Calculating molar mass is super important for understanding how chemicals react in the real world.

When we find the molar mass of the things we start with (called reactants) and the things we create (called products), we can figure out how much of each substance we will use or make.

Example:

Let's look at what happens when methane burns. Methane is a gas that we often use for cooking.

1. Balanced Equation: $\text{CH}_4 + 2\text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{CO}_2 + 2\text{H}_2\text{O}$

   This equation shows what happens during the burning of methane.

2. Molar Mass Calculation:

   • The molar mass of methane ($\text{CH}_4$) is about 16 grams per mole (g/mol).
   • The molar mass of oxygen ($\text{O}_2$) is about 32 g/mol.
   • The molar mass of carbon dioxide ($\text{CO}_2$) is about 44 g/mol.
   • The molar mass of water ($\text{H}_2\text{O}$) is about 18 g/mol.

By knowing these numbers, you can find out how many grams of oxygen you need to completely burn a certain amount of methane.

This information is really important for industries, like energy production, where getting the right measurements helps keep things running well and safely.