How to Calculate Moles from Grams

Moles from Grams Calculator

You can find this on the periodic table for specific elements.
Total Moles

How to Calculate Moles from Grams

Calculating moles from grams is a fundamental skill in chemistry known as stoichiometry. It allows scientists and students to bridge the gap between the weight of a substance and the number of atoms or molecules present in that sample.

The Mole Formula

To convert grams to moles, you use the following mathematical formula:

n = m / M
  • n = Number of moles (mol)
  • m = Mass of the substance in grams (g)
  • M = Molar mass of the substance (g/mol)

Step-by-Step Calculation Guide

  1. Find the Mass: Weigh your sample in grams. If your weight is in kilograms or milligrams, convert it to grams first (1 kg = 1000 g).
  2. Determine the Molar Mass: Look at the periodic table for the atomic weight of the element. For compounds, add the atomic weights of all atoms in the chemical formula.
  3. Divide: Divide the mass of your substance by its molar mass to get the number of moles.

Practical Examples

Example 1: Water (H₂O)
Suppose you have 36 grams of water. The molar mass of water is approximately 18.015 g/mol.
Calculation: 36g ÷ 18.015 g/mol = 1.998 moles.

Example 2: Table Salt (NaCl)
Suppose you have 100 grams of table salt. The molar mass of NaCl is 58.44 g/mol.
Calculation: 100g ÷ 58.44 g/mol = 1.711 moles.

Common Molar Masses Reference

Substance Formula Molar Mass (g/mol)
Carbon C 12.011
Oxygen O₂ 31.998
Glucose C₆H₁₂O₆ 180.16
Iron Fe 55.845
function calculateMoles() { var mass = parseFloat(document.getElementById('massInput').value); var molarMass = parseFloat(document.getElementById('molarMassInput').value); var resultDiv = document.getElementById('molesResult'); var resultValue = document.getElementById('molesValue'); var explanationValue = document.getElementById('stepExplanation'); if (isNaN(mass) || isNaN(molarMass) || mass <= 0 || molarMass <= 0) { alert('Please enter valid positive numbers for both mass and molar mass.'); resultDiv.style.display = 'none'; return; } var moles = mass / molarMass; var formattedMoles = moles.toLocaleString(undefined, { minimumFractionDigits: 4, maximumFractionDigits: 4 }); resultValue.innerText = formattedMoles + ' mol'; explanationValue.innerHTML = 'Calculation: ' + mass + ' g / ' + molarMass + ' g/mol = ' + formattedMoles + ' moles.'; resultDiv.style.display = 'block'; }

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