MOLECULAR WEIGHT Meaning and
Definition
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Molecular weight refers to the numerical value that quantifies the mass of a molecule. It is the sum of the atomic weights of all the atoms in a molecule. Atomic weight is determined by the average mass of an atom of an element in relation to a standard unit.
To calculate molecular weight, each atom in the molecule is assigned its respective atomic weight from the periodic table, and the sum of these individual atomic weights is determined. The unit used for expressing molecular weight is atomic mass units (amu) or daltons (Da).
Molecular weight is a crucial concept in various scientific fields, particularly in chemistry and biochemistry. It is used to determine the amount of a substance in a sample based on its weight and molar concentration. It plays a fundamental role in stoichiometry and chemical equations, helping scientists understand the relative proportions of reactants and products.
Furthermore, molecular weight is essential in the characterization and identification of different compounds in analytical techniques such as mass spectrometry. It is also utilized in the determination of physical properties including boiling and melting points, densities, and solubilities.
Overall, molecular weight is a numerical representation that allows scientists to measure and analyze the mass of molecules, aiding in various scientific calculations and providing insights into the properties and behavior of substances.
Common Misspellings for MOLECULAR WEIGHT
- nolecular weight
- kolecular weight
- jolecular weight
- milecular weight
- mklecular weight
- mllecular weight
- mplecular weight
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- molwcular weight
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- molexular weight
Etymology of MOLECULAR WEIGHT
The word "molecular weight" is composed of two parts:
1. "Molecular" comes from the Latin word "molecula", meaning a small mass or particle. It is a diminutive form of "moles", which refers to a mass or a massive body. "Molecula" was formed from the noun "moles" coupled with the suffix "-cula", indicating smallness or endearment.
2. "Weight" comes from the Old English word "wiht", which means a person, thing, or creature (similar to "wight"). Over time, "wiht" evolved to mean heaviness, mass, or the amount of matter contained in an object.
Therefore, "molecular weight" ultimately refers to the mass or amount of matter contained in a particle or compound at the molecular level.
Similar spelling words for MOLECULAR WEIGHT
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