The molecular weight of Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) [C₁₂H₂₅NaSO₄] is 288.38176928.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (C₁₂H₂₅NaSO₄) is an organic compound of five elements: Carbon, Hydrogen, Sodium, Oxygen, and Sulfur. The molecular weight of Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is 288.38176928 which can be calculated by adding up the total weight (atomic weight multiplied by their number) of all its elements.

CALCULATION PROCEDURE: Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)  [C₁₂H₂₅NaSO₄] Molecular Weight Calculation

Step 1: Find the chemical formula and determine constituent atoms and their number in a Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) molecule.
You will know different atoms and their number in a Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) molecule from the chemical formula. The chemical formula of Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is C₁₂H₂₅NaSO₄. From the chemical formula, you can find that one molecule of Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) consists of twelve Carbon (C) atoms, twenty-five Hydrogen (H) atoms, one Sodium (Na) atom, one Sulfur (S) atom, and four Oxygen atoms.

Step 2: Find out the atomic weights of each atom (from the 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 Sodium (Na): 22.98976928 (Ref: Ciaaw-sodium)
Atomic weight of Oxygen (O): 15.9994 (Ref: Jlab-ele008)
Atomic weight of Sulfur (S): 32.066 (Ref: Jlab-ele016)

Step 3: Calculate the total weight of each atom in a Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) molecule by multiplying its atomic weight by its number.

Number of Carbon atoms in Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS): 12
Atomic weight of Carbon (C): 12.0107
Total weight of Carbon atoms in Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS): 12.0107 x 12 = 144.1284

Number of Hydrogen atoms in Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS): 25
Atomic weight of Hydrogen (H): 1.008
Total weight of Hydrogen atoms in Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS): 1.008 x 25 = 25.2

Number of Sodium atoms in Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS): 1
Atomic weight of Sodium (Na): 22.98976928
Total weight of Sodium atoms in Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS): 22.98976928 x 1 = 22.98976928

Number of Sulfur atoms in Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS): 1
Atomic weight of Sulfur (S): 32.066
Total weight of Sulfur atoms in Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS): 32.066 x 1 = 32.066

Number of Oxygen atoms in Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS): 4
Atomic weight of Oxygen (O): 15.9994
Total weight of Oxygen atoms in Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS): 15.9994 x 4 = 63.9976

Step 4: Calculate the molecular weight of Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) by adding up the total weight of all atoms.

Molecular weight of Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS): 144.1284 (Carbon) + 25.2 (Hydrogen) + 22.98976928 (Sodium) + 63.9976 (Oxygen) + 32.066 (Sulfur) = 288.38176928

So the molecular weight of Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is 288.38176928.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) [C₁₂H₂₅NaSO₄] Molecular Weight Calculation

REFERENCES:

• Lanl-1: https://periodic.lanl.gov/1.shtml 
• Jlab-ele006: https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele006.html 
• Jlab-ele008: https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele008.html
• Jlab-ele016: https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele016.html
  
• Ciaaw-sodium: https://www.ciaaw.org/sodium.htm

See also:

• Hydrogen chloride molecular weight calculation