Methyl formate (HCO2CH3) Molecular Weight Calculation

The molecular weight of Methyl formate (HCO2CH3) is 60.0522.

Methyl formate (HCO2CH3) Molecular Weight CalculationTo 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: Methyl formate (HCO2CH3) Molecular Weight Calculation

Step 1: Find out the chemical formula and determine constituent atoms and their number in a Methyl formate molecule.
From the chemical formula, you will know different atoms and their number in a Methyl formate molecule. Chemical formula of Methyl formate is C2H4O2. From the chemical formula of Methyl formate, you can find that one molecule of Methyl formate has two Carbon (C) atoms, four 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 Methyl formate molecule by multiplying its atomic weight by its number.

Number of Carbon atoms in Methyl formate: 2
Atomic weight of Carbon: 12.0107
Total weight of Carbon atoms in Methyl formate: 12.0107 x 2 = 24.0214

Number of Hydrogen atoms in Methyl formate: 4
Atomic weight of Hydrogen: 1.008
Total weight of Hydrogen atoms in Methyl formate: 1.008 x 4 = 4.032

Number of Oxygen atoms in Methyl formate: 2
Atomic weight of Oxygen: 15.9994
Total weight of Oxygen atoms in Methyl formate: 15.9994 x 2 = 31.9988

Step 4: Calculate the molecular weight of Methyl formate by adding up the total weight of all atoms.

Molecular weight of Methyl formate: 24.0214 (Carbon) + 4.032 (Hydrogen) + 31.9988 (Oxygen) = 60.0522

So the molecular weight of Methyl formate is 60.0522.

Methyl formate (HCO2CH3) Molecular Weight Calculation

Molecular weight of Methyl formate
Constituent atoms
Number of each atom
Atomic weightTotal weight
Carbon (C)212.010724.0214
Hydrogen (H)
4
1.0084.032
Oxygen (O)
2
15.999431.9988
Molecular weight of Methyl formate:
60.0522

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

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