Calculate the molar mass of H2O.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the calculation of the molar mass of water (H2O). To find the molar mass, we will add the molar masses of hydrogen and oxygen. Each hydrogen atom has a molar mass of approximately 1 g/mol, and oxygen has a molar mass of approximately 16 g/mol. Since there are two hydrogen atoms in water, the calculation will be (2 * 1) + (1 * 16).
Answer
The molar mass of water is 18 g/mol.
Answer for screen readers
The molar mass of water (H₂O) is 18 g/mol.
Steps to Solve
- Identify the components of water
Water (H₂O) consists of 2 hydrogen (H) atoms and 1 oxygen (O) atom.
- Calculate the molar mass of hydrogen
The molar mass of hydrogen is approximately 1 g/mol. Since there are 2 hydrogen atoms in water:
$$
\text{Molar mass of H} = 2 \times 1 \text{ g/mol} = 2 \text{ g/mol}
$$
- Calculate the molar mass of oxygen
The molar mass of oxygen is approximately 16 g/mol. Since there is 1 oxygen atom in water:
$$
\text{Molar mass of O} = 1 \times 16 \text{ g/mol} = 16 \text{ g/mol}
$$
- Calculate the total molar mass of water
Now, add the molar masses of hydrogen and oxygen together:
$$
\text{Total molar mass of H₂O} = \text{Molar mass of H} + \text{Molar mass of O}
$$
$$
\text{Total molar mass of H₂O} = 2 \text{ g/mol} + 16 \text{ g/mol} = 18 \text{ g/mol}
$$
The molar mass of water (H₂O) is 18 g/mol.
More Information
The molar mass of water is crucial for various applications in chemistry, such as stoichiometric calculations in reactions. Notably, water's unique properties make it essential for life.
Tips
- Forgetting to multiply the molar mass of hydrogen by 2, which is crucial since there are two hydrogen atoms in water.
- Miscalculating the total by not adding the contributions from both hydrogen and oxygen.
