Question

How do you calculate the molar mass of rutile, `TiO_2` a mineral used in coloring glass?

Answer 1

Add all the respective molar masses of each atom together. In this case, `204.38 + 16(2) = 246.38`

Explanation:

Molar mass is a property of dividing the mass of a given substance by the amount of the substance, thus, `M=g/"mol"`.
=> Where `M` is the molar mass,
=> Where `g` is the mass of the substance.
=> Where `"mol"` is the amount of mols in the substance.

Normally, if we are not given any other variables like mass and mols, we have to calculate the molar mass ourselves. To do this, we use the Periodic Table.

Under every element, you are given a number with 2 digits behind the decimal. This number corresponds to the average molar mass of each element. We are going to use this average value to calculate the molar mass of `TiO_"2"`.

`Ti` has a molar mass of `204.38 g/"mol"`.
`O` has a molar mass of `16.00 g/"mol"`. But, there are two atoms of oxygen, totalling `32.00 g/"mol"`.

Add them all up and you have the molar mass of the compound.

`204.38 + 32 = 246.38`

Hope this helps :)