What is the molar mass of calcium carbonate (CaCO_3)?

• A. 84.08 g/mol
• B. 60.08 g/mol
• C. 100.09 g/mol
• D. 40.08 g/mol

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the chemical formula of calcium carbonate, which is CaCO\_3.
2. Determine the atomic masses of each element from the periodic table: calcium (Ca), carbon (C), and oxygen (O).
3. Calculate the total mass contributed by each element by multiplying the atomic mass by the number of atoms in the formula: for Ca (1 atom), for C (1 atom), and for O (3 atoms).
4. Sum the masses of all the elements to find the molar mass of calcium carbonate using the formula: \(\text{Molar mass} = (1 \times M_{Ca}) + (1 \times M_{C}) + (3 \times M_{O})\).
5. Express the final molar mass in units of grams per mole (g/mol).