Mass Error Calculator

How to Use This Calculator

1. Enter the theoretical mass (expected or calculated mass) in atomic mass units (amu).
2. Enter the experimental mass (measured mass value) in atomic mass units (amu).
3. Click the "Calculate" button to compute the mass error.
4. The calculator will display the mass error in amu, the error percentage, and the relative error.

Understanding Mass Error

Mass error is a measure of the difference between the theoretical (expected) mass and the experimental (measured) mass of a substance. It's an important parameter in analytical chemistry, particularly in mass spectrometry.

The formula used in this calculator is:

Mass Error = Experimental Mass - Theoretical Mass

The error percentage is calculated as:

Error Percentage = |Mass Error| / Theoretical Mass × 100%

When to Use This Calculator

• When analyzing mass spectrometry data
• When determining the accuracy of experimental measurements
• When comparing theoretical calculations with experimental results
• When calculating the precision of mass measurements

Example

If the theoretical mass of a molecule is 180.15 amu and the experimental mass is 180.18 amu:

• Mass Error = 180.18 amu - 180.15 amu = 0.03 amu
• Error Percentage = |0.03 amu| / 180.15 amu × 100% = 0.0167%
• Relative Error = 0.03 amu / 180.15 amu = 0.000166