The molecular weight of Galactose (C6H12O6) is 180.1566.
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: Galactose (C6H12O6) Molecular Weight Calculation
Step 1: Find out the chemical formula and determine constituent atoms and their number in a Galactose molecule.
From the chemical formula, you will know different atoms and their number in a Galactose molecule. Chemical formula of Galactose is C6H12O6. From the chemical formula of Galactose, you can find that one molecule of Galactose has six Carbon (C) atoms, twelve Hydrogen (H) atoms and six 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 Galactose molecule by multiplying its atomic weight by its number.
Number of Carbon atoms in Galactose: 6
Atomic weight of Carbon: 12.0107
Total weight of Carbon atoms in Galactose: 12.0107 x 6 = 72.0642
Number of Hydrogen atoms in Galactose: 12
Atomic weight of Hydrogen: 1.008
Total weight of Hydrogen atoms in Galactose: 1.008 x 12 = 12.096
Number of Oxygen atoms in Galactose: 6
Atomic weight of Oxygen: 15.9994
Total weight of Oxygen atoms in Galactose: 15.9994 x 6 = 95.9964
Step 4: Calculate the molecular weight of Galactose by adding up the total weight of all atoms.
Molecular weight of Galactose: 72.0642 (Carbon) + 12.096 (Hydrogen) + 95.9964 (Oxygen) = 180.1566
So the molecular weight of Galactose is 180.1566.
Galactose (C5H10O5) Molecular Weight Calculation
| Molecular weight of Galactose | |||
| Constituent atoms | Number of each atom | Atomic weight | Total weight |
| Carbon (C) | 6 | 12.0107 | 72.0642 |
| Hydrogen (H) | 12 | 1.008 | 12.096 |
| Oxygen (O) | 6 | 15.9994 | 95.9964 |
| Molecular weight of Galactose: | 180.1566 | ||
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
