What is the Molar Mass of Acetic Acid

Answer: Molar mass of acetic acid (CH₃COOH) is 60.05 g/mol.

Molar Mass of Acetic Acid

Acetic acid (CH₃COOH), commonly known as vinegar, is a weak organic acid that plays a crucial role in both industrial and biological processes. It is widely used in the production of chemicals, food preservation, and is an important metabolic intermediate.

In this guide, we will explain how to calculate the molar mass of acetic acid with detailed step by step calculation, and its significance in various applications.

Understanding Molar Mass

Molar mass is defined as the mass of one mole of a substance, expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). A mole is a standard unit in chemistry that represents \(6.022 \times 10^{23}\) molecules, atoms, or ions. The molar mass is essential for converting between the mass of a substance and the number of moles in chemical reactions and stoichiometry.

To calculate the molar mass of acetic acid (CH₃COOH), we need to consider the molar masses of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O), since acetic acid contains two carbon atoms, four hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms.

Molar Masses of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen

To calculate the molar mass of acetic acid, we first need the molar masses of its constituent atoms:

• 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 acetic acid (CH₃COOH) contains two carbon atoms, four hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms, 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 acetic acid (CH₃COOH), the formula becomes:

\[ \text{Molar Mass of CH}_3\text{COOH} = (2 \times \text{Molar Mass of C}) + (4 \times \text{Molar Mass of H}) + (2 \times \text{Molar Mass of O}) \]

Step-by-Step Calculation

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

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

\[ 2 \times 12.01 \, \text{g/mol} = 24.02 \, \text{g/mol} \]

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

\[ 4 \times 1.008 \, \text{g/mol} = 4.032 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Step 3: Multiply the molar mass of oxygen (O) by the number of oxygen atoms in acetic acid:

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

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

\[ \text{Molar Mass of CH}_3\text{COOH} = 24.02 \, \text{g/mol} + 4.032 \, \text{g/mol} + 32.00 \, \text{g/mol} \]

\[ \text{Molar Mass of CH}_3\text{COOH} = 60.05 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Final Molar Mass of Acetic Acid

The molar mass of acetic acid (CH₃COOH) is approximately 60.05 g/mol. This means that one mole of acetic acid molecules weighs 60.05 grams. Understanding the molar mass of acetic acid is essential in various applications, such as calculating concentrations of solutions and determining the amount of acetic acid required for a chemical reaction.

Conclusion

The molar mass of acetic acid (CH₃COOH) is 60.05 g/mol, calculated by summing the molar masses of two carbon atoms, four hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms.