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molecular weight
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Also known as: molecular mass, relative molecular mass
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molecular weight, mass of a molecule of a substance, based on 12 as the atomic weight of carbon-12. It is calculated in practice by summing the atomic weights of the atoms making up the substance’s molecular formula. The molecular weight of a hydrogen molecule (chemical formula H2) is 2 (after rounding off); for many complex organic molecules (e.g., proteins, polymers) it may be in the millions.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Erik Gregersen.