How to Calculate the Number of Moles in a Given Mass of Phosphoric Acid
Molecular Formula of Phosphoric Acid
Phosphoric acid is a mineral acid with the chemical formula H3PO4. It is also known as orthophosphoric acid and is a weak acid. The molecular formula indicates the types and numbers of atoms in a molecule.
Calculating the Number of Moles
To calculate the number of moles in a given mass of phosphoric acid, we first need to determine the molar mass of H3PO4, which is 97.994 grams per mol. Then, we use the formula:
Number of moles = mass / molar mass
Example Calculation
For example, let's calculate the number of moles in a sample of 658 grams of phosphoric acid:
Number of moles = 658 g / 97.994 g/mol
Number of moles = 6.71 mol
Therefore, in a sample of 658 grams of phosphoric acid, there are approximately 6.71 moles of phosphoric acid.