When counting eggs, one refers to 12 as a dozen. When counting atoms,
one refers to 6.022 x 1023 as a mole.
6.022 x 1023 atoms of carbon yield a total mass of 12.011 g.
Carbon has an atomic mass of 12.011. Atomic mass values can be found
on a
periodic table.
Given the molecular formula of a molecule, one can use the atomic
mass values of the periodic table to compute molar mass.
for NaCl (primary constituent of table salt), we add the atomic mass of Na (22.99) to the atomic mass of Cl (35.45) to obtaim the
molar mass of 58.44.