The molecular weight of Hexanoic acid [CH₃(CH₂)₄COOH] is 116.159.

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: Hexanoic acid [CH₃(CH₂)₄COOH] Molecular Weight Calculation

Step 1: Find out the chemical formula and determine constituent atoms and their number in a Hexanoic acid molecule.
From the chemical formula, you will know different atoms and their number in a Hexanoic acid molecule. Chemical formula of Hexanoic acid is C₆H₁₂O₂. From the chemical formula of Hexanoic acid, you can find that one molecule of Hexanoic acid has six Carbon (C) atoms, twelve 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 Hexanoic acid molecule by multiplying its atomic weight by its number.

Number of Carbon atoms in Hexanoic acid: 6
Atomic weight of Carbon: 12.0107
Total weight of Carbon atoms in Hexanoic acid: 12.0107 x 6 = 72.0642

Number of Hydrogen atoms in Hexanoic acid: 12
Atomic weight of Hydrogen: 1.008
Total weight of Hydrogen atoms in Hexanoic acid: 1.008 x 12 = 12.096

Number of Oxygen atoms in Hexanoic acid: 2
Atomic weight of Oxygen: 15.9994
Total weight of Oxygen atoms in Hexanoic acid: 15.9994 x 2 = 31.9994

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

Molecular weight of Hexanoic acid: 72.0642 (Carbon) + 12.096 (Hydrogen) + 31.9994 (Oxygen) = 116.159

So the molecular weight of Hexanoic acid is 116.159.

Hexanoic acid [CH₃(CH₂)₄COOH] 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:

• DeoxyHexanoic acid (C5H10O4) Molecular Weight Calculation