What is the molar mass of copper (II) chloride?

To determine the molar mass of copper (II) chloride, also known as cupric chloride, we need to look at its chemical formula, which is CuCl₂. This formula indicates that each molecule of copper (II) chloride contains one copper atom and two chloride atoms. Let's break this down step by step.

Identifying Atomic Masses

First, we need to find the atomic masses of copper and chlorine from the periodic table:

• Copper (Cu): The atomic mass of copper is approximately 63.55 g/mol.
• Chlorine (Cl): The atomic mass of chlorine is about 35.45 g/mol.

Calculating the Molar Mass

Now that we have the atomic masses, we can calculate the molar mass of copper (II) chloride by adding the contributions from each element in the formula:

• For copper: 1 atom × 63.55 g/mol = 63.55 g/mol
• For chlorine: 2 atoms × 35.45 g/mol = 70.90 g/mol

Final Calculation

Next, we sum these values to find the total molar mass:

Molar mass of CuCl₂ = 63.55 g/mol (Cu) + 70.90 g/mol (Cl) = 134.45 g/mol

Summary

Therefore, the molar mass of copper (II) chloride is approximately 134.45 g/mol. This value is essential for various applications in chemistry, such as stoichiometric calculations in reactions involving this compound.