The molecular weight of a compound is the sum of the atomic masses of all atoms in the molecule. What is the molecular mass of acetaminophen (C8H9NO2), the active ingredient in Tylenol?

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the molecular formula of acetaminophen: \( \text{C}_8\text{H}_9\text{N}\text{O}_2 \).

List the atomic masses of each element: Carbon (C) is approximately 12.01 amu, Hydrogen (H) is approximately 1.01 amu, Nitrogen (N) is approximately 14.01 amu, and Oxygen (O) is approximately 16.00 amu.

Calculate the total mass of carbon atoms: Multiply the atomic mass of carbon by the number of carbon atoms (8).

Calculate the total mass of hydrogen atoms: Multiply the atomic mass of hydrogen by the number of hydrogen atoms (9).

Calculate the total mass of nitrogen and oxygen atoms: Multiply the atomic mass of nitrogen by the number of nitrogen atoms (1) and the atomic mass of oxygen by the number of oxygen atoms (2), then sum all the masses to find the molecular mass of acetaminophen.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.

Video duration:

Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Molecular Weight

Molecular weight, often referred to as molecular mass, is the sum of the atomic masses of all the atoms in a molecule. It is typically expressed in atomic mass units (amu) and provides a measure of the mass of a single molecule of a substance. Understanding how to calculate molecular weight is essential for determining the composition and stoichiometry of chemical compounds.

Atomic Mass

Atomic mass is the weighted average mass of an element's isotopes, measured in atomic mass units (amu). Each element has a specific atomic mass that reflects the number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus. For calculating molecular weight, the atomic masses of individual elements are used, which can be found on the periodic table.

Chemical Formula

A chemical formula represents the composition of a molecule, indicating the types and numbers of atoms present. For example, acetaminophen has the formula C8H9NO2, which shows it contains 8 carbon (C) atoms, 9 hydrogen (H) atoms, 1 nitrogen (N) atom, and 2 oxygen (O) atoms. Understanding chemical formulas is crucial for calculating molecular weight and understanding the structure of compounds.

Recommended video:

Guided course

02:26

Skeletal Formula

Related Practice

Textbook Question

Prior to 1961, the atomic mass unit (amu) was defined as 1/16 the mass of the atomic weight of oxygen; that is, the atomic weight of oxygen was defined as exactly 16. What was the mass of a 12C atom prior to 1961 if the atomic weight of oxygen on today's scale is 15.9994?

views

Textbook Question

In an alternate universe, the smallest negatively charged particle, analogous to our electron, is called a blorvek. To determine the charge on a single blorvek, an experiment like Millikan's with charged oil droplets was carried out, and the following results were recorded : (a) Based on these observations, what is the largest possible value for the charge on a blorvek?

Textbook Question

In an alternate universe, the smallest negatively charged particle, analogous to our electron, is called a blorvek. To determine the charge on a single blorvek, an experiment like Millikan's with charged oil droplets was carried out, and the following results were recorded : (b) Further experiments found a droplet with a charge of 5.81 * 10-16 C. Does this new result change your answer to part (a)? If so, what is the new largest value for the blorvek's charge?