To calculate the mass of a single glucose molecule, you divide the molar mass of glucose by Avogadro's number.
Understanding the Calculation
Here's a breakdown of how to calculate the mass of a glucose molecule, utilizing information from the provided YouTube video reference:
- Molar Mass of Glucose (C6H12O6): The molar mass of glucose is approximately 180.18 grams per mole. This means that one mole of glucose weighs 180.18 grams.
- Avogadro's Number: Avogadro's number is approximately 6.022 x 10^23 molecules per mole. This constant represents the number of molecules in one mole of any substance.
- Calculating the Mass of One Molecule: According to the reference, to find the mass of one glucose molecule, you divide the molar mass by Avogadro's number.
Step-by-Step Calculation
- Identify the molar mass of glucose: 180.18 grams/mole
- Identify Avogadro's number: 6.022 x 10^23 molecules/mole
- Divide the molar mass by Avogadro's number:
- Mass of one molecule = (180.18 grams/mole) / (6.022 x 10^23 molecules/mole)
- Mass of one molecule ≈ 2.992 x 10^-22 grams
Example
Let’s demonstrate this calculation:
| Step | Value |
|---|---|
| Molar Mass of Glucose | 180.18 grams/mole |
| Avogadro's Number | 6.022 x 10^23 molecules/mole |
| Mass of One Glucose Molecule (Calculation) | (180.18 / 6.022x10^23) grams |
| Mass of One Glucose Molecule (Result) | ≈ 2.992 x 10^-22 grams |
Therefore, the approximate mass of one glucose molecule is 2.992 x 10^-22 grams.
Key Points:
- The molar mass of a substance is the mass of one mole of that substance.
- Avogadro's number is the number of particles (molecules, atoms, ions) in one mole of a substance.
- Dividing the molar mass by Avogadro's number gives you the mass of one molecule of that substance.
