The molecular weight of Peracetic acid [CH₃CO₃H] is 76.3503.

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: Peracetic acid [CH₃CO₃H] Molecular Weight Calculation

Step 1: Find out the chemical formula and determine constituent atoms and their number in a Peracetic acid molecule.
From the chemical formula, you will know different atoms and their number in a Peracetic acid molecule. Chemical formula of Peracetic acid is C₂H₄O₃. From the chemical formula of Peracetic acid, you can find that one molecule of Peracetic acid has two Carbon (C) atoms, four Hydrogen (H) atoms and three 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 Peracetic acid molecule by multiplying its atomic weight by its number.

Number of Carbon atoms in Peracetic acid: 2
Atomic weight of Carbon: 12.0107
Total weight of Carbon atoms in Peracetic acid: 12.0107 x 2 = 24.0321

Number of Hydrogen atoms in Peracetic acid: 4
Atomic weight of Hydrogen: 1.008
Total weight of Hydrogen atoms in Peracetic acid: 1.008 x 4 = 4.032

Number of Oxygen atoms in Peracetic acid: 3
Atomic weight of Oxygen: 15.9994
Total weight of Oxygen atoms in Peracetic acid: 15.9994 x 3 = 47.9982

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

Molecular weight of Peracetic acid: 24.0321 (Carbon) + 4.032 (Hydrogen) + 47.9982 (Oxygen) = 76.3503

So the molecular weight of Peracetic acid is 76.3503.

Peracetic acid [CH₃CO₃H] 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