What is the molar mass of CO_2?

• A. 28.01 g/mol
• B. 18.02 g/mol
• C. 44.01 g/mol
• D. 32.00 g/mol

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the elements present in the compound CO_2, which are carbon (C) and oxygen (O).
2. Determine the number of atoms of each element in one molecule of CO_2: there is 1 carbon atom and 2 oxygen atoms.
3. Find the atomic masses of each element from the periodic table: carbon has an atomic mass of approximately 12.01 g/mol, and oxygen has an atomic mass of approximately 16.00 g/mol.
4. Calculate the total mass contributed by each element by multiplying the atomic mass by the number of atoms: for carbon, multiply 12.01 g/mol by 1; for oxygen, multiply 16.00 g/mol by 2.
5. Add the masses of all atoms together to find the molar mass of CO_2: molar mass = (1 × 12.01 g/mol) + (2 × 16.00 g/mol).