Question

Calculate the molecular mass of ethanoic acid, $C{H_3}COOH$.
(Atomic masses: $C = 12u;H = 1u;O = 16u$

Answer 1

The atomic mass of a compound is the total number of neutrons and protons present in the particular atom. It can also be seen as the atomic weight and it is weighed in consideration of the one-twelfth of the carbon atom.

Complete step-by-step answer: In the periodic table atoms are arranged in increasing order of their proton count and they are in periodic function with their atomic number. Now a different quantity is also very important in chemistry which is known as the atomic mass of the compound. The atomic mass of the compound is the count of the total number of protons and that of neutrons. If a compound is given whose total atomic mass is to find out we will first find out the different atoms present in that compound. Now see how many times each atom is present, we know the atomic mass of a single atom multiplies it with the total number of that atom present in that compound. Now add all the atomic mass of different atoms present in the compound.
In the question we are asked to calculate the total atomic mass of acetic acid that is $C{H_3}COOH$
We can see that in ethanoic acid there are two carbon atoms, four hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms. Also we are provided in the question with the atomic mass of each atom;
$2C = 2\times12u$
$\Rightarrow$ $2C = 24u$
For hydrogen;
$4H = 4 \times 1u$
$\Rightarrow$ $4H = 4u$
For oxygen;
$2O = 2\times16u$
$\Rightarrow$ $2O = 32u$
Now the total atomic mass of ethanoic acid is;
$2C + 4H + 2O$
$\Rightarrow$ $24u + 4u + 32u$
$\Rightarrow$ $60u$
The total atomic mass of acetic acid is $60u$.

Note: Recipe unit mass is determined similarly as sub-atomic mass and the nuclear mass (relative isotopic mass) is characterized as the mass of a solitary particle, which must be one isotope (nuclide) at a time, and is not a wealth weighted normal.