Find the molecular mass of table sugar (sucrose), which has a molecular formula C12H22O11.
Solution
To find the molecular mass, add the atomic masses of all of the atoms in the molecule. Find the atomic mass for each element by using the mass given in the Periodic Table. Multiply the subscript (number of atoms) times the atomic mass of that element and add the masses of all of the elements in the molecule to get the molecular mass. If we round off the atomic masses to four significant figures, we get:
molecular mass C12H22O11 = 12(12.01) + 22(1.008) + 11(16.00) = 342.30
Answer
342.30
Note that a sugar molecule is about 19 time heavier than a water molecule!
For more practice, download or print these worksheets:
Formula or Molar Mass Worksheet (pdf)
Formula or Molas Mass Worksheet Answers (pdf)
