What is the molar mass of sodium hydroxide (NaOH)?

• A. 40.00 g/mol
• B. 39.997 g/mol
• C. 22.99 g/mol
• D. 56.11 g/mol

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the elements present in sodium hydroxide (NaOH): sodium (Na), oxygen (O), and hydrogen (H).
2. Find the atomic masses of each element from the periodic table: sodium (Na) ≈ 22.99 g/mol, oxygen (O) ≈ 16.00 g/mol, hydrogen (H) ≈ 1.008 g/mol.
3. Add the atomic masses of all atoms in the formula to find the molar mass: \(\text{Molar mass} = \text{mass of Na} + \text{mass of O} + \text{mass of H}\).
4. Substitute the values into the equation: \(\text{Molar mass} = 22.99 + 16.00 + 1.008\) g/mol.
5. Sum these values to get the total molar mass of sodium hydroxide (NaOH).