Answer: Molar mass of benzene (C6H6) is 78.11 g/mol.

Molar Mass of Benzene

Benzene (C6H6) is an aromatic hydrocarbon and one of the simplest organic compounds with a ring structure. It is widely used in the production of various chemicals, plastics, resins, and synthetic fibers. Benzene also plays a key role in the petrochemical industry.

In this guide, we will explain how to calculate the molar mass of benzene with a detailed step-by-step calculation and discuss its significance in industrial applications and organic chemistry.

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, and molar mass is used to convert between the mass of a substance and the number of moles for use in stoichiometry and chemical reactions.

To calculate the molar mass of benzene (C6H6), we need to consider the molar masses of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H), since benzene contains six carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms.

Molar Masses of Carbon and Hydrogen

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

  • 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.

Since benzene (C6H6) contains six carbon atoms and six hydrogen 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 benzene (C6H6), the formula becomes:

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_6\text{H}_6 = (6 \times \text{Molar Mass of C}) + (6 \times \text{Molar Mass of H}) \]

Step-by-Step Calculation

Let’s calculate the molar mass of benzene step by step:

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

\[ 6 \times 12.01 \, \text{g/mol} = 72.06 \, \text{g/mol} \]

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

\[ 6 \times 1.008 \, \text{g/mol} = 6.048 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Step 3: Add the values from steps 1 and 2 to find the total molar mass of benzene:

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_6\text{H}_6 = 72.06 \, \text{g/mol} + 6.048 \, \text{g/mol} \]

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_6\text{H}_6 = 78.11 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Final Molar Mass of Benzene

The molar mass of benzene (C6H6) is approximately 78.11 g/mol. This value is important for various chemical calculations, such as determining how much benzene is required in a reaction or for preparing solutions with specific concentrations.

Conclusion

The molar mass of benzene (C6H6) is 78.11 g/mol, calculated by summing the molar masses of six carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms.