The molecular mass of sodium chloride (NaCl), commonly known as table salt, is 58.5 grams per mole (g/mol).
To understand how this value is derived, let's break it down:
- Sodium (Na) has an atomic mass of approximately 23 g/mol.
- Chlorine (Cl) has an atomic mass of approximately 35.5 g/mol.
Since sodium chloride is a one-to-one compound (one sodium atom bonded to one chlorine atom), its molecular mass is calculated by summing the atomic masses of each element:
Molecular Mass of NaCl = Atomic Mass of Na + Atomic Mass of Cl
Molecular Mass of NaCl = 23 g/mol + 35.5 g/mol
Molecular Mass of NaCl = 58.5 g/mol
Therefore, the molecular mass of sodium chloride is 58.5 g/mol. This means one mole of NaCl weighs 58.5 grams.
