Answer: Molar mass of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is 98.08 g/mol.

Molar Mass of Sulfuric Acid H2SO4

Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is a highly important industrial chemical used in a wide variety of applications, including in battery production, fertilizer manufacturing, and chemical synthesis. Its molar mass is critical for performing accurate calculations in chemical reactions and industrial processes.

In this guide, we will explain how to calculate the molar mass of sulfuric acid with detailed step-by-step calculation and its importance in various industrial and chemical contexts.

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 the molar mass helps in converting between the mass of a substance and the number of moles in stoichiometry.

To calculate the molar mass of sulfuric acid (H2SO4), we need to account for the molar masses of hydrogen (H), sulfur (S), and oxygen (O), as sulfuric acid consists of two hydrogen atoms, one sulfur atom, and four oxygen atoms.

Molar Masses of Hydrogen, Sulfur, and Oxygen

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

  • Hydrogen (H): The molar mass of hydrogen element is approximately 1.008 g/mol.
  • Sulfur (S): The molar mass of sulfur element is approximately 32.06 g/mol.
  • Oxygen (O): The molar mass of oxygen element is approximately 16.00 g/mol.

Since sulfuric acid (H2SO4) contains two hydrogen atoms, one sulfur atom, and four oxygen atoms, 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 sulfuric acid (H2SO4), the formula becomes:

\[ \text{Molar Mass of H}_2\text{SO}_4 = (2 \times \text{Molar Mass of H}) + (1 \times \text{Molar Mass of S}) + (4 \times \text{Molar Mass of O}) \]

Step-by-Step Calculation

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

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

\[ 2 \times 1.008 \, \text{g/mol} = 2.016 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Step 2: Multiply the molar mass of sulfur (S) by the number of sulfur atoms in sulfuric acid:

\[ 1 \times 32.06 \, \text{g/mol} = 32.06 \, \text{g/mol} \]

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

\[ 4 \times 16.00 \, \text{g/mol} = 64.00 \, \text{g/mol} \]

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

\[ \text{Molar Mass of H}_2\text{SO}_4 = 2.016 \, \text{g/mol} + 32.06 \, \text{g/mol} + 64.00 \, \text{g/mol} \]

\[ \text{Molar Mass of H}_2\text{SO}_4 = 98.08 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Final Molar Mass of Sulfuric Acid

The molar mass of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is approximately 98.08 g/mol. Understanding the molar mass is essential for various applications, including calculating the concentration of sulfuric acid solutions and determining the amount needed for industrial or laboratory processes.

Conclusion

The molar mass of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is 98.08 g/mol, calculated by summing the molar masses of two hydrogen atoms, one sulfur atom, and four oxygen atoms.