The molecular weight of Hydroxypyruvic acid (HOCH₂C(O)CO₂H) is 104.0617.

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: Hydroxypyruvic acid (HOCH₂C(O)CO₂H) Molecular Weight Calculation

Step 1: Find out the chemical formula and determine constituent atoms and their number in a Hydroxypyruvic acid molecule.
From the chemical formula, you will know different atoms and their number in a Hydroxypyruvic acid molecule. Chemical formula of Hydroxypyruvic acid is (C₃H₄O₄). From the chemical formula of Hydroxypyruvic acid, you can find that one molecule of Hydroxypyruvic acid has three Carbon (C) atoms, four 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 Hydroxypyruvic acid molecule by multiplying its atomic weight by its number.

Number of Carbon atoms in Hydroxypyruvic acid: 3
Atomic weight of Carbon: 12.0107
Total weight of Carbon atoms in Hydroxypyruvic acid: 12.0107 x 3 = 36.0321

Number of Hydrogen atoms in Hydroxypyruvic acid: 4
Atomic weight of Hydrogen: 1.008
Total weight of Hydrogen atoms in Hydroxypyruvic acid: 1.008 x 4 = 4.0321

Number of Oxygen atoms in Hydroxypyruvic acid: 4
Atomic weight of Oxygen: 15.9994
Total weight of Oxygen atoms in Hydroxypyruvic acid: 15.9994 x 4 = 63.9976

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

Molecular weight of Hydroxypyruvic acid: 36.0321 (Carbon) + 4.0321 (Hydrogen) + 63.9976 (Oxygen) = 104.0617

So the molecular weight of Hydroxypyruvic acid is 104.0617.

Hydroxypyruvic acid (C₃H₄O₄) 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