1. Identify the Elements and Their Atomic Masses
* Hydrogen (H): Atomic mass = 1.008 g/mol
* Oxygen (O): Atomic mass = 15.999 g/mol
2. Determine the Number of Atoms of Each Element
* Water (H₂O) has two hydrogen atoms (H₂) and one oxygen atom (O).
3. Calculate the Molar Mass
* Hydrogen: (2 atoms) * (1.008 g/mol/atom) = 2.016 g/mol
* Oxygen: (1 atom) * (15.999 g/mol/atom) = 15.999 g/mol
* Total Molar Mass: 2.016 g/mol + 15.999 g/mol = 18.015 g/mol
Therefore, the molar mass of water (H₂O) is 18.015 g/mol.
Key Point: Molar mass represents the mass of one mole of a substance. A mole is a unit of measurement that represents 6.022 x 10²³ particles (atoms, molecules, etc.).
