The molecular weight of Butyric acid [CH₃CH₂CH₂COOH] is 88.1056.

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: Butyric acid [CH₃CH₂CH₂COOH] Molecular Weight Calculation

Step 1: Find out the chemical formula and determine constituent atoms and their number in a Butyric acid molecule.
From the chemical formula, you will know different atoms and their number in a Butyric acid molecule. Chemical formula of Butyric acid is C₄H₈O₂. From the chemical formula of Butyric acid, you can find that one molecule of Butyric acid has four Carbon (C) atoms, eight Hydrogen (H) atoms and two 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 Butyric acid molecule by multiplying its atomic weight by its number.

Number of Carbon atoms in Butyric acid: 4
Atomic weight of Carbon (C): 12.0107
Total weight of Carbon atoms in Butyric acid: 12.0107 x 4 = 48.0428

Number of Hydrogen atoms in Butyric acid: 8
Atomic weight of Hydrogen (H): 1.008
Total weight of Hydrogen atoms in Butyric acid: 1.008 x 8 = 8.064

Number of Oxygen atoms in Butyric acid: 2
Atomic weight of Oxygen (O): 15.9994
Total weight of Oxygen atoms in Butyric acid: 15.9994 x 2 = 31.9988

Step 4: Calculate the molecular weight of Butyric acid by adding up the total weight of all atoms.

Molecular weight of Butyric acid: 48.0428 (Carbon) + 8.064 (Hydrogen) + 31.9988 (Oxygen) = 88.1056

So the molecular weight of Butyric acid is 88.1056.

Butyric acid [CH₃CH₂CH₂COOH] Molecular Weight Calculation

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

See also:

• Apiose (C5H10O5) Molecular Weight Calculation