Answer: Molar mass of oxygen (O2) is 32.00 g/mol.
Molar Mass of Oxygen
The chemical formula of Oxygen molecule is O2. The molar mass of oxygen molecule is calculated by adding the molar masses of its constituent atoms—oxygen (O).
Oxygen, with the molecular formula O2, is a diatomic molecule, meaning it consists of two oxygen atoms bonded together.
In this guide, we will walk through the steps involved in calculating the molar mass of oxygen (O2) and explain its significance in various applications.
Understanding Molar Mass
The molar mass of a substance is defined as the mass of one mole of its molecules, expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). A mole is a unit in chemistry that represents a large number of particles, typically \(6.022 \times 10^{23}\) (Avogadro’s number) molecules, atoms, or ions. The molar mass allows scientists to measure the amount of a substance based on its mass and to relate it to chemical reactions and stoichiometry.
Since oxygen exists naturally as a diatomic molecule (O2), its molar mass is calculated based on two oxygen atoms.
Molar Mass of Oxygen (O2)
The molar mass of oxygen can be calculated by using the atomic mass of oxygen, which is approximately 16.00 g/mol. Since an oxygen molecule consists of two oxygen atoms, we multiply the atomic mass by 2 to find the molar mass of O2.
Formula for Calculating Molar Mass
The molar mass of a molecule is calculated using the formula:
\[ \text{Molar Mass of Compound} = \sum (\text{Number of Atoms} \times \text{Molar Mass of Element}) \]
For oxygen (O2), the calculation is:
\[ \text{Molar Mass of O}_2 = (2 \times \text{Molar Mass of O}) \]
Step-by-Step Calculation
Let’s calculate the molar mass of oxygen step by step:
Step 1: The molar mass of one oxygen atom (O) is approximately 16.00 g/mol.
Step 2: Since oxygen exists as a diatomic molecule (O2), we multiply the molar mass of one oxygen atom by 2:
\[ 2 \times 16.00 \, \text{g/mol} = 32.00 \, \text{g/mol} \]
This gives us the molar mass of an oxygen molecule, which is 32.00 g/mol.
Final Molar Mass of Oxygen
The molar mass of oxygen (O2) is 32.00 g/mol. This means that one mole of oxygen molecules weighs 32.00 grams. This value is crucial in various chemical calculations, including determining how much oxygen is required in a chemical reaction or how much oxygen is produced in a combustion process.
Conclusion
The molar mass of oxygen (O2) is 32.00 g/mol, calculated by multiplying the molar mass of one oxygen atom (16.00 g/mol) by two. This value is essential in chemical reactions, gas laws, and environmental science, making it a fundamental concept in both theoretical and practical applications in chemistry.