Find the formula unit mass of magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH)2. Atomic mass — Mg =
24 u; O =
16 u; H =
1 u. Understanding atoms, molecules and chemical bonding reveals the At a Glance y Mass can neither be created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. This is known as the Law of Conservation of Mass. y A compound always contains the same elements combined in a fixed ratio by mass, no matter how it is formed or from where it is obtained. This is called the Law of Definite Proportions. y A molecule is defined as an electrically neutral entity consisting of more than one atom that can exist independently and shows all its chemical properties. y Atoms combine to form molecules of elements or compounds to become stable. Atoms are held together by a force called a chemical bond. y A covalent bond is formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms. y An ionic bond is formed by the transfer of electrons between atoms, where one atom loses electrons and the other gains electrons to form cations and anions, respectively. y The chemical formula of a covalent compound represents the elements and number of atoms of each element present in it. y The chemical formula of an ionic compound represents the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of different elements present in it. y Molecular mass is the total mass of a molecule, calculated by adding the atomic masses of all the atoms constituting it. y Formula unit mass of an ionic compound is the sum of the atomic masses of all the atoms present in a formula unit (simplest whole number ratio of ions in an ionic compound).