Answer: Molar mass of toluene (C7H8) is 92.14 g/mol.

Molar Mass of Toluene

Toluene (C7H8), also known as methylbenzene, is a clear, water-insoluble liquid with a distinct smell, widely used as an industrial solvent and in the production of chemicals, paints, and adhesives. It is a key component in gasoline and is also involved in the production of polymers such as synthetic rubber.

This guide will explain how to calculate the molar mass of toluene with a detailed step-by-step approach, as well as discuss its importance in chemical reactions and industrial 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 \(6.022 \times 10^{23}\) particles (atoms, molecules, or ions). Understanding the molar mass is essential for converting between the mass of a substance and the number of moles in chemical reactions and stoichiometric calculations.

To calculate the molar mass of toluene (C7H8), we need to account for the molar masses of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H), as the molecule consists of seven carbon atoms and eight hydrogen atoms.

Molar Masses of Carbon and Hydrogen

Here are the molar masses of the elements present in toluene:

  • 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 toluene (C7H8) contains seven carbon atoms and eight hydrogen 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 toluene (C7H8), the formula becomes:

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_7\text{H}_8 = (7 \times \text{Molar Mass of C}) + (8 \times \text{Molar Mass of H}) \]

Step-by-Step Calculation

Let’s calculate the molar mass of toluene step by step:

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

\[ 7 \times 12.01 \, \text{g/mol} = 84.07 \, \text{g/mol} \]

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

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

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

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_7\text{H}_8 = 84.07 \, \text{g/mol} + 8.064 \, \text{g/mol} \]

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_7\text{H}_8 = 92.14 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Final Molar Mass of Toluene

The molar mass of toluene (C7H8) is approximately 92.14 g/mol. This value is crucial for various industrial and chemical applications, such as determining the amount of toluene required in reactions or in the preparation of solutions with specific concentrations.

Conclusion

The molar mass of toluene (C7H8) is 92.14 g/mol, calculated by summing the molar masses of seven carbon atoms and eight hydrogen atoms.