How to calculate molar mass
- Enter a chemical formula or a common compound name.
- Use the correct uppercase and lowercase letters for each element symbol.
- If the formula has a group, use parentheses or brackets.
- If the formula has water of hydration, put a dot before the water.
- If the formula has an isotope label or an ionic charge, include it.
- Select Calculate.
Molar mass formula
M = Σ(nᵢ × Aᵢ)
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| nᵢ | number of atoms for element i | atoms |
| Aᵢ | atomic mass for element i | u |
| M | molecular weight | u |
Worked example
For water, the formula is H2O. The H2O formula has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The calculation is (2 x 1.0080) + (1 x 15.999). The molar mass is 18.015 g/mol.
Chemical formula formats
Enter the chemical formula. The calculator reads groups, hydrates, isotope labels, and ionic charges.
| Format | Enter | Example compound |
|---|---|---|
| Simple formula | C6H12O6 | Glucose |
| Parentheses | Ca(OH)2 | Calcium hydroxide |
| Nested groups | K4[Fe(CN)6] | Potassium ferrocyanide |
| Hydrate | CuSO4.5H2O | Copper sulfate pentahydrate |
| Charged ion | [Fe(CN)6]3- | Ferricyanide |
Molar mass and molecular weight
For one chemical formula, molecular weight and molar mass have the same numerical value. Molecular weight uses the unit u or Da. Molar mass uses the unit g/mol. Monoisotopic mass uses one specified isotope of each element. The monoisotopic mass can be different from the average molecular weight.
Common mistakes
- For a compound name the calculator does not recognize, enter its chemical formula.
- Use the correct uppercase and lowercase letters. CO is carbon monoxide. Co is cobalt.
- Use a dot before the water in a hydrate.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enter a compound name instead of a formula?
Yes. The calculator recognizes common names such as water, glucose, caffeine, aspirin, and sodium chloride.
Do molecular weight and molar mass have the same value?
Yes. The numbers are equal for the same chemical formula. Molecular weight uses u or Da. Molar mass uses g/mol.
Can the calculator read hydrates and isotope labels?
Yes. Use a dot before the water in a hydrate. Put the isotope number before the element symbol.
Does capitalization matter in a chemical formula?
Yes. Element symbols are case-sensitive. CO is carbon monoxide. Co is cobalt.
Can I use parentheses and brackets?
Yes. Use parentheses or brackets for a group. Examples are Ca(OH)2 and [Fe(CN)6]3-.
What is monoisotopic mass?
Monoisotopic mass uses the exact mass of one isotope for each element. The calculator uses the most abundant isotope unless the formula specifies an isotope.
Which atomic masses does the calculator use?
The calculator uses average atomic masses for all 118 elements. The PubChem data set gives these masses. NIST data gives exact isotope masses.
Atomic mass data
The table contains data for all 118 elements. The calculator uses average atomic masses for natural elements. It uses listed isotope masses for radioactive elements.
Complete table for 118 elements
| Atomic number | Element | Symbol | Atomic mass (u) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hydrogen | H | 1.0080 |
| 2 | Helium | He | 4.00260 |
| 3 | Lithium | Li | 6.94 |
| 4 | Beryllium | Be | 9.012183 |
| 5 | Boron | B | 10.81 |
| 6 | Carbon | C | 12.011 |
| 7 | Nitrogen | N | 14.007 |
| 8 | Oxygen | O | 15.999 |
| 9 | Fluorine | F | 18.998 |
| 10 | Neon | Ne | 20.180 |
| 11 | Sodium | Na | 22.990 |
| 12 | Magnesium | Mg | 24.305 |
| 13 | Aluminum | Al | 26.982 |
| 14 | Silicon | Si | 28.085 |
| 15 | Phosphorus | P | 30.974 |
| 16 | Sulfur | S | 32.06 |
| 17 | Chlorine | Cl | 35.45 |
| 18 | Argon | Ar | 39.9 |
| 19 | Potassium | K | 39.098 |
| 20 | Calcium | Ca | 40.078 |
| 21 | Scandium | Sc | 44.95591 |
| 22 | Titanium | Ti | 47.867 |
| 23 | Vanadium | V | 50.9415 |
| 24 | Chromium | Cr | 51.996 |
| 25 | Manganese | Mn | 54.93804 |
| 26 | Iron | Fe | 55.845 |
| 27 | Cobalt | Co | 58.93319 |
| 28 | Nickel | Ni | 58.693 |
| 29 | Copper | Cu | 63.546 |
| 30 | Zinc | Zn | 65.38 |
| 31 | Gallium | Ga | 69.723 |
| 32 | Germanium | Ge | 72.63 |
| 33 | Arsenic | As | 74.92159 |
| 34 | Selenium | Se | 78.97 |
| 35 | Bromine | Br | 79.904 |
| 36 | Krypton | Kr | 83.80 |
| 37 | Rubidium | Rb | 85.468 |
| 38 | Strontium | Sr | 87.62 |
| 39 | Yttrium | Y | 88.90584 |
| 40 | Zirconium | Zr | 91.22 |
| 41 | Niobium | Nb | 92.90637 |
| 42 | Molybdenum | Mo | 95.95 |
| 43 | Technetium | Tc | 96.90636 |
| 44 | Ruthenium | Ru | 101.1 |
| 45 | Rhodium | Rh | 102.9055 |
| 46 | Palladium | Pd | 106.42 |
| 47 | Silver | Ag | 107.868 |
| 48 | Cadmium | Cd | 112.41 |
| 49 | Indium | In | 114.818 |
| 50 | Tin | Sn | 118.71 |
| 51 | Antimony | Sb | 121.760 |
| 52 | Tellurium | Te | 127.6 |
| 53 | Iodine | I | 126.90 |
| 54 | Xenon | Xe | 131.29 |
| 55 | Cesium | Cs | 132.9054520 |
| 56 | Barium | Ba | 137.33 |
| 57 | Lanthanum | La | 138.9055 |
| 58 | Cerium | Ce | 140.116 |
| 59 | Praseodymium | Pr | 140.90766 |
| 60 | Neodymium | Nd | 144.24 |
| 61 | Promethium | Pm | 144.91276 |
| 62 | Samarium | Sm | 150.4 |
| 63 | Europium | Eu | 151.964 |
| 64 | Gadolinium | Gd | 157.25 |
| 65 | Terbium | Tb | 158.92535 |
| 66 | Dysprosium | Dy | 162.500 |
| 67 | Holmium | Ho | 164.93033 |
| 68 | Erbium | Er | 167.26 |
| 69 | Thulium | Tm | 168.93422 |
| 70 | Ytterbium | Yb | 173.05 |
| 71 | Lutetium | Lu | 174.9667 |
| 72 | Hafnium | Hf | 178.49 |
| 73 | Tantalum | Ta | 180.9479 |
| 74 | Tungsten | W | 183.84 |
| 75 | Rhenium | Re | 186.207 |
| 76 | Osmium | Os | 190.2 |
| 77 | Iridium | Ir | 192.22 |
| 78 | Platinum | Pt | 195.08 |
| 79 | Gold | Au | 196.96657 |
| 80 | Mercury | Hg | 200.59 |
| 81 | Thallium | Tl | 204.383 |
| 82 | Lead | Pb | 207 |
| 83 | Bismuth | Bi | 208.98040 |
| 84 | Polonium | Po | 208.98243 |
| 85 | Astatine | At | 209.98715 |
| 86 | Radon | Rn | 222.01758 |
| 87 | Francium | Fr | 223.01973 |
| 88 | Radium | Ra | 226.02541 |
| 89 | Actinium | Ac | 227.02775 |
| 90 | Thorium | Th | 232.038 |
| 91 | Protactinium | Pa | 231.03588 |
| 92 | Uranium | U | 238.0289 |
| 93 | Neptunium | Np | 237.048172 |
| 94 | Plutonium | Pu | 244.06420 |
| 95 | Americium | Am | 243.061380 |
| 96 | Curium | Cm | 247.07035 |
| 97 | Berkelium | Bk | 247.07031 |
| 98 | Californium | Cf | 251.07959 |
| 99 | Einsteinium | Es | 252.0830 |
| 100 | Fermium | Fm | 257.09511 |
| 101 | Mendelevium | Md | 258.09843 |
| 102 | Nobelium | No | 259.10100 |
| 103 | Lawrencium | Lr | 266.120 |
| 104 | Rutherfordium | Rf | 267.122 |
| 105 | Dubnium | Db | 268.126 |
| 106 | Seaborgium | Sg | 269.128 |
| 107 | Bohrium | Bh | 270.133 |
| 108 | Hassium | Hs | 269.1336 |
| 109 | Meitnerium | Mt | 277.154 |
| 110 | Darmstadtium | Ds | 282.166 |
| 111 | Roentgenium | Rg | 282.169 |
| 112 | Copernicium | Cn | 286.179 |
| 113 | Nihonium | Nh | 286.182 |
| 114 | Flerovium | Fl | 290.192 |
| 115 | Moscovium | Mc | 290.196 |
| 116 | Livermorium | Lv | 293.205 |
| 117 | Tennessine | Ts | 294.211 |
| 118 | Oganesson | Og | 295.216 |