How do you calculate the molecular weight for one mole of a compound?

To calculate the molecular weight for one mole of a compound, you need to determine the contribution of each individual element that makes up the molecule. This involves taking the atomic weight (or molar mass) of each element, which is usually found on the periodic table, and multiplying it by the number of times that element appears in the molecular formula.

For instance, in a molecule like water (H2O), there are two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. You would multiply the atomic weight of hydrogen by 2 and add that to the atomic weight of oxygen. The sum of these weights gives you the total molecular weight for one mole of that compound.

This approach provides an accurate representation of the mass of a mole of the compound because it accounts for the actual composition of the molecule. It captures the contributions of each element in the precise quantities specified by the chemical formula.