What is the Molar Mass of Caffeine

Answer: Molar mass of caffeine (C₈H₁₀N₄O₂) is 194.19 g/mol.

Molar Mass of Caffeine

The chemical formula of Caffeine is C₈H₁₀N₄O₂. The molar mass of Caffeine is calculated by adding the molar masses of its constituent atoms— carbon(C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O).

Caffeine (C₈H₁₀N₄O₂) is a stimulant commonly found in coffee, tea, and various energy drinks. It is widely consumed for its ability to boost alertness and reduce fatigue.

This guide will walk you through the step-by-step calculation of the molar mass of caffeine and its significance in various applications.

Understanding Molar Mass

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). A mole represents \(6.022 \times 10^{23}\) particles, such as molecules, atoms, or ions. Calculating the molar mass is crucial for converting between mass and the number of moles of a substance in chemical reactions.

To calculate the molar mass of caffeine (C₈H₁₀N₄O₂), we need to account for the molar masses of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O), as caffeine contains eight carbon atoms, ten hydrogen atoms, four nitrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms.

Molar Masses of Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and Oxygen

Here are the molar masses of the elements present in caffeine:

• 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.
• Nitrogen (N): The molar mass of nitrogen is approximately 14.01 g/mol.
• Oxygen (O): The molar mass of oxygen is approximately 16.00 g/mol.

Since caffeine (C₈H₁₀N₄O₂) contains eight carbon atoms, ten hydrogen atoms, four nitrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms, we will use these values to calculate its molar mass.

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 caffeine (C₈H₁₀N₄O₂), the formula becomes:

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_8\text{H}_{10}\text{N}_4\text{O}_2 = (8 \times \text{Molar Mass of C}) + (10 \times \text{Molar Mass of H}) + (4 \times \text{Molar Mass of N}) + (2 \times \text{Molar Mass of O}) \]

Step-by-Step Calculation

Let’s now calculate the molar mass of caffeine step by step:

Step 1: Multiply the molar mass of carbon (C) by the number of carbon atoms in caffeine:

\[ 8 \times 12.01 \, \text{g/mol} = 96.08 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Step 2: Multiply the molar mass of hydrogen (H) by the number of hydrogen atoms in caffeine:

\[ 10 \times 1.008 \, \text{g/mol} = 10.08 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Step 3: Multiply the molar mass of nitrogen (N) by the number of nitrogen atoms in caffeine:

\[ 4 \times 14.01 \, \text{g/mol} = 56.04 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Step 4: Multiply the molar mass of oxygen (O) by the number of oxygen atoms in caffeine:

\[ 2 \times 16.00 \, \text{g/mol} = 32.00 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Step 5: Add the values from steps 1, 2, 3, and 4 to find the total molar mass of caffeine:

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_8\text{H}_{10}\text{N}_4\text{O}_2 = 96.08 \, \text{g/mol} + 10.08 \, \text{g/mol} + 56.04 \, \text{g/mol} + 32.00 \, \text{g/mol} \]

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_8\text{H}_{10}\text{N}_4\text{O}_2 = 194.19 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Final Molar Mass of Caffeine

The molar mass of caffeine (C₈H₁₀N₄O₂) is approximately 194.19 g/mol. This value is critical for pharmaceutical applications, allowing for precise dosage calculations and understanding the compound’s behavior in chemical reactions.

Conclusion

The molar mass of caffeine (C₈H₁₀N₄O₂) is 194.19 g/mol, calculated by summing the molar masses of eight carbon atoms, ten hydrogen atoms, four nitrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms.