Gram Formula Mass
Gram formula mass (GFM) refers to the molar mass of one mole of an element, compound ion, or molecule of a substance written in grams. It characterizes the weight of a substance as equal to the same weight of its formula mass, which is taken in atomic mass units. Each element atom has its own mass; depending on that, the formula mass of each molecule is different. The formula mass of the compound is calculated by adding the atomic masses of constituent atoms of the compound.
Formula for Gram Formula Mass
The formula for calculating the Gram Formula Mass is:
Gram Formula Mass (G) = Solute Mass / Formula Mass of Solute
Where:
G is the Gram Formula Mass
Example of Gram Formula Mass Calculation
Example: Calculate the Gram Formula Mass of the compound MgSO4
Solution:
1 atom of magnesium = 1 × 24 = 24g
1 atom of sulfur = 1 × 32 = 32g
4 atoms of oxygen = 4 × 16 = 64g
Gram Formula Mass = 24 + 32 + 64 = 120g/mol
Also, Check
Formula Mass
Formula mass is the sum of the atomic weight of all atoms in a molecule or compound. It can be expressed in atomic mass unit. It is used to obtain the mass of either a single molecule or a given number of molecules. Understanding the formula mass for atomic mass is important to write balanced chemical equations, determine the molar mass, and do stoichiometry calculations. This article explains the formula mass, its calculation, and its applications with examples.