calculate the molar mass of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) –
Step 1: Atomic Masses
First, we need to find the atomic masses of the elements in calcium carbonate.
- Calcium (Ca): Atomic mass = 40.08 g/mol
- Carbon (C): Atomic mass = 12.01 g/mol
- Oxygen (O): Atomic mass = 16.00 g/mol
Step 2: Molecular Formula
The molecular formula of calcium carbonate is CaCO₃. This means there is one calcium atom (Ca), one carbon atom (C), and three oxygen atoms (O) in each molecule of calcium carbonate.
Step 3: Calculation:
Now, let’s calculate the molar mass of calcium carbonate by adding up the atomic masses of its individual elements, considering their respective quantities in the formula.
Molar mass of CaCO₃ = (1 × Atomic mass of Ca) + (1 × Atomic mass of C) + (3 × Atomic mass of O)
Molar mass of CaCO₃ = (1 × 40.08 g/mol) + (1 × 12.01 g/mol) + (3 × 16.00 g/mol)
Molar mass of CaCO₃ = 40.08 g/mol + 12.01 g/mol + 48.00 g/mol
Molar mass of CaCO₃ = 100.09 g/mol
Step 4: Final Result
The molar mass of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) is 100.09 grams per mole.
Conclusion
The molar mass of a compound is the sum of the atomic masses of all the elements present in its chemical formula, taking into account the number of atoms of each element. In the case of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), the molar mass is calculated by adding the atomic masses of calcium, carbon, and oxygen. The molar mass of calcium carbonate is 100.09 g/mol.
