Answer: Molar mass of acetone (C3H6O) is 58.08 g/mol.
Molar Mass of Acetone
Acetone (C3H6O) is a volatile, colorless liquid commonly used as a solvent and is a key ingredient in products like nail polish removers and paint thinners. Acetone is also produced naturally in the human body during the breakdown of fats. Understanding its molar mass is essential for various chemical applications, especially in laboratory settings and industrial processes.
This guide will explain how to calculate the molar mass of acetone step by step and discuss its significance in practical and industrial chemistry.
Understanding Molar Mass
Molar mass refers to the mass of one mole of a substance, expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). A mole represents \(6.022 \times 10^{23}\) molecules, atoms, or ions, and molar mass helps in converting between the mass of a substance and the number of moles in chemical reactions.
To calculate the molar mass of acetone (C3H6O), we need to account for the molar masses of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O), as acetone contains three carbon atoms, six hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom.
Molar Masses of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen
Here are the molar masses of the elements present in acetone:
- Carbon (C): The molar mass of carbon is approximately 12.01 g/mol.
- Hydrogen (H): The molar mass of hydrogen is approximately 1.008 g/mol.
- Oxygen (O): The molar mass of oxygen is approximately 16.00 g/mol.
Since acetone (C3H6O) contains three carbon atoms, six hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom, we will use these values in the calculation.
Formula for Calculating Molar Mass
The molar mass of a compound is calculated using the following formula:
\[ \text{Molar Mass of Compound} = \sum (\text{Number of Atoms} \times \text{Molar Mass of Element}) \]
For acetone (C3H6O), the formula becomes:
\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_3\text{H}_6\text{O} = (3 \times \text{Molar Mass of C}) + (6 \times \text{Molar Mass of H}) + (1 \times \text{Molar Mass of O}) \]
Step-by-Step Calculation
Let’s now calculate the molar mass of acetone step by step:
Step 1: Multiply the molar mass of carbon (C) by the number of carbon atoms in acetone:
\[ 3 \times 12.01 \, \text{g/mol} = 36.03 \, \text{g/mol} \]
Step 2: Multiply the molar mass of hydrogen (H) by the number of hydrogen atoms in acetone:
\[ 6 \times 1.008 \, \text{g/mol} = 6.048 \, \text{g/mol} \]
Step 3: Multiply the molar mass of oxygen (O) by the number of oxygen atoms in acetone:
\[ 1 \times 16.00 \, \text{g/mol} = 16.00 \, \text{g/mol} \]
Step 4: Add the values from steps 1, 2, and 3 to find the total molar mass of acetone:
\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_3\text{H}_6\text{O} = 36.03 \, \text{g/mol} + 6.048 \, \text{g/mol} + 16.00 \, \text{g/mol} \]
\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_3\text{H}_6\text{O} = 58.08 \, \text{g/mol} \]
Final Molar Mass of Acetone
The molar mass of acetone (C3H6O) is approximately 58.08 g/mol. This information is important for various chemical calculations, such as determining how much acetone is required in a reaction or preparing solutions with specific concentrations.
Conclusion
The molar mass of acetone (C3H6O) is 58.08 g/mol, calculated by summing the molar masses of three carbon atoms, six hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom.