What is the molar mass of water (H2O)? Include units in your answer
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The molar mass of water (H₂O) can be calculated by adding up the atomic masses of its constituent atoms: hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O).
- Hydrogen (H): The atomic mass of hydrogen is approximately 1.008 g/mol.
- Oxygen (O): The atomic mass of oxygen is approximately 16.00 g/mol.
Water (H₂O) consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. To find the molar mass of water, we multiply the atomic mass of hydrogen by 2 (since there are two hydrogen atoms) and add the atomic mass of oxygen:Molar mass of H₂O=(2×1.008 g/mol)+16.00 g/mol\text{Molar mass of H₂O} = (2 \times 1.008 \, \text{g/mol}) + 16.00 \, \text{g/mol}Molar mass of H₂O=(2×1.008g/mol)+16.00g/molMolar mass of H₂O=2.016 g/mol+16.00 g/mol\text{Molar mass of H₂O} = 2.016 \, \text{g/mol} + 16.00 \, \text{g/mol}Molar mass of H₂O=2.016g/mol+16.00g/molMolar mass of H₂O=18.016 g/mol\text{Molar mass of H₂O} = 18.016 \, \text{g/mol}Molar mass of H₂O=18.016g/mol
Thus, the molar mass of water is approximately 18.016 g/mol.
Explanation:
The molar mass represents the mass of one mole of a substance. Since water is a compound made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, the molar mass is the sum of the atomic masses of these elements. By using the periodic table, we can find the atomic masses of hydrogen and oxygen. The molar mass of water is a key quantity in many scientific calculations, especially in stoichiometry, where it is used to convert between moles and grams of water. The relatively low molar mass of water makes it an essential compound in many chemical reactions and biological processes.
