What is the Molar Mass of Propane

Answer: Molar mass of propane (C₃H₈) is 44.10 g/mol.

Molar Mass of Propane

Propane (C₃H₈) is a hydrocarbon and a member of the alkane family. It is a colorless, odorless gas used primarily as a fuel for heating, cooking, and vehicles. Propane is also used as a refrigerant and in petrochemical production. Understanding its molar mass is crucial in calculating the quantities needed for combustion reactions and industrial applications.

This guide will provide a detailed step-by-step calculation of the molar mass of propane and explain its importance in practical 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 is used to relate mass to the amount of substance in chemical reactions. Molar mass is essential for converting between grams and moles when performing stoichiometric calculations.

To calculate the molar mass of propane (C₃H₈), we need to account for the molar masses of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H), since propane consists of three carbon atoms and eight hydrogen atoms.

Molar Masses of Carbon and Hydrogen

Here are the molar masses of the elements in propane:

• 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 propane (C₃H₈) contains three carbon atoms and eight 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 propane (C₃H₈), the formula becomes:

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_3\text{H}_8 = (3 \times \text{Molar Mass of C}) + (8 \times \text{Molar Mass of H}) \]

Step-by-Step Calculation

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

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

\[ 3 \times 12.01 \, \text{g/mol} = 36.03 \, \text{g/mol} \]

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

\[ 8 \times 1.008 \, \text{g/mol} = 8.064 \, \text{g/mol} \]

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

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_3\text{H}_8 = 36.03 \, \text{g/mol} + 8.064 \, \text{g/mol} \]

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_3\text{H}_8 = 44.10 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Final Molar Mass of Propane

The molar mass of propane (C₃H₈) is approximately 44.10 g/mol. This value is critical for various chemical calculations, such as determining the amount of propane needed in a combustion reaction or in preparing solutions of specific concentrations.

Conclusion

The molar mass of propane (C₃H₈) is 44.10 g/mol, calculated by summing the molar masses of three carbon atoms and eight hydrogen atoms.