Answer: Molar mass of aspirin (C9H8O4) is 180.16 g/mol.
Molar Mass of Aspirin
The chemical formula of Aspirin is C9H8O4. The molar mass of Aspirin is calculated by adding the molar masses of its constituent atoms— carbon(C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O).
Aspirin (C9H8O4), also known as acetylsalicylic acid, is a widely used medication for relieving pain, reducing fever, and treating inflammation. It is also commonly used as a blood thinner to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
This guide will explain how to calculate the molar mass of aspirin with a detailed step-by-step approach, as well as discuss its significance in medical and chemical 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 \(6.022 \times 10^{23}\) molecules, atoms, or ions, and molar mass is essential in converting between the mass of a substance and the number of moles in chemical reactions and pharmacological preparations.
To calculate the molar mass of aspirin (C9H8O4), we need to account for the molar masses of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O), as aspirin contains nine carbon atoms, eight hydrogen atoms, and four oxygen atoms.
Molar Masses of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen
Here are the molar masses of the elements present in aspirin:
- 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 aspirin (C9H8O4) contains nine carbon atoms, eight hydrogen atoms, and four 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 aspirin (C9H8O4), the formula becomes:
\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_9\text{H}_8\text{O}_4 = (9 \times \text{Molar Mass of C}) + (8 \times \text{Molar Mass of H}) + (4 \times \text{Molar Mass of O}) \]
Step-by-Step Calculation
Let’s now calculate the molar mass of aspirin step by step:
Step 1: Multiply the molar mass of carbon (C) by the number of carbon atoms in aspirin:
\[ 9 \times 12.01 \, \text{g/mol} = 108.09 \, \text{g/mol} \]
Step 2: Multiply the molar mass of hydrogen (H) by the number of hydrogen atoms in aspirin:
\[ 8 \times 1.008 \, \text{g/mol} = 8.064 \, \text{g/mol} \]
Step 3: Multiply the molar mass of oxygen (O) by the number of oxygen atoms in aspirin:
\[ 4 \times 16.00 \, \text{g/mol} = 64.00 \, \text{g/mol} \]
Step 4: Add the values from steps 1, 2, and 3 to find the total molar mass of aspirin:
\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_9\text{H}_8\text{O}_4 = 108.09 \, \text{g/mol} + 8.064 \, \text{g/mol} + 64.00 \, \text{g/mol} \]
\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_9\text{H}_8\text{O}_4 = 180.16 \, \text{g/mol} \]
Final Molar Mass of Aspirin
The molar mass of aspirin (C9H8O4) is approximately 180.16 g/mol. This value is critical for determining dosages, preparing pharmaceutical formulations, and conducting chemical reactions that involve aspirin.
Conclusion
The molar mass of aspirin (C9H8O4) is 180.16 g/mol, calculated by summing the molar masses of nine carbon atoms, eight hydrogen atoms, and four oxygen atoms.