Question #24a9d

1 Answer
Dec 21, 2017

Needless to say, they are different. The molecular weight is the sum of the atomic weight.

Explanation:

[What is the atomic mass?]
The atomic mass is the average mass of an element. It is the relative mass compared to ""^12C12C.
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Example:
""^12C=1212C=12 amu (by definition)
""^13C=13.00335513C=13.003355 amu
(http://www.sisweb.com/referenc/source/exactmas.htm)

The abundance(%) for ""^12C12C and ""^13C13C are 98.9098.90 and 1.101.10, respectively.
Therefore, the atomic mass of carbon is
12*0.9890+13.00*0.0110=12.011120.9890+13.000.0110=12.011.

[What is the molecular mass?]
The molecular mass is the average relative mass of an molecule, compared to ""^12C12C atom. It is the sum of the atomic mass in the molecule.

For example, the atomic mass of hydrogen is 1.0081.008, and the molecular mass of hydrogen(H_2H2) is 2*1.008=2.01621.008=2.016.
The molecular mass of methane(CH_4CH4) will be 12.011+4*1.008=16.04312.011+41.008=16.043.