Tag: Calcium

The molar mass of a molecule is its weight. Expressed in Daltons. When dealing with the mass of a single or specific well-defined molecule, molecular weight is more commonly used than molecular weight when dealing with sample-weighted averages.
Molecular weights of small to medium-sized molecules are measured by mass spectrometry and used to determine the elemental composition of molecules or compounds.

What is Molecular Mass?

Molecular mass is also called molecular weight. The molecular weight of a molecule is its weight or mass. Different molecules of the same compound can have different molecular weights because elements have different types of isotopes present in compounds. The ratio of molecular mass to combined atomic mass is a measure of relative molecular weight. Molecular weight and molecular weight are separate but related concepts. The molar mass of a substance is defined as the mass divided by the number of moles of that substance. The unit of molar mass is g/mol. 

How to Find Molecular Mass?

To calculate molecular weight, first, use the periodic table to determine the atomic weight of each element. Multiply the number of atoms by the atomic mass of each element to sum the masses of all elements in the molecule.

The Formula of molecular mass/ molecular mass equation

The formula of molecular mass or molar mass is. 

How to Calculate Molecular Mass?

A compound’s total mass is referred to as its molecular mass or molecular weight. It is equal to the sum of the atomic masses of all elements. 

Molecular Mass Examples

There are some examples of molecular mass:

H2O: In the periodic table, hydrogen has an atomic mass of 1u, and oxygen has an atomic mass of 16u. As a result, the molecular mass of a water molecule can be calculated as follows:

Hence, the molecular mass of water molecules is 18u.

NH3: In the periodic table, the atomic mass of hydrogen is 1u and the atomic mass of nitrogen is 14u. As a result, the molecular mass of an ammonia molecule can be calculated as follows:

Hence, the molecular mass of ammonia gas is 17u.

CaCO3: In the periodic table, calcium has an atomic mass of 40u, carbon has an atomic mass of 12u, and oxygen has an atomic mass of 16u. As a result, the molecular mass of calcium carbonate can be calculated as follows:

Hence, the molecular mass of calcium carbonate is 100u.

CaCl2: In the periodic table, calcium has an atomic mass of 40u, and chlorine has an atomic mass of 35.45u. As a result, the molecular mass of calcium chloride can be calculated as follows:

Hence, the molecular mass of calcium chloride is 110.9u.

The Molecular Mass of Compounds

The molecular mass of a compound can be found by using the following steps.

• Determine the compound’s molecular formula.
• Determine the atomic mass of each element in the compound using the periodic table.
• Multiply the atomic mass of each element by the number of atoms in the compound. In the molecular formula, this number is denoted by the subscript next to the element symbol.
• Add these values for each atom separately.
• The total value will be the compound’s molecular mass.

The Molecular Mass of Elements

An element’s molecular mass is the sum of the atomic masses of its constituent atoms. Using the periodic table, calculate the atomic mass of each element.

Conclusion

Molecular mass is defined as the sum of the atomic masses of the elements present in a molecule, whereas molar mass is the ratio of compound mass to a compound number of molecules. Mechanical properties generally increase as molecular weight increases. A polymer’s molecular weight is directly related to its properties (strength, processability, and brittleness). The smallest molecular mass is hydrogen. Molecular mass is useful for analyzing experiment results.  Knowing the molecular formula allows you to calculate the molecular mass. 

Also Read: Formula Unit Mass and How is it Calculated?

Frequently Asked Questions

1.What is the Molecular Mass Equivalent to?

Ans: Molecular mass is a number equivalent to a molecule’s amount of nuclear masses.

2.What are the Characteristics of Polymers?

Ans: A polymer is a large molecule composed of chains or rings of linked repeating subunits known as monomers. Polymers have high molecular masses because they are made up of many monomers, and they also have high melting and boiling points.

3.What is a Compound Composed of Identical Molecules?

Ans: A compound is a substance made up of identical molecules made up of atoms of two or more chemical elements. Atoms of over 100 different chemical elements make up all matter in the universe, both in pure form and in chemical compounds.

Introduction 

The human digestive system performs the function of digestion of food which is required for providing nutrition to the body. Food eaten undergoes a series of processes that break down complex food materials into simpler ones that ultimately provide energy. Absorption is one such process under digestion wherein the simpler nutrient molecules from the gastrointestinal tract are absorbed and transported to the blood or lymph to provide nutrition to the rest of the body parts.

Absorption in Various Parts of the Digestive System

The oral cavity, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine make up the alimentary canal, sometimes known as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The small intestine is where nutrients are mostly absorbed. However, some compounds are also absorbed in the large intestine, stomach, and oral cavity.

• Oral cavity absorption: The oral cavity plays a major role in chewing and combining food and saliva. The oral cavity is where some medicines, alcohol, and simple carbohydrates are absorbed.
• Absorption in Stomach: The stomach is a hollow, muscular organ that aids in a nutrient breakdown in the presence of hydrochloric acid and enzymes. The stomach is where certain vitamins, alcohol, lipid-soluble substances, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), caffeine, and water (during dehydration) are absorbed.

Absorption in the small intestine: The small intestine, is the longest section of the alimentary canal and measures around 6 meters in length. It has been designed to perform the function of absorption because it shows the presence of-

• Villi and microvilli
• Specialized absorptive cells 
• A vast network of blood capillaries and lymphatic arteries.

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According to their characteristics and functions, the small intestine is divided into three divisions. Which are:

• Duodenum-It is the first portion of the small intestine which receives chyme, liver secretions, and pancreatic secretions. Rather than absorbing nutrients, this area mostly performs food digestion.
• Jejunum-It is the middle coil portion of the small intestine and contains a lot of blood vessels. It acts as the initial site of nutrition absorption.
• Leum-It is the final and longest segment of the small intestine. This region of the small intestine absorbs the majority of the nutrients.
• Absorption in the Large intestine- large intestine is wider than the small intestine. It majorly absorbs water, Vitamin K, B12, various ions, and some nutrients.

Absorption of Nutrients

• Vitamins, minerals, monosaccharides, and water-soluble amino acids are directly absorbed by the capillaries into the bloodstream.
• The lacteals of the lymphatic system absorb fat-soluble vitamins, glycerol, and fatty acids before getting absorbed by the blood vessels. Micelles are small, spherical, water-soluble molecules that are initially responsible for absorbing fat-soluble chemicals and lipid derivatives.
• The duodenum absorbs electrolytes such as calcium, sodium, potassium, phosphate, chloride, bicarbonates, and magnesium.
• Bile salts are absorbed in the ileum area.

Mechanism

Mechanism of absorption takes place by 3 methods-

• Simple diffusion-Simple diffusion does not need energy, and here movement of molecules occurs along their concentration gradient. Absorption of dietary lipids by intestinal cells occurs through simple diffusion.
• Active transport- In active transport, the movement of molecules occurs against the concentration gradient. Energy is required for this transport to occur. This transport is used for the absorption of proteins and carbohydrates.

• Facilitated transport-The movement of molecules along their concentration gradient which is facilitated by some other ion, protein, carrier, or channel is known as facilitated transport. It does not require energy. Glucose and amino acids are transported through this method.

Summary

Absorption is a process of taking up simpler nutrient molecules from the gastrointestinal tract into the blood. It occurs after the process of digestion. The small intestine is where most of the absorption of various nutrients such as monosaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, etc takes place. It is made of 3 parts duodenum, jejunum, and ileum out of which most of the absorption takes place in the ileum region. The nutrients which are absorbed into the blood, travel to various parts of the body and provide the necessary nutrients which are required for the regular functioning of various cellular activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Give the Various Processes Present During Digestion.
Ans: Digestion is divided into 5 processes or steps-

• Ingestion
• Digestion
• Absorption
• Assimilations
• Egestion

2. Differentiate between Macronutrients and Micronutrients.
Ans: Macronutrients are nutrients required in large quantities as they perform various functions in our body. Some examples are- carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Micronutrients are required in small quantities by the body. Some examples are- Vitamins and Minerals.

3. How are Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats are Broken Down?
Ans: Carbohydrates are broken down to glucose, sucrose, and other monosaccharides using enzymes such as Salivary amylase,           maltase, etc. Proteins are broken down into Amino acids with help of enzymes such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, etc. Fats are broken down into fatty acids with the enzyme lipase.

4. What Occurs if the Nutrients are not Properly Absorbed?
Ans: Malabsorption describes a decrease in the body’s capacity to absorb nutrients from the gastrointestinal tract. It interferes with the normal functioning of the body and causes various nutrient deficiencies.