Calculate the molar mass for each of the following:
c. Fe(ClO₄)₃

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the problem. The molar mass of a compound is the sum of the atomic masses of all the atoms in its formula. For Fe(ClO₄)₃, this means we need to calculate the total mass of 1 Fe atom, 3 Cl atoms, and 12 O atoms (since there are 4 O atoms in each ClO₄ group, and there are 3 ClO₄ groups).
2. Step 2: Look up the atomic masses of each element from the periodic table. The approximate atomic masses are: Fe = 55.85 g/mol, Cl = 35.45 g/mol, and O = 16.00 g/mol.
3. Step 3: Calculate the contribution of each element to the molar mass. For Fe, there is 1 atom, so its contribution is 55.85 g/mol. For Cl, there are 3 atoms, so its contribution is 3 × 35.45 g/mol. For O, there are 12 atoms, so its contribution is 12 × 16.00 g/mol.
4. Step 4: Add the contributions of all the elements together. The total molar mass of Fe(ClO₄)₃ is the sum of the contributions from Fe, Cl, and O.
5. Step 5: Write the final expression for the molar mass: Molar mass = (1 × 55.85) + (3 × 35.45) + (12 × 16.00). Simplify this expression to find the molar mass of Fe(ClO₄)₃.

Key Concepts

Molar Mass

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, typically expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). It is calculated by summing the atomic masses of all the atoms in a chemical formula. Understanding molar mass is essential for converting between grams and moles, which is a fundamental concept in stoichiometry.

Chemical Formula

A chemical formula represents the composition of a compound, indicating the types and numbers of atoms present. In the case of Fe(ClO₄)₃, the formula shows that there is one iron (Fe) atom and three perchlorate (ClO₄) groups. Recognizing how to interpret chemical formulas is crucial for calculating molar mass accurately.

Atomic Mass

Atomic mass is the weighted average mass of an element's isotopes, measured in atomic mass units (amu). Each element's atomic mass can be found on the periodic table and is used to determine the contribution of each atom in a compound to the overall molar mass. Accurate knowledge of atomic masses is vital for precise calculations in chemistry.