What’s the molar mass of NaHCO3
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: The molar mass of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) is 84.01 g/mol.
Detailed Explanation (300 words)
To find the molar mass of a compound like NaHCO₃ (sodium bicarbonate), we add together the atomic masses of all the atoms in the molecule. The atomic masses (from the periodic table) of each element involved are approximately:
- Sodium (Na): 22.99 g/mol
- Hydrogen (H): 1.01 g/mol
- Carbon (C): 12.01 g/mol
- Oxygen (O): 16.00 g/mol (×3 because there are 3 oxygen atoms)
Now, we calculate the total molar mass: Molar mass of NaHCO₃=(1×22.99)+(1×1.01)+(1×12.01)+(3×16.00)\text{Molar mass of NaHCO₃} = (1 \times 22.99) + (1 \times 1.01) + (1 \times 12.01) + (3 \times 16.00) =22.99+1.01+12.01+48.00=84.01 g/mol= 22.99 + 1.01 + 12.01 + 48.00 = \boxed{84.01 \text{ g/mol}}
Understanding the Importance
The molar mass is a key concept in chemistry. It tells us the mass of one mole (6.022 × 10²³ particles) of a substance. This is useful in stoichiometry, where balanced chemical equations help us determine how much of one chemical reacts with another. For instance, if you need to neutralize a specific amount of acid with sodium bicarbonate (a common antacid), knowing its molar mass lets you calculate the required mass accurately.
NaHCO₃ is widely used in everyday life — in baking as baking soda, in fire extinguishers, and in medical applications to treat acid indigestion. In all of these cases, precise measurements are important, and molar mass helps in converting between grams and moles.
So, knowing the molar mass of NaHCO₃ (84.01 g/mol) allows chemists and professionals to correctly measure and use it in both laboratory and real-life applications.