Which of the following is the molar mass of hydrochloric acid (HCl)?

• A. 40.08 g/mol
• B. 34.08 g/mol
• C. 38.01 g/mol
• D. 36.46 g/mol

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the chemical formula of hydrochloric acid, which is HCl, consisting of one hydrogen (H) atom and one chlorine (Cl) atom.
2. Find the atomic masses of each element from the periodic table: hydrogen (H) has an atomic mass of approximately 1.008 g/mol, and chlorine (Cl) has an atomic mass of approximately 35.45 g/mol.
3. Calculate the molar mass of HCl by adding the atomic masses of hydrogen and chlorine: \(\text{Molar mass of HCl} = (1 \times 1.008) + (1 \times 35.45)\) g/mol.
4. Perform the addition to find the total molar mass of hydrochloric acid, which will be the sum of the two atomic masses.
5. Compare the calculated molar mass to the given options to identify the correct molar mass value for hydrochloric acid.