The molecular weight of Dimethyl oxalate ((CO2CH3)2) is 118.0884.
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: Dimethyl oxalate ((CO2CH3)2) Molecular Weight Calculation
Step 1: Find out the chemical formula and determine constituent atoms and their number in a Dimethyl oxalate molecule.
From the chemical formula, you will know different atoms and their number in a Dimethyl oxalate molecule. Chemical formula of Dimethyl oxalate is C4H6O4. From the chemical formula of Dimethyl oxalate, you can find that one molecule of Dimethyl oxalate has four Carbon (C) atoms, six Hydrogen (H) atoms and four 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 Dimethyl oxalate molecule by multiplying its atomic weight by its number.
Number of Carbon atoms in Dimethyl oxalate: 4
Atomic weight of Carbon: 12.0107
Total weight of Carbon atoms in Dimethyl oxalate: 12.0107 x 4 = 48.0428
Number of Hydrogen atoms in Dimethyl oxalate: 6
Atomic weight of Hydrogen: 1.008
Total weight of Hydrogen atoms in Dimethyl oxalate: 1.008 x 6 = 6.048
Number of Oxygen atoms in Dimethyl oxalate: 4
Atomic weight of Oxygen: 15.9994
Total weight of Oxygen atoms in Dimethyl oxalate: 15.9994 x 4 = 63.9976
Step 4: Calculate the molecular weight of Dimethyl oxalate by adding up the total weight of all atoms.
Molecular weight of Dimethyl oxalate: 48.0428 (Carbon) + 6.048 (Hydrogen) + 63.9976 (Oxygen) = 118.0884
So the molecular weight of Dimethyl oxalate is 118.0884.
Dimethyl oxalate ((CO2CH3)2) Molecular Weight Calculation
Molecular weight of Dimethyl oxalate | |||
Constituent atoms | Number of each atom | Atomic weight | Total weight |
Carbon (C) | 4 | 12.0107 | 48.0428 |
Hydrogen (H) | 6 | 1.008 | 6.048 |
Oxygen (O) | 4 | 15.9994 | 63.9976 |
Molecular weight of Dimethyl oxalate: | 118.0884 |
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