Why Does My Calculated Molar Mass of Arsenic Differ from the Standard Value?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the calculation of the molar mass of arsenic (As) using python. The molar mass according to 'ptable.com' is 74.92 g/mol. However, the calculation "2*33*(mp*Nav)" in python only considers neutrons and neglects electrons. It is mentioned that the atomic number of As is 33, indicating the number of protons. The calculation "33*(mp*Nav) + 42*mn*Nav" takes into account the mass of electrons as well, but the final result is slightly higher than the value in ptable.com. The difference is attributed to the mass defect.
  • #1
phy9
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Hi,

I'm trying to calculate the molar mass of As, tough it differs from the value that is written in http://www.ptable.com.

The molar mass of Arsenic (As) according to 'ptable.com' is 74.92 g/mol.

I tried to calculate the molar mass with python:
Python:
>>> Nav = 6.022140857E23
>>> mp = 1.6726219E-27
>>> mp *= 1000 # in grams
>>> 2*33*(mp*Nav)
66.48024690319959
>>> me = (9.10938356E-31)*1000
>>> me
9.10938356e-28
>>> 2*33*(mp*Nav) + 33*me*Nav
66.49835004020278
Explanation:
  • Nav is Avogadro constant
  • mp is proton mass, in grams
  • me is electron mass, in grams
  • The calculation "2*33*(mp*Nav)" considers neutrons but neglects electrons.
    The number 33 is the atomic number of (As), which indicates the number of protons.
  • I also tried to consider electrons but you can see that they don't matter.
What is the problem with my calculation?
 
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  • #2
phy9 said:
The calculation "2*33*(mp*Nav)" considers neutrons but neglects electrons.

How many neutrons does arsenic have?
 
  • #3
Vanadium 50 said:
How many neutrons does arsenic have?
Thanks..
Apparently 42.

Python:
>>> 33*(mp*Nav) + 42*mn*Nav
75.60404990520709
while mn is mass of a neutron.
Though it is a bit higher than the value in ptable.com..
 
  • #4
phy9 said:
Though it is a bit higher than the value in ptable.com..

Mass defect.
 

FAQ: Why Does My Calculated Molar Mass of Arsenic Differ from the Standard Value?

1. What is the molar mass of Arsenic (As)?

The molar mass of Arsenic (As) is 74.92 g/mol.

2. Why is it important to know the molar mass of Arsenic (As)?

Knowing the molar mass of Arsenic (As) is important in various chemical calculations, such as determining the amount of a substance needed for a reaction or finding the number of moles of a substance present in a given sample.

3. How is the molar mass of Arsenic (As) calculated?

The molar mass of Arsenic (As) is calculated by adding the atomic masses of all the atoms present in one mole of Arsenic. In the case of Arsenic, it is the sum of the atomic mass of 33 protons, 33 electrons, and 42 neutrons.

4. What is the unit of measurement for molar mass?

Molar mass is measured in grams per mole (g/mol).

5. Is the molar mass of Arsenic (As) the same as its atomic mass?

No, the molar mass of Arsenic (As) is different from its atomic mass. Molar mass takes into account the mass of all the atoms in a mole of Arsenic, whereas atomic mass only considers the average mass of an individual atom of Arsenic.

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