In order to determine the mass of one molecule of ##CO_2## the process involves using mole and mass conversion factors to convert from molecules to grams by way of moles.

molecule ##->## mole ##->## grams

the conversion factors include:

##6.02 x 10^23## molecules = 1 mole (this is Avogadro’s number) and 1 mole = gram mass of the molecule

The gram mass of of carbon dioxide ##CO_2## can be determined by combining the mass of one carbon atom and 2 oxygen atoms.

C = 1 x 12.01 = 12.01 O = 2 x 15.99 = 31.98

12.01 + 31.98 = 43.99 grams

The conversion is completed as follows:

1 mol ##CO_2## x ##( (1 mols) / (6.02 x 10^23 mol))## x ##((43.99 g)/(1 mols))## =

Molecules cancel with molecules and moles cancel with moles the outcome is the mass in grams.

##7.31 x 10^(-23)## grams of ##CO_2##