Aluminum is also written as aluminium (United Kingdom). It forms about 8.2% of the earth’s crust, making it the most abundant metal. It is also the most utilized nonferrous metal. Its high reactivity prevents it from occurring in its metallic form.
Aluminum is found in compounds in all surroundings, such as rocks, animals, and vegetation. Students in the chemistry world interact with the metal in labs. That is why knowing how to calculate the Al molar mass is essential.
Properties of Aluminum Are you in need of a high-quality, 100% plagiarism free essay or online class help? |
|
Period |
3 |
Group |
13 |
Atomic number |
13 |
Atomic mass |
26.982 |
State at room temperature |
Solid |
Melting point |
1221oF (660oC) |
Boiling point |
4566oF (2519oC) |
Density |
2.7 g/cm3 |
The molar mass of aluminum refers to the mass in grams of one mole of aluminum. If you check the periodic table, the molar mass of Al is 26.982 grams per mole (26.982g/mol).
Molar mass = atomic mass (M = Ar) or Molar mass = Atomic mass x 1 g/mol
M (Al) = 26.982 x 1 g/mol = 26.982 g/mol
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To arrive at 26.982 g/mol, we must return to the concept of moles in your general chemistry class. One mole of aluminum has 6.022 x 1023 Al atoms. That large number is the Avogadro’s constant. It dictates the number of units in one mole of any substance.
The mass of 6.022 x 1023 atoms of Al is also the Al atomic mass. One atom of Al has 13 protons, hence the atomic number 13. A stable isotope of aluminum has 14 neutrons. 13 protons and 14 neutrons will give you a total number of 27.
That is why you see aluminum written as 27Al, representing the element in its stable state of matter. So, it’s okay to estimate the mass of Aluminum to be 27 grams per mole.
The scientific method of identifying variations shows that aluminum has radioactive isotopes. They have various neutrons, and the most common one is 26Al. That means it has 13 protons and 13 neutrons. The mass of protons and neutrons is approximately the same, while that of the electrons is negligible.
26Al, among other isotopes, makes the mass drop by a small margin after calculation. That is why we get 26.982 as the Al molar mass, and that is what you see on the periodic table. We can round it off to 27, which is essential if you want to ease the calculations.
Tip: The molar mass of al is 26.892 g/mol. That means the atomic mass of aluminum is 26.982 amu. That also implies that one mole of aluminum (6.022 x 1023 atoms) is 26.982 grams.
Since aluminum is a highly reactive element, it exists in compounds. Below are five steps you need when calculating the molar mass of Al compounds.
We will use three examples of aluminum compounds to help you understand the steps better. We will find the molar mass of Al2O3 (Aluminum oxide), Al2S3 (aluminum sulfide), and AlN (aluminum nitride).
The first step is to note the aluminum compound under study. In our case, it's aluminum oxide, aluminum sulfide, and aluminum nitride.
After identifying the material, write down its chemical formula. Writing down the formula should be as easy as knowing what chemistry is. The chemical symbol of aluminum oxide is Al2O3, aluminum sulfide is Al2S3, whereas aluminum nitride is AlN.
The third step is to list the elements in the compound. Let’s use our examples: Al2O3, Al2S3, and AlN.
Once you know the compound's elements, you find their atomic mass using the periodic table.
In our examples, we want to know the atomic mass of Al, N, S, and O.
The last step is to add the atomic mass of all the elements of the compound. As you add, take care of the subscripts. They indicate the number of atoms and molecules in a substance.
For instance, you can see the subscripts in Al2O3 and Al2S3. The subscripts are "2" and "3” in both compounds. That indicates two aluminum atoms and three oxygen and sulfur atoms in each combination.
So, when determining the molar mass of compounds (or molecules) with a subscript, multiply the atomic mass of elements with the element’s subscript. For instance:
Al2O3 molar mass = (atomic mass of 2 Al atoms) + (atomic mass of 3 O atoms)
That translates to:
= 2(atomic mass of Al) + 3(atomic mass of O)
= (2 x 26.98) + (3 x 15.99)
= 101.93 g/mol
The molar mass of Al2S3 = (atomic mass of 2 Al atoms) + (atomic mass of 3 S atoms).
It is the same as saying:
= 2(atomic mass of Al atom) + 3(atomic mass of S atom)
= (2 x 26.98) + (3 x 32.06)
= 150.14 g/mol
Calculating the molar mass of AlN is simple, as there are no subscripts. There is only one atom for both elements.
The molar mass of AlN = atomic mass of one Al atom + atomic mass of one N atom
= 26.98 + 14.01
= 40.99 g/mol
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Calculating the aluminum molar mass is essential for several reasons:
Aluminum has interesting physical and chemical properties. It has many applications in industries, as depicted in the next section. Here is an overview of those properties.
These physical properties contribute to the versatility of aluminum. That is why it is suitable for various applications across different industries.
The chemical properties of aluminum include its reactions with other elements and compounds. You can check our types of chemical reactions worksheet to learn more about the different kinds. The crucial ones for aluminum include:
Understanding these chemical properties helps predict how aluminum will behave in various environments and chemical reactions.
Aluminum is used in myriads of products. Some include kitchen utensils, foils, cans, beer kegs, window frames, and airplane parts. Its unique qualities make it a good candidate for these products and others.
Most of the time, aluminum is utilized as an alloy because it is not strong enough. You readily find aluminum alloys with silicon, magnesium, manganese, and copper.
The atomic mass of aluminum (Al) is 26.981539 u. In other words, one mole of aluminum has a mass of 26.981539 g.
The Aluminum molar mass is 26.98 g/mol. It is also the same as its atomic mass.
The aluminum sulfate molar mass is 342.15 g/mol.
Aluminum chloride molar mass is 133.332 u.
The molar mass of aluminum nitrate is 212.996 g/mol.
Calculating the molar mass of aluminum is now easy if you follow the steps we have provided. Ensure that you have a periodic table when calculating the Al molar mass.
The steps we have provided can also be used to calculate the molar mass of any other element or compound. If you have any challenges with such calculations or their applications, we are available to help. You can contact our chemistry experts anytime and let them relieve your stress.
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