Ascorbic acid has a molar mass of 176.14 g/mol. What is the molecular formula of ascorbic acid?

• A. C6H12O6
• B. C12H22O11
• C. C6H8O6
• D. C2H4O2

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand that the molecular formula represents the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule, while the molar mass is the mass of one mole of that molecule in grams.
2. Step 2: Calculate the molar mass of each given molecular formula by summing the atomic masses of all atoms in the formula. Use approximate atomic masses: C = 12.01 g/mol, H = 1.008 g/mol, O = 16.00 g/mol.
3. Step 3: For example, for C6H12O6, calculate molar mass as: \$6 \times 12.01 + 12 \times 1.008 + 6 \times 16.00$ g/mol.
4. Step 4: Repeat the calculation for each formula and compare the calculated molar masses to the given molar mass of ascorbic acid (176.14 g/mol).
5. Step 5: The molecular formula whose calculated molar mass matches closest to 176.14 g/mol is the correct molecular formula of ascorbic acid.