finding the total mass

[pachia87]

I have a question here...umm i don't really understand how you would find total mass of a solution or substance...and with total mass in mind what is the difference between total mass, molar mass, molarity, and moles? I want to know what equations to use to find these four things. My teacher doesn't tell us that this equation is for this and that, so i'm having a hard time understanding which equation use. So if anyone can please help me then i would greatly appreciate it...

[CharonY]

This is one of the few times where I would actuality recommend reading the definitions in Wikipedia. If there are still questions afterward you can always ask them here.

[hermanntrude]

you can't get through a chemistry course just approaching each problem by throwing an equation at it. You have to fully understand the meanings of the various properties and variables involved in each question.

 

For instance, to find the total mass you might be just given the masses of all the substances involved. In which case, just add them up. You might be given the mass of one of them and the number of moles of the other, in which case you'd first have to calculate the mass of the latter and add it to the mass of the former. You might be given pressures and volumes and temperatures, in which case you might have to use the ideal gas law... there are LOTS of different ways to find the total mass of a mixture. see?

 

please, for your sake, don't see each question as an equation. see it as a real life situation, try to understand it

[macscigirl]

Well molar mass is the mass in grams of one mole of molecules or formula units of substance (also called molecular weight), molarity is moles of solute per volume of solution in liters, and moles is the number equal to the number of carbon atoms in exactly 12 grams of pure 12C: Avogadro's number. One mole represents 6.022x10^23.