Answer: Molar mass of hydrochloric acid (HCl) is 36.46 g/mol.

Molar Mass of Hydrochloric Acid

Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a strong and corrosive acid commonly used in industrial processes, laboratory applications, and even in digestive processes in the human stomach. It is a key component in various chemical reactions and is essential in industries such as steel production, food processing, and pharmaceuticals.

In this guide, we will show you how to calculate the molar mass of hydrochloric acid, providing a detailed step-by-step calculation and explaining its importance in chemistry and industry.

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, making molar mass an essential concept in converting between mass and moles in chemical equations.

To calculate the molar mass of hydrochloric acid (HCl), we need to account for the molar masses of its two elements: hydrogen (H) and chlorine (Cl).

Molar Masses of Hydrogen and Chlorine

Here are the molar masses of the atoms that make up hydrochloric acid:

  • Hydrogen (H): The molar mass of hydrogen is approximately 1.008 g/mol.
  • Chlorine (Cl): The molar mass of chlorine is approximately 35.45 g/mol.

Since hydrochloric acid (HCl) contains one hydrogen atom and one chlorine atom, 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 hydrochloric acid (HCl), the formula becomes:

\[ \text{Molar Mass of HCl} = (1 \times \text{Molar Mass of H}) + (1 \times \text{Molar Mass of Cl}) \]

Step-by-Step Calculation

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

Step 1: Multiply the molar mass of hydrogen (H) by the number of hydrogen atoms in hydrochloric acid:

\[ 1 \times 1.008 \, \text{g/mol} = 1.008 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Step 2: Multiply the molar mass of chlorine (Cl) by the number of chlorine atoms in hydrochloric acid:

\[ 1 \times 35.45 \, \text{g/mol} = 35.45 \, \text{g/mol} \]

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

\[ \text{Molar Mass of HCl} = 1.008 \, \text{g/mol} + 35.45 \, \text{g/mol} \]

\[ \text{Molar Mass of HCl} = 36.46 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Final Molar Mass of Hydrochloric Acid

The molar mass of hydrochloric acid (HCl) is approximately 36.46 g/mol. This information is crucial for various industrial and laboratory uses, such as determining the amount of HCl required in a reaction or calculating concentrations of HCl in solutions.

Conclusion

The molar mass of hydrochloric acid (HCl) is 36.46 g/mol, calculated by summing the molar masses of one hydrogen atom and one chlorine atom.