

Actual mass
• How many protons, neutrons Particle
(kg)
and electrons does carbon 1.67 x
atom have? Proton
10-27
Proton
1.67 x
=6 Neutron
10-27
9.11 x
Neutron Electron
10-31
=6
• What is the mass of carbon
Electron
atom? 12 (1.67
= 6 × 10-27) + 6
(9.11 × 10-31) STILL VERY
SMALL!!!
= 2.00 × 10-26 kg
Scientists don’t bother
calculating actual masses
of atoms and molecules all
the time...
They use
RELATIVE
MASSES.
to
compare
 Comparing the masses of H and
C atoms...
H C
1 12

nucleon 1 6
number! 1.67 × 10-27 kg 2.00 × 10-26 kg

What is the ratio of the mass of carbon atom to

hydrogen atom?
(2.00 × 10-26) ÷ (1.67 × 10-27)
= 12

• Relative mass can be calculated from nucleon numbers.

• Nucleon numbers are also known as mass numbers.
 Mass of Subatomic Particles

Actual
Particle Relative mass
mass (kg) The
1.67 x mass
Proton 1
10-27 of an
1.67 x atom is
Neutron 1
10-27 determ
Electron
9.11 x
≈ 0.0005 ined by
10-31
the
numbe
 Relative Mass
• The hydrogen atom is the smallest and lightest
atom.
• The mass of other atoms can be compared to
the mass of one hydrogen atom.
• Hydrogen atom is assigned a relative atomic
mass of 1.

Since carbon atom is 12 times heavier

than hydrogen atom, what would be the
relative atomic mass of a carbon atom?
1
 Relative Atomic Mass
• It is easier to compare the mass of atoms with
the mass of one carbon atom (instead of
hydrogen).
• Scientists thus compare the mass of atoms with
the mass of 1/12 of a carbon atom.
 Relative Atomic Mass
Definition:
The relative atomic mass of an element is the
average mass of one atom of the element when
compared with 1/12 of the mass of an atom of
carbon-12.

Symbol for relative atomic mass: Ar

average mass of one atom of the element
Ar =
1
× mass of one atom of carbon - 12
12
 Quick way of finding Ar!
• The relative mass of an atom is determined by
the number of nucleons.
• The Periodic Table gives the nucleon number
(mass number) of each element.
• The nucleon number is also the Ar of the atom
of that element.
 Relative Atomic Mass
Element Symbol Relative atomic mass
Helium
N
23
Aluminium
Si
31
Sulphur
Zn
127
 Relative Atomic Mass
Element Symbol Relative atomic mass
Helium He 4
Nitrogen N 14
Sodium Na 23
Aluminium Al 27
Silicon Si 28
Phosphorus P 31
Sulphur S 32
Zinc Zn 65
Iodine I 127
 What about
compounds?
?
Covalent compounds:
Relative Molecular Mass
Ionic Compounds: Relative
Formula Mass
 Relative Molecular Mass
• Molecules consist of atoms that are joined
together.
• The average mass of a molecule is found by
adding the relative masses of all the atoms in
the molecule.

What is the relative molecular mass for a chlorine

molecule (Cl2)?

Cl
35.5

35.5 × 2 = 71 17
 Relative Molecular Mass
Definition:
The relative molecular mass of a molecule is the
average mass of one molecule when compared with
1/12 of the mass of an atom of carbon-12.

Symbol for relative molecular mass: Mr.

average mass of one molecule of a substance

Mr =
1
× mass of one atom of carbon - 12
12
 Relative Formula Mass
• Ionic compounds consist of ions and not molecules.
• Their relative masses are known as relative formula
mass.
– Their relative mass is calculated based on the
formula of the ionic compound.
• The relative formula mass of an ionic compound is
found by adding up the relative atomic masses of
all the atoms in the formula.

What is the relative formula mass for NaCl?

23 + 35.5 =
 Try it!
Calculate the relative masses for the following:
• NaCl
• H2SO4
• NH4NO3
• Ag(NO3)2
• (NH4)3PO4