The molar mass of Ascorbic acid (vitamin C, C6H8O6) is 176.12 g/mol. If you have 704.48 g of Ascorbic acid, how many moles Ascorbic acid would that be?
2 mole
4 mole
1 mole
3 mole
The correct answer and explanation is :
To calculate how many moles of Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C, C₆H₈O₆) are present in 704.48 grams, we use the following formula:
[
\text{Moles} = \frac{\text{Mass (g)}}{\text{Molar Mass (g/mol)}}
]
We are given:
- Mass = 704.48 g
- Molar Mass of Ascorbic acid = 176.12 g/mol
Now apply the formula:
[
\text{Moles} = \frac{704.48}{176.12} = 4.0 \text{ moles}
]
✅ Correct Answer: 4 mole
Explanation (300 words):
In chemistry, the concept of the mole is a fundamental way of expressing the amount of a substance. One mole of any substance contains Avogadro’s number of particles (6.022 × 10²³). However, for practical laboratory purposes, chemists often need to convert between the mass of a substance (in grams) and moles, which is where the molar mass becomes essential.
The molar mass of a compound is the mass of one mole of its molecules, expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). For Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), with the molecular formula C₆H₈O₆, the molar mass is 176.12 g/mol. This means that one mole of ascorbic acid weighs 176.12 grams.
To determine how many moles are present in a given mass of the substance, we divide the total mass by the molar mass. In this case, dividing 704.48 grams by 176.12 g/mol gives exactly 4 moles.
Understanding this calculation is critical in fields such as pharmaceuticals, nutrition, and chemical engineering. For example, in dietary science, knowing how many moles of Vitamin C are present helps determine dosage and nutritional value. Similarly, in a lab setting, chemists use mole calculations to prepare solutions and reactants accurately.
This calculation also highlights the elegance and simplicity of stoichiometry—using relationships between quantities in chemical reactions. Whether making a vitamin supplement or conducting an experiment, the mole concept ensures precision and consistency in chemical measurements.
Thus, 704.48 grams of ascorbic acid equals 4 moles, making “4 mole” the correct and most scientifically accurate answer.
