1. Look up the atomic weights of hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) from the periodic table:
- Hydrogen (H): 1.008 atomic mass units (amu)
- Oxygen (O): 15.999 amu
2. Multiply the atomic weight of each element by the number of atoms in the molecule:
- Hydrogen: 2 atoms of H × 1.008 amu/atom = 2.016 amu
- Oxygen: 1 atom of O × 15.999 amu/atom = 15.999 amu
3. Add up the atomic weights of all the atoms in the molecule:
- 2.016 amu (H) + 15.999 amu (O) = 18.015 amu
Therefore, the molecular weight of a water molecule (H2O) is approximately 18.015 atomic mass units.