Methanol molar mass and methanol structure

To calculate the molar mass of methanol (CH3OH), you need to sum the atomic masses of all the atoms in its chemical formula. Here are the atomic masses:


  • Carbon (C): 12.01 g/mol
  • Hydrogen (H): 1.01 g/mol
  • Oxygen (O): 16.00 g/mol


Now, calculate the molar mass of methanol:


  • Molar mass = (number of C atoms × atomic mass of C) + (number of H atoms × atomic mass of H) + (number of O atoms × atomic mass of O)


For methanol (CH3OH):

  • Molar mass = (1 × 12.01 g/ mol) + (4 × 1.01 g/mol) + (1 × 16.00 g/mol)

Molar mass of methanol = 32.05 g/mol

The chemical structure of methanol (CH3OH) can be represented in different ways. Here are two common representations:


Methanol molar mass and methanol structure


Methanol structure

Lewis Structure:

  H

  |

H-C-O

  |

  H


In this Lewis structure, each line represents a bond, and the atoms are arranged according to their connectivity.


Condensed structural formula:

CH3OH

This representation simplifies the structure by showing the connectivity of atoms without explicitly depicting all the bonds.


In both representations, the central carbon (C) atom is bonded to three hydrogen (H) atoms and one oxygen (O) atom. Methanol is a simple alcohol with a single hydroxyl (-OH) functional group, and its structure is similar to other alcohols. The oxygen atom is bonded to the carbon atom through a single bond, and the hydrogen atom is bonded to the carbon atom.

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