What is the Difference Between Formula Unit Mass and Molecular Mass?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between formula unit mass and molecular mass lies in the type of compounds they are used for and the way they are calculated. Here are the key differences:
- Type of Compounds: Formula mass is used for ionic compounds, while molecular mass is used for covalent or molecular compounds.
- Calculation: Formula mass is calculated by simply adding the masses of atoms present in the simplest formula of an ionic compound. On the other hand, molecular mass is calculated using the actual numbers of atoms present in a molecule of a covalent compound.
- Units: Both formula mass and molecular mass are expressed in atomic mass units (amu).
In summary, the two terms are used for different types of compounds and are calculated differently. However, both formula mass and molecular mass represent the total mass of a substance.
Comparative Table: Formula Unit Mass vs Molecular Mass
The main difference between formula unit mass and molecular mass lies in the types of compounds they represent. Here is a comparison between the two:
Formula Unit Mass | Molecular Mass |
---|---|
Represents ionic compounds, which are ionically-bonded and found as lattice structures. | Represents molecular compounds, which are held together by covalent bonds. |
The smallest unit of an ionic compound that retains the identity of the compound. | The molecule representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound. |
Calculated by summing the masses of all the atoms shown in the chemical formula. | Calculated by summing the masses of all the atoms shown in the chemical formula. |
Examples: CaCl2, Na2SO4 | Examples: C2H6, O2 |
In summary, formula unit mass is used for ionic compounds, while molecular mass is used for molecular compounds. Both formula unit mass and molecular mass can be calculated by summing the masses of all the atoms shown in the chemical formula.
- Formula Mass vs Molar Mass
- Formula Weight vs Molecular Weight
- Molar Mass vs Molecular Mass
- Mass vs Molar Mass
- Atomic Mass Unit vs Atomic Mass
- Atomic Mass vs Molecular Weight
- Atomic Mass vs Molar Mass
- Molecular Formula vs Structural Formula
- Exact Mass vs Molecular Weight
- Gram Atomic Mass vs Gram Molecular Mass
- Empirical vs Molecular Formulas
- Mole Fraction vs Mass Fraction
- Mass Number vs Atomic Mass
- Atomic Weight vs Atomic Mass
- Atomic Weight vs Mass Number
- Atomic Mass vs Average Atomic Mass
- Molecular Equation vs Ionic Equation
- Chemical Symbol vs Chemical Formula
- Mass vs Volume