Which of the following is the molar mass of acetic acid (CH3COOH)?

• A. 60.05 g/mol
• B. 44.01 g/mol
• C. 18.02 g/mol
• D. 74.08 g/mol

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the molecular formula of acetic acid, which is CH\3COOH. This means the molecule contains 2 carbon (C) atoms, 4 hydrogen (H) atoms, and 2 oxygen (O) atoms.
2. Look up the atomic masses of each element from the periodic table: Carbon (C) ≈ 12.01 g/mol, Hydrogen (H) ≈ 1.008 g/mol, Oxygen (O) ≈ 16.00 g/mol.
3. Calculate the total mass contributed by each element by multiplying the number of atoms by their atomic masses: For carbon, multiply 2 by 12.01 g/mol; for hydrogen, multiply 4 by 1.008 g/mol; for oxygen, multiply 2 by 16.00 g/mol.
4. Add all these contributions together to find the molar mass of acetic acid: Molar mass = (2 × 12.01) + (4 × 1.008) + (2 × 16.00) g/mol.
5. Sum the values to get the total molar mass, which will help you identify the correct answer from the given options.