The molecular weight of Pyruvic acid (CH3COCOOH) is 88.0623.
To calculate molecular weight of any compound, the first step is to know the constituent atoms and their number in that particular compound. Then calculate the total weight of each atom by multiplying its atomic weight by its number. The sum of total weight of all constituent atoms will be the molecular weight of the compound. Note that the value of atomic weight may differ slightly from different sources.
CALCULATION PROCEDURE: Pyruvic acid (CH3COCOOH) Molecular Weight Calculation
Step 1: Find out the chemical formula and determine constituent atoms and their number in a Pyruvic acid molecule.
From the chemical formula, you will know different atoms and their number in a Pyruvic acid molecule. Chemical formula of Pyruvic acid is C3H4O3. From the chemical formula of Pyruvic acid, you can find that one molecule of Pyruvic acid has three Carbon (C) atoms, four Hydrogen (H) atoms and three Oxygen (O) atoms.
Step 2: Find out atomic weights of each atom (from periodic table).
Atomic weight of Carbon (C): 12.0107 (Ref: Jlab-ele006)
Atomic weight of Hydrogen (H) : 1.008 (Ref: Lanl-1)
Atomic weight of Oxygen (O) : 15.9994 (Ref: Jlab-ele008)
Step 3: Calculate the total weight of each atom present in a Pyruvic acid molecule by multiplying its atomic weight by its number.
Number of Carbon atoms in Pyruvic acid: 3
Atomic weight of Carbon: 12.0107
Total weight of Carbon atoms in Pyruvic acid: 12.0107 x 3 = 36.0321
Number of Hydrogen atoms in Pyruvic acid: 4
Atomic weight of Hydrogen: 1.008
Total weight of Hydrogen atoms in Pyruvic acid: 1.008 x 4 = 4.032
Number of Oxygen atoms in Pyruvic acid: 3
Atomic weight of Oxygen: 15.9994
Total weight of Oxygen atoms in Pyruvic acid: 15.9994 x 3 = 47.9982
Step 4: Calculate the molecular weight of Pyruvic acid by adding up the total weight of all atoms.
Molecular weight of Pyruvic acid: 36.0321 (Carbon) + 4.032 (Hydrogen) + 47.9982 (Oxygen) = 88.0623
So the molecular weight of Pyruvic acid is 88.0623.
Pyruvic acid (CH3COCOOH) Molecular Weight Calculation
Molecular weight of Pyruvic acid | |||
Constituent atoms | Number of each atom | Atomic weight | Total weight |
Carbon (C) | 3 | 12.0107 | 36.0321 |
Hydrogen (H) | 4 | 1.008 | 4.032 |
Oxygen (O) | 3 | 15.9994 | 47.9982 |
Molecular weight of Pyruvic acid: | 88.0623 |
REFERENCES:
- Lanl-1: https://periodic.lanl.gov/1.shtml
- Pubchem-Hydrogen : https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/element/Hydrogen
- Jlab-ele006; https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele006.html
- Pubchem-6: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/element/6
- Jlab-ele008: https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele008.html
- Pubchem-8: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/element/8