What is the Molar Mass of Sucrose

Answer: Molar mass of sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) is 342.30 g/mol.

Molar Mass of Sucrose

Sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) is a disaccharide, commonly known as table sugar. It is composed of glucose and fructose molecules and plays a significant role in human nutrition and food chemistry. The molar mass of sucrose is an important value used in chemistry, particularly in the food industry and biochemical processes.

In this guide, we will calculate the molar mass of sucrose and explain its importance in various chemical and biological applications.

Understanding Molar Mass

Molar mass refers to the mass of one mole of a substance, expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). A mole is a unit in chemistry that represents \(6.022 \times 10^{23}\) particles, whether they are molecules, atoms, or ions. The molar mass helps scientists convert between the mass of a substance and the number of moles, which is essential in stoichiometry and chemical reactions.

To calculate the molar mass of sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁), we need to consider the molar masses of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O), since sucrose contains 12 carbon atoms, 22 hydrogen atoms, and 11 oxygen atoms.

Molar Masses of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen

To calculate the molar mass of sucrose, we first need to know the molar masses of its constituent atoms:

• 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 sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) contains 12 carbon atoms, 22 hydrogen atoms, and 11 oxygen atoms, we will use these values in our calculation.

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 sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁), the formula is:

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_{12}\text{H}_{22}\text{O}_{11} = (12 \times \text{Molar Mass of C}) + (22 \times \text{Molar Mass of H}) + (11 \times \text{Molar Mass of O}) \]

Step-by-Step Calculation

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

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

\[ 12 \times 12.01 \, \text{g/mol} = 144.12 \, \text{g/mol} \]

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

\[ 22 \times 1.008 \, \text{g/mol} = 22.176 \, \text{g/mol} \]

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

\[ 11 \times 16.00 \, \text{g/mol} = 176.00 \, \text{g/mol} \]

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

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_{12}\text{H}_{22}\text{O}_{11} = 144.12 \, \text{g/mol} + 22.176 \, \text{g/mol} + 176.00 \, \text{g/mol} \]

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_{12}\text{H}_{22}\text{O}_{11} = 342.30 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Final Molar Mass of Sucrose

The molar mass of sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) is approximately 342.30 g/mol. This means that one mole of sucrose molecules weighs 342.30 grams. This value is critical in applications involving sucrose, such as calculating concentrations in food chemistry and determining the role of sugar in metabolic pathways.

Conclusion

The molar mass of sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) is approximately 342.30 g/mol, calculated by summing the molar masses of 12 carbon atoms, 22 hydrogen atoms, and 11 oxygen atoms. This value is significant in a wide range of chemical and biological processes, including energy production and food chemistry.