What is the Molar Mass of Glucose

Answer: Molar mass of glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) is 180.16 g/mol.

Molar Mass of Glucose

Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) is a simple sugar and one of the most important carbohydrates in biology. It is a primary source of energy for living organisms and plays a key role in metabolic processes such as glycolysis and cellular respiration. The molar mass of glucose is an important parameter used in both biological and chemical calculations, particularly in determining how glucose interacts in biochemical reactions.

In this guide, we will explain how to calculate the molar mass of glucose and its significance in various chemical and biological applications.

Understanding Molar Mass

The molar mass of a substance is defined as the mass of one mole of its molecules, measured in grams per mole (g/mol). A mole is a standard unit in chemistry that represents approximately \(6.022 \times 10^{23}\) molecules, atoms, or ions. The molar mass allows scientists to convert between the mass of a substance and the number of moles, which is essential for stoichiometry in chemical equations.

To calculate the molar mass of glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆), we need to consider the molar masses of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) since glucose contains six carbon atoms, twelve hydrogen atoms, and six oxygen atoms.

Molar Masses of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen

To calculate the molar mass of glucose, we first need to know the molar masses of the atoms involved:

• 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 glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) contains six carbon atoms, twelve hydrogen atoms, and six oxygen atoms, we will use these values in the calculation of its molar mass.

Formula for Calculating Molar Mass

The molar mass of a compound can be calculated using the following formula:

\[ \text{Molar Mass of Compound} = \sum (\text{Number of Atoms} \times \text{Molar Mass of Element}) \]

For glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆), the formula becomes:

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 = (6 \times \text{Molar Mass of C}) + (12 \times \text{Molar Mass of H}) + (6 \times \text{Molar Mass of O}) \]

Step-by-Step Calculation

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

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

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

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

\[ 12 \times 1.008 \, \text{g/mol} = 12.096 \, \text{g/mol} \]

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

\[ 6 \times 16.00 \, \text{g/mol} = 96.00 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Step 4: Add the results from steps 1, 2, and 3 to find the total molar mass of glucose:

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 = 72.06 \, \text{g/mol} + 12.096 \, \text{g/mol} + 96.00 \, \text{g/mol} \]

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 = 180.16 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Final Molar Mass of Glucose

The molar mass of glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) is approximately 180.16 g/mol. This means that one mole of glucose molecules weighs 180.16 grams. This value is critical in various chemical and biological applications, such as calculating the concentration of glucose in solutions or understanding metabolic processes in living organisms.

Conclusion

The molar mass of glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) is approximately 180.16 g/mol, calculated by summing the molar masses of six carbon atoms, twelve hydrogen atoms, and six oxygen atoms.