How do you convert between mass and moles in chemical equations?

To convert between mass and moles in chemical equations, you use the molar mass of the substance involved.

In more detail, the molar mass of a substance is the mass of one mole of that substance. It is usually measured in grams per mole (g/mol). The molar mass can be found on the periodic table for any given element. For compounds, you simply add up the molar masses of all the elements in the compound.

To convert from mass to moles, you divide the mass of the substance by its molar mass. For example, if you have 10 grams of carbon (whose molar mass is approximately 12 g/mol), you would have approximately 0.83 moles of carbon.

To convert from moles to mass, you multiply the number of moles by the molar mass. So, if you have 2 moles of oxygen (whose molar mass is approximately 16 g/mol), you would have 32 grams of oxygen.

This conversion is crucial in stoichiometry, which is the calculation of quantities in chemical reactions. It allows you to predict how much of a product will form in a reaction, or how much of a reactant is needed to produce a certain amount of product. Remember, in chemical reactions, it's not the mass that's conserved, but the number of atoms, or moles. So, understanding how to convert between mass and moles is a fundamental skill in chemistry.