Calculate the relative molecular mass of Limestone CaCO3, (Ca = 40, C =12, O = 16)
Answer Details
To calculate the relative molecular mass of limestone (CaCO3), we need to add up the atomic masses of each element in the molecule.
The formula for limestone (CaCO3) tells us that there is one calcium atom (Ca), one carbon atom (C), and three oxygen atoms (O) in each molecule.
The atomic masses of these elements are:
- Calcium (Ca) = 40
- Carbon (C) = 12
- Oxygen (O) = 16
To find the relative molecular mass of limestone, we can add up the atomic masses of each element:
Relative molecular mass = (atomic mass of Ca) + (atomic mass of C) + 3 x (atomic mass of O)
Relative molecular mass = (40) + (12) + 3 x (16)
Relative molecular mass = 40 + 12 + 48
Relative molecular mass = 100
Therefore, the relative molecular mass of limestone (CaCO3) is 100.
This means that one molecule of limestone has a mass of 100 atomic mass units (amu), which is the standard unit for measuring the mass of atoms and molecules.