Calculate the formula unit mass of CaCl₂

The correct answer is 111 u.

Concept:

The sum of the atomic masses of all the atoms in a molecule of the substance is Molecular mass.

• It is calculated in practice by summing the atomic weights of the atoms making up the substance’s molecular formula
• For example, the molecular mass of water (H2O), which has two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen, is

= 2 x mass of hydrogen atom + mass of oxygen atom

= 2 x 1 + 16

= 2 + 16

= 18

• The formula mass of a molecule is the sum of the atomic weights of the atoms in the empirical formula of the compound.
• Mole corresponds to the mass of a substance that contains 6.023 x 1023 particles of the substance.
• Atomic mass is the mass of a single atom of a chemical element.

Explanation:

• The formula unit mass of CaCl2 is 111 u.
• Atomic Mass of Ca= 40
• Atomic Mass of Chlorine= 35.5 x2 = 71
• Formula Unit Mass = 40+71= 111.
• Formula unit mass is defined as the sum of the mass of all the atoms each multiplied by atomic masses that are present in the empirical formula of a compound.
• Cacl2 or calcium chloride is also known as Ice Bite.