Calculate the molar mass of sodium oxide (Na2O) using the periodic table. Type in your answer usingtwo decimal places.g/mol
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
To calculate the molar mass of sodium oxide (Na₂O), we will need to consider the molar masses of sodium (Na) and oxygen (O) from the periodic table.
- Identify the molar masses:
- Sodium (Na): Approximately 22.99 g/mol
- Oxygen (O): Approximately 16.00 g/mol
- Determine the composition of sodium oxide:
- Sodium oxide consists of two sodium atoms and one oxygen atom, as indicated by the formula Na₂O.
- Calculate the total molar mass:
- For sodium: There are 2 sodium atoms in sodium oxide.
[
\text{Total mass of Na} = 2 \times 22.99 \, \text{g/mol} = 45.98 \, \text{g/mol}
] - For oxygen: There is 1 oxygen atom in sodium oxide.
[
\text{Total mass of O} = 1 \times 16.00 \, \text{g/mol} = 16.00 \, \text{g/mol}
]
- Add the masses together:
[
\text{Molar mass of Na}_2\text{O} = \text{Total mass of Na} + \text{Total mass of O} = 45.98 \, \text{g/mol} + 16.00 \, \text{g/mol} = 61.98 \, \text{g/mol}
]
Therefore, the molar mass of sodium oxide (Na₂O) is 61.98 g/mol.
Explanation of Molar Mass Calculation
The molar mass is a crucial concept in chemistry, representing the mass of one mole of a substance, usually expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). To derive the molar mass of a compound, you sum the molar masses of each element in the compound, multiplied by the number of times each element appears in the chemical formula.
In the case of sodium oxide, the chemical formula Na₂O indicates that there are two sodium (Na) atoms and one oxygen (O) atom. By referring to the periodic table, you can find the standard atomic weights for these elements. Sodium has a molar mass of approximately 22.99 g/mol, while oxygen is about 16.00 g/mol.
Calculating the total for Na₂O involves multiplying the atomic mass of sodium by two (for the two sodium atoms) and adding it to the atomic mass of one oxygen atom. The sum gives the molar mass of the compound, essential for stoichiometric calculations in chemical reactions, where knowing how much of each substance is needed or produced is crucial.
Understanding molar mass also aids in converting between grams and moles, a fundamental aspect of quantitative chemistry.