What is the significance of molar mass in stoichiometry?

The significance of molar mass in stoichiometry lies in its function as a conversion factor between grams and moles. Molar mass is defined as the mass of one mole of a substance, typically expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). This allows chemists to relate the mass of a substance to the amount in moles, which is crucial for performing calculations involving chemical reactions.

When conducting stoichiometric calculations, knowing the molar mass of reactants and products allows one to determine how many grams of a substance are needed or produced in a reaction based on the mole ratios derived from a balanced chemical equation. For example, if a reaction requires a specific number of moles of a reactant, you can multiply the number of moles by its molar mass to find out the mass of the reactant needed.

This understanding is essential for accurately measuring reactants, predicting yields, and ensuring that reactions are conducted with the correct proportions of substances. Therefore, its role in converting between grams and moles is central to stoichiometric calculations.