Breaking down the process
I’m focusing on glycerol hydrolysis in the presence of NaOH solution, noting glycerol ester production and subsequent saponification. The task involves determining the molar mass of glycerol.
Calculating NaOH requirements
I’m figuring out the quantity of NaOH needed to saponify 1 mole of triacylglyceride, ensuring the reaction is fueled by 120% of the stoichiometric quantity of NaOH.
Determining moles of NaOH
I’m figuring out the amount of NaOH needed for saponification, which reveals 0.1 moles of triacylglycerol. This allows us to calculate the mass of the compound in question.
Calculating molecular mass
I’m analyzing the mass of soap produced (89 g) from the saponification reaction to determine the molecular mass of the initial triacylglycerol and identify the fatty acid components.
Dealing with fatty acid moieties
I’m thinking through the soap production from triacylglycerol saponification, examining the sodium salts of fatty acids and their distinct fatty acid chains.
Calculating soap formation
I’m mapping out the difference in mass between the fatty acid salt and free acid, determining the number of moles of soap produced, and simplifying assumptions about the triacylglycerol symmetry.
Determining soap composition
I’m calculating the average molecular mass of the soap (RCOONa) and the fatty acid moiety (RCOOH), then deriving the triacylglycerol's mass by subtracting the careful consideration of glycerol's interaction with hydroxyl groups.
Determining molecular mass
I’m working through the average molecular mass of the fatty acid salt (RCOONa) and using glycerol's atomic mass to derive the triacylglycerol's molecular mass by removing water molecules during the formation of esters.
Calculating molecular mass
I’m working through glycerol's atomic masses to determine its molar mass. Then, I proceed to estimate the molecular mass of the triacylglycerol by factoring in the water removed during ester formation with three fatty acids.
Calculating molecular mass
I’m determining the average molecular mass of the fatty acid to derive the triacylglycerol's molecular mass, considering the sodium replacement and the glycerol structure.
Verifying molecular mass
I’m confirming the molecular mass of stearic acid as approximately 284 g/mol, ensuring it aligns with the expected average molecular mass for the soap and fatty acid derived earlier.
Balancing calculations
I’m piecing together the molecular masses of sodium salts from different fatty acids and noting the soap's molecular mass is close to palmitic or oleic acid salts, suggesting possible mixtures.
Clarifying the approach
I'm working through refining the triacylglycerol's molecular mass by considering its actual mass, aiming to clarify the final result and align with the given conditions.
Taking a closer look
Examining the mass of soap from triacylglycerol, I realized the 89 g soap includes the masses of the triacylglycerol and the sodium salt of the soap.
Calculating molecular mass
I calculated the molecular mass of the triacylglycerol by adding the molecular masses of glycerol and three fatty acid moieties, then correcting for water loss.
Evaluating mass difference
I’m noting that the mass difference between triacylglycerol and soap can determine the molecular mass of the soap, focusing on the mass of the triacylglycerol and soap formed.
Reassessing glycerol’s impact
I'm considering how glycerol's 9.2 g mass might adjust the total reaction mass, to ensure accuracy in determining the molecular mass of the soap.
Reasoned for 59 seconds