What is the primary purpose of determining the formula (molar) mass of a compound?

• A. To determine the color of a compound
• B. To predict the solubility of a compound in water
• C. To identify the physical state of a compound at room temperature
• D. To convert between the mass of a substance and the number of moles present

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the molar mass of a compound is the mass of one mole of that substance, usually expressed in grams per mole (g/mol).
2. Recognize that molar mass serves as a conversion factor between the mass of a substance and the amount of substance in moles.
3. Recall that many chemical calculations require converting a given mass of a compound into moles to use stoichiometric relationships in reactions.
4. Note that molar mass is not directly used to determine physical properties like color, solubility, or physical state at room temperature.
5. Conclude that the primary purpose of determining the molar mass is to enable conversion between mass and moles, facilitating quantitative chemical analysis.