Compound Structure
History Basic Information Abundance 3-D Models Compound Structure Uses Chemical Properties References
Ascorbic Acid – C6H8O6
(from http://www.people.virginia.edu/~rjh9u/vitac.html)
Carbon (C) |
Hydrogen (H) |
Oxygen (O) |
| 12.001 x 6 = 72.066 72.066 / 176.1256 x 100 = 40.917 % |
1.0079 x 8 = 8.0632 8.0632 / 176.1256 x 100 = 4.5781 % |
15.9994 x 6 = 95.9964 95.9964 / 176.1256 x 100 = 54.5041 % |
Carbon accounts for 40.917 % of the mass of this compound, Hydrogen accounts for 4.5781 % of the mass, and Oxygen accounts for 54.5041 % of the mass.
Carbon (C) |
Hydrogen (H) |
Oxygen (O) |
| 6 / 20 x 100 = 30 % | 8 / 20 x 100 = 40 % | 6 / 20 x 100 = 30% |
By number, Carbon accounts for 30 % of the compound, Hydrogen accounts for 40 % of the number of atoms, and Oxygen accounts for 30 %.
Since the compound Ascorbic acid contains no metal atoms, it is a molecule. This means that the molecules have a definite composition, and they are joined together with intermolecular bonds, thus, Ascorbic Acid's molecules are held together with intermolecular bonding. Unlike salts, each molecule is bonded together, rather than all of the atoms joined together to form a crystal. This accounts for Ascorbic acid’s relatively low melting point, because the intermolecular bonds take less energy, or heat, to break.