How is the molar mass of a compound determined?

The molar mass of a compound is determined by adding the atomic masses of all atoms present in its chemical formula. This process involves identifying the number of each type of atom in the compound and multiplying it by the respective atomic mass (from the periodic table) of that element. The sum of these values gives the total molar mass for one mole of the compound, which is expressed in grams per mole (g/mol).

For instance, if you have a compound like water (H₂O), you would find that it contains two hydrogen (H) atoms and one oxygen (O) atom. The atomic mass of hydrogen is approximately 1 g/mol, and that of oxygen is approximately 16 g/mol. Therefore, the molar mass of water would be calculated as follows:

(2 × 1 g/mol) + (1 × 16 g/mol) = 2 g/mol + 16 g/mol = 18 g/mol.

This method is essential for stoichiometric calculations in chemistry, allowing chemists to relate quantities of reactants and products in chemical reactions.

Other options involve concepts that do not accurately reflect the procedure for determining molar mass. For example, adding oxidation states does not provide a numerical mass, and multiplying