To find the molar mass of sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁), you need to sum the total mass of all the atoms present in one mole of the compound.
Here's a step-by-step guide:
-
Identify the Chemical Formula: The chemical formula of sucrose is C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁. This tells us that one molecule of sucrose contains 12 carbon atoms, 22 hydrogen atoms, and 11 oxygen atoms.
-
Find the Atomic Masses: Look up the atomic mass of each element on the periodic table.
- Carbon (C): Approximately 12.01 grams/mole
- Hydrogen (H): Approximately 1.01 grams/mole
- Oxygen (O): Approximately 16.00 grams/mole
-
Calculate the Mass Contribution of Each Element: Multiply the number of atoms of each element in the formula by its atomic mass.
- Carbon: 12 atoms * 12.01 g/mol = 144.12 g/mol
- Hydrogen: 22 atoms * 1.01 g/mol = 22.22 g/mol
- Oxygen: 11 atoms * 16.00 g/mol = 176.00 g/mol
-
Sum the Individual Masses: Add the mass contributions of each element to find the total molar mass of sucrose.
- Molar mass of sucrose = 144.12 g/mol + 22.22 g/mol + 176.00 g/mol = 342.34 g/mol
Therefore, the molar mass of sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) is approximately 342.34 grams per mole.
