Mass Fraction Formula:
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Definition: Mass fraction of a substance within a mixture is the ratio of the mass of that substance to the total mass of the mixture.
Purpose: It helps chemists and engineers determine the composition of mixtures and solutions.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The mass of the species is divided by the total mass to get its proportion in the mixture.
Details: Mass fraction is crucial for chemical reactions, material balances, and process engineering calculations.
Tips: Enter the mass of species A and the total mass of the molecule/mixture. Both values must be > 0 and mass of A cannot exceed total mass.
Q1: What units should I use?
A: The calculator uses kilograms (kg), but any mass unit can be used as long as both inputs use the same unit.
Q2: How is mass fraction different from mole fraction?
A: Mass fraction uses mass ratios while mole fraction uses molar ratios. They're related through molecular weights.
Q3: Can mass fraction be greater than 1?
A: No, mass fraction is always between 0 and 1 (or 0% to 100% when expressed as percentage).
Q4: What does a mass fraction of 0.5 mean?
A: It means the species makes up 50% of the total mass of the mixture.
Q5: How is this used in chemical engineering?
A: Mass fractions are used in material balances, reactor design, and process calculations.