Molar mass of palmitic acid (C₁₆H₃₂O₂)

The molar mass of palmitic acid (C₁₆H₃₂O₂) is 256.43 g/mol, summed from the IUPAC standard atomic weights of C x 16, H x 32, O x 2.

Mass of sample

Amount of substance

mol

Molar mass

256.43g/mol

= Exact Molar mass of palmitic acid

Moles in the sample mass: 0.038 996 997 mol
Mass of that amount of substance: 256.43
Molecules in the sample mass: 2.34845e+22

Show the working

Mass of sample = 10
Amount of substance = 1
Molar mass = 12.011*16 + 1.008*32 + 15.999*2 = 256.43
Moles in the sample mass = 10 / 256.43 = 0.038 997
Mass of that amount of substance = 1 * 256.43 = 256.43
Molecules in the sample mass = 0.038 997 * NA = 2.34845e+22

Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.

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The formula

Molar mass = sum over elements of (atomic weight x number of atoms)
For C₁₆H₃₂O₂: 12.011 x 16 + 1.008 x 32 + 15.999 x 2 = 256.43 g/mol
Moles = mass / molar mass; mass = moles x molar mass
Molecules = moles x 6.02214076 x 10^23 (the Avogadro constant, exact by definition)

Molar mass in grams per mole is numerically equal to the molecular mass in daltons, so this figure doubles as the molecular weight.

Atomic weights are the IUPAC 2021 standard values. Several elements have a range rather than a single value because isotope ratios vary between sources; the conventional single value is used here.

Composition by mass

Element	Atoms	Atomic weight	Contribution (g/mol)	Share of mass
Carbon (C)	16	12.011	192.176	74.943 %
Hydrogen (H)	32	1.008	32.256	12.579 %
Oxygen (O)	2	15.999	31.998	12.478 %

Contributions add to the molar mass of 256.43 g/mol. Atomic weights are the IUPAC 2021 standard values.

Frequently asked

What is the molar mass of palmitic acid?

256.43 g/mol, for the formula C₁₆H₃₂O₂.

How do you convert grams of palmitic acid to moles?

Divide the mass in grams by 256.43 g/mol. One gram of palmitic acid is 0.0038997 mol.

How many grams are in one mole of palmitic acid?

256.43 g, by definition of the molar mass.

Is molar mass the same as molecular weight?

Numerically yes, for the purposes of this calculation. Molecular weight is a dimensionless ratio and molar mass carries units of g/mol, but the digits are identical.

Where the numbers come from

IUPAC 2021 standard atomic weights; Avogadro constant fixed by the 2019 SI.