The molecular weight of Carbon monoxide [CO] is 28.0101.

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: Carbon monoxide [CO] Molecular Weight Calculation

Step 1: Find out the chemical formula and determine constituent atoms and their number in a Carbon monoxide molecule.
From the chemical formula, you will know different atoms and their number in a Carbon monoxide molecule. Chemical formula of Carbon monoxide is CO. From the chemical formula of Carbon monoxide, you can find that one molecule of Carbon monoxide has one Carbon (C) atom, and one Oxygen (O) atom.

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 Oxygen (O) : 15.9994 (Ref: Jlab-ele008)

Step 3: Calculate the total weight of each atom present in a Carbon monoxide molecule by multiplying its atomic weight by its number.

Number of Carbon atoms in Carbon monoxide: 1
Atomic weight of Carbon: 12.0107
Total weight of Carbon atoms in Carbon monoxide: 12.0107 x 1 = 12.0107

Number of Oxygen atoms in Carbon monoxide: 1
Atomic weight of Oxygen: 15.9994
Total weight of Oxygen atoms in Carbon monoxide: 15.9994 x 1 = 15.9994

Step 4: Calculate the molecular weight of Carbon monoxide by adding up the total weight of all atoms.

Molecular weight of Carbon monoxide: 12.0107 (Carbon) + 15.9994 (Oxygen) = 28.0101

So the molecular weight of Carbon monoxide is 28.0101.

Carbon monoxide [CO] Molecular Weight Calculation

REFERENCES:

• 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:

• DeoxyCarbon monoxide (C5H10O4) Molecular Weight Calculation