What is the Molar Mass of Vitamin C

Answer: Molar mass of vitamin C (C₆H₈O₆) is 176.12 g/mol.

Molar Mass of Vitamin C

The chemical formula of Vitamin C is C₆H₈O₆. The molar mass of Vitamin C is calculated by adding the molar masses of its constituent atoms— carbon(C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O).

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid (C₆H₈O₆), is an essential nutrient for humans, playing a crucial role in immune function, skin health, and the synthesis of collagen. It is also a powerful antioxidant.

This guide will walk you through the step-by-step calculation of the molar mass of vitamin C and its relevance in medical and nutritional 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 \(6.022 \times 10^{23}\) particles, such as molecules, atoms, or ions. Calculating the molar mass is crucial for converting between mass and moles in chemical reactions, as well as determining the amount of a substance in nutritional supplements.

To calculate the molar mass of vitamin C (C₆H₈O₆), we need to account for the molar masses of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O), as vitamin C contains six carbon atoms, eight hydrogen atoms, and six oxygen atoms.

Molar Masses of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen

Here are the molar masses of the elements present in vitamin C:

• 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 vitamin C (C₆H₈O₆) contains six carbon atoms, eight hydrogen atoms, and six 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 vitamin C (C₆H₈O₆), the formula becomes:

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_6\text{H}_8\text{O}_6 = (6 \times \text{Molar Mass of C}) + (8 \times \text{Molar Mass of H}) + (6 \times \text{Molar Mass of O}) \]

Step-by-Step Calculation

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

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

\[ 6 \times 12.01 \, \text{g/mol} = 72.06 \, \text{g/mol} \]

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

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

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

\[ 6 \times 16.00 \, \text{g/mol} = 96.00 \, \text{g/mol} \]

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

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_6\text{H}_8\text{O}_6 = 72.06 \, \text{g/mol} + 8.064 \, \text{g/mol} + 96.00 \, \text{g/mol} \]

\[ \text{Molar Mass of C}_6\text{H}_8\text{O}_6 = 176.12 \, \text{g/mol} \]

Final Molar Mass of Vitamin C

The molar mass of vitamin C (C₆H₈O₆) is approximately 176.12 g/mol. This value is essential for pharmaceutical and nutritional applications, helping determine the proper dosage and concentration in supplements and treatments.

Conclusion

The molar mass of vitamin C (C₆H₈O₆) is 176.12 g/mol, calculated by summing the molar masses of six carbon atoms, eight hydrogen atoms, and six oxygen atoms.